Minerals
What three factors should be considered before mining a newly found mineral deposit?
the cost of the mineral, the demand of the mineral, and the environmental impact.
This table shows how people in the United States use energy resources:
Coal 19%
Petroleum 35%
Natural Gas 28%
Renewable Energy 10%
Nuclear Energy 8%
Identify the original source of most of the energy resources currently used in the United States.
Currently, people in the U.S. use mostly nonrenewable resources for energy (90%).
True or False: As the human population continues to increase, less groundwater will be used.
False
Renewable resources can become ________ if they are used too quickly.
nonrenewable
What does "depletion" mean?
Losing resources
How does the cost of removing waste material affect the classification of an ore?
If the cost of removing the waste material becomes higher than the value of the ore itself, the mineral will no longer be classified as an ore.
What is one consequence of coal mining?
loss of animal habitats, deforestation.
What is groundwater overdraft?
Using more groundwater than we already have?
What is going to last longer?
Coal, Oil, Natural Gas
Coal
What is mining?
Mining is the process by which commercially valuable resources are removed from the Earth.
How do humans impact mineral distributions?
Humans impact mineral distributions through activities such as mining.
This table shows how people in the United States use energy resources:
Coal 19%
Petroleum 35%
Natural Gas 28%
Renewable Energy 10%
Nuclear Energy 8%
Predict how people in the United States will most likely use energy resources 1000 years from now. Use the information in the pie chart as evidence to explain your answer.
Coal, petroleum, and natural gas were made a long time ago by geological processes. Nuclear power uses radioactive elements that were also made a long time ago. Therefore, they will be depleted sooner than 1000 years at the current rate and it will take millions of years before these types of energy resources can be replaced. Therefore, people in 1000 years will be using renewable energy resources such as sun and wind.
Where does your drinking water come from?
Groundwater, lakes, reserves
Why do you think the life expectancy of different mineral reserves varies?
The projected life of mineral deposits are based on reserve estimates and current production rates.
Why is conservation important today?
As the human population grows, more people on Earth use more and more resources. There must be a better balance between the human need to use resources and the conservation and protection of existing resources
If the cost of separating a mineral from waste rock becomes too great, the mineral may no longer be classified as an ore. This happens because ____.
The mineral can no longer be mined for a profit.
How do humans impact fossil fuel reserves?
Humans impact fossil fuel reserves by mining and drilling.
What is GRACE?
Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
What patterns did you notice in the graph about aquifers?
They were all below zero, which means we could run out of groundwater if we don't conserve it.
Propose a solution to the future depletion of mineral resources and energy resources. How might humans extend the life of these reserves?
Mineral reserves could be extended if people recycle and reuse materials that utilize mineral resources. Switching to alternative energy resources could help extend fossil fuels.
Suppose digital technology, gold jewelry, and paper money caused the need for silver to no longer exist. Would silver still be considered an ore? Discuss.
Silver would no longer be considered an ore. By definition an ore is a mineral that contains a substance that can be mined for profit.
Your friend states that she doesn’t understand what the big deal is about conserving fossil fuels. What are two reasons why conserving fossils fuels is important that you could share with your friend? What are two ways that individuals can conserve fossil fuels that you could add to your response?
I would tell my friend that conserving fossil fuels is important because fossil fuels are a nonrenewable resource. In other words, there is a limited supply. I would also tell my friend that conserving fossil fuels limits the damaging impacts of their use, such as air pollution. I would let my friend know that there are several ways that individuals can conserve fossil fuels, such as riding a bike or walking instead of asking for a ride, or turning off lights when they are not in use.
How do humans impact groundwater resources?
Humans impact groundwater resources by drilling wells to pump groundwater to the surface.
What is saltwater intrusion?
Where saltwater enters a freshwater well or aquifer after pumping causes the ground to move.
How did mining change the way the land looked in the Coal Mining video?
All of the rock layers were mixed with each other.