Natural Resources
What are natural resources?
Natural resources are materials found in nature that are useful to people, like water, minerals, and forests
What does porosity mean?
Porosity refers to the amount of empty space or pores in a rock that can hold liquids or gases.
What does permeability mean?
Permeability is the ability of a rock to allow fluids to pass through it.
What is an aquifer?
An aquifer is a layer of rock that holds water and allows it to flow through, supplying wells and springs
How do minerals form?
Minerals can form through cooling of molten rock or evaporation of water.
Name one way rocks can store natural resources.
Rocks can store natural resources like oil and gas in their pores or spaces.
How does porosity affect the storage of natural resources?
Higher porosity in rocks means they can hold more natural resources like water or oil.
Why is permeability important for natural resources?
High permeability allows water and oil to flow through rocks easily, making it easier to extract these resources.
How do aquifers store water?
Aquifers store water in the pores and cracks of rocks and sediments.
What is one way rocks store Earth’s natural resources?
Rocks can store minerals and fossil fuels that are extracted for use.
How do we use natural resources from rocks?
We can extract minerals and fossil fuels from rocks for energy and building materials.
Which type of rock is likely to have high porosity?
Sedimentary rocks often have higher porosity than igneous or metamorphic rocks.
Which type of rock typically has high permeability?
Rocks like gravel and sandstone often have high permeability.
Why is groundwater important?
Groundwater is an important source of drinking water and irrigation for crops.
Name a mineral formed by cooling.
Quartz is a mineral that forms from the cooling of molten rock.
Why are natural resources important for our daily lives?
They provide us with energy, materials for construction, and resources for manufacturing products.
Name one example of a porous rock.
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Sandstone is an example of a porous rock.
How can permeability affect groundwater movement?
High permeability allows groundwater to move quickly through the rock layers, while low permeability can slow down or block its movement
Name two ways we can protect our aquifers.
We can prevent pollution and manage water use carefully to protect aquifers.
How does evaporation create minerals?
When water evaporates, it leaves behind minerals that were dissolved in it, like salt.
Describe one way humans can conserve natural resources.
Humans can conserve natural resources by recycling materials and using renewable energy sources.
How can we test the porosity of a rock?
We can test porosity by soaking the rock in water and measuring how much water it absorbs.
What is one way to test the permeability of a rock?
We can pour water over the rock and see how fast it drains through.
What happens if an aquifer is overused?
Overusing an aquifer can lead to water shortages and can cause the ground to sink.
Why is understanding how minerals form important?
Understanding how minerals form helps us locate and extract valuable resources