1. Geologic Resources: Nonrenewable Mineral and Energy Resources Chapter 15
“Mineral resources are the building blocks on which modern society depends. Knowledge of their physical nature and origins, the web they weave between all aspects of human society and the physical earth, can lay the foundations for a sustainable society.”
Ann Dorr

2. Key Concepts Types of mineral resources
Formation and location of mineral resources
Extraction and processing of mineral resources
Increasing supplies of mineral resources
Major types, acquisition, advantages and disadvantages of fuel resources

3. Nature and Formation of Mineral Resources
Fig p. 339
Mineral resources
Metallic
Nonmetallic
Energy Resources
Magma
Hydrothermal
Weathering

4. Finding and Removing Nonrenewable Mineral Resources
Satellite imagery
Aerial sensors (magnetometors)
Gravity differences
Core Sampling
Seismic surveys
Chemical analysis of water and plants

5. Removing Nonrenewable Mineral Resources
Surface Mining
Overburden
Spoil
Open Pit
Dredging
Strip Mining
Subsurface Mining
Room-and-pillar
Longwall Mining
Refer to Figure 15-4 (page 341) and Figure 15-5 (page 342)

6. Environmental Effects of Extracting Mineral Resources
Fig pg 343

7. Environmental Effects of Processing Mineral Resources
Ore mineral
Gangue
Tailings
Smelting
Fig p. 344

8. Environmental Effects of Using Mineral Resources
Disruption of land surface
Subsidence
Erosion of solid mining waste
Acid mine drainage
Air pollution
Storage and leakage of liquid mine waste

9. Supplies of Mineral Resources
Economic Depletion
Depletion time
Reserve-to-production ratio
Foreign resources
Economics
Environmental Concerns
Mining the Oceans
Fining substitutes
Fig pg 346

10. Evaluating Energy Resources
Renewable energy
Nonrenewable energy
Future availability
Net energy yield
Cost
Environmental effects
Fig pg 351

11. Important Nonrenewable Energy Resources
Fig pg 350

12. North American Energy Resources
Fig , p 356

13. Oil Petroleum (crude oil) Primary recovery Secondary recovery
Tertiary recovery
Petrochemicals
Refining
Transporting
Fig , p 355

14. Oil Shale and Tar Sands Oil Shale Kerogen Tar Sands Bitumen
Fig , p 361

15. Natural Gas 50-90% methane Conventional gas Unconventional gas
Methane hydrate
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
Liquefied natural gas (LNG)
Approximate year supply
Fig , p 362

16. Coal Stages of coal formation Primarily strip mined
Used mostly for generating electricity
Enough coal for about 1000 years
Highest environmental impact
Coal gasification and liquefaction

17. Coal
Fig , p 363

18. Burning Coal More Cleanly
Fluidized-Bed Combustion
Fig , p 364

19. Nuclear Energy Fission reactors Uranium-235 Potentially dangerous
Radioactive wastes
Fig , p 366

20. The Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Fig , p 367

21. Dealing With Nuclear Waste
Low-level waste
High-level waste
Underground burial
Disposal in space
Burial in ice sheets
Dumping into subduction zones
Burial in ocean mud
Conversion into harmless materials
Fig , p 370

22. Nuclear Alternatives Breeder nuclear fission reactors Nuclear fission
New reactor designs
Storage Containers
Fuel rod
Primary canister
Ground Level
Overpack
container
sealed
Unloaded from train
Personal
elevator
Air shaft
Nuclear waste
shaft
Underground
Buried and capped
Lowered down shaft
Fig
p. 376