Conservation of Biodiversity
What is the definition of biodiversity?
The variety of all the living things on Earth. Including the variety of individuals within each species and between species, as well as the variety in types of ecosystems.
What are the 3 main layers of the Geosphere?
The Crust, The Mantle, and The Core.
What are minerals?
solid, inorganic, naturally-occurring substances. That have a specific chemical composition and have a crystal structure.
Minerals are mainly used as what? (3 answers)
Ores
Raw Materials
Gems
What are rocks?
Rocks- are solid, naturally occurring aggregates of one of various minerals.
Please list 5 human actions that decrease biodiversity
Climate Change, Agriculture, Habitat Alteration, Pollution, Deforestation, Invasive Species, Population Growth
The crust is the thin layer which covers the surface of the Earth. Please describe its layers and name them.
The Continental Crust- between 10-70 km thick, made up of rocks such as granite, clay, and slate.
The Oceanic Crust- between 6-10 km thick, includes the ocean floor, containing rocks such as basalt.
What is the Mohs Scale?
A scale that uses numbers 1 to 10 to describe a mineral's hardness.
In terms of hardness, minerals can be very soft (between 1 and 2 on the scale), soft (between 1 and 5), hard (between 6 and 7), or very hard (between 8 and 10).
Please describe what ores are and list some examples. And what three metals can be found in a pure state in nature?
They are minerals that contain metals that can be extracted that can be extracted from them. Many minerals are ores.
Only gold, silver, and platinum can be found in a pure state in nature.
Ex:
Bauxite - Aluminum
Blende - Zinc
Chalcopyrite - Copper
Cassiterite - Tin
Cinnabar - Mercury
Galena - Lead
Hematite - Iron
What are igneous rocks and what are the two types?
Igneous rocks- originate when magma cools down. Magma erupts from volcanoes as lava and then solidifies forming different types of rock.
Volcanic rocks- extrusive rocks. They form when magma comes out of the Earth's crust as lava.
Plutonic rocks- intrusive rocks. They form when magma cools down slowly inside the Earth's crust.
Please explain 3 human actions that help preserve biodiversity.
- The creation of new protected areas such as nature reserves, and national and regional parks, as well as the conservation of existing ones.
- Fighting deforestation and habitat depletion.
- Fighting pollution of the atmosphere, water and soil.
- The promotion of environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices, for example by reducing the use of pesticides and other harmful substances.
- Promoting sustainable management practices for natural resources, such as timber and water, and opposing intensive fishing.
The Mantle is divided into what two parts? And describe them
The Upper Mantle- mostly solid, with some molten areas
The Lower Mantle- denser than the upper mantle and contains solid materials
What are silicates? And what are some examples of silicates?
Silicates are the most abundant type of minerals and contain silica. Their basic structure is made up of silicon and oxygen combined with other chemical elements.
Ex: Quartz, Olivine, & Biotite
Please describe what gems are and list some examples.
Gems - Precious stones. These minerals are very valuable because of their beauty and rarity. They are used to make jewelry after they are cut and polished.
Ex: Diamonds, Rubies, & Sapphires
What are Metamorphic Rocks and what are the two different types? And please give me examples of each.
Metamorphic Rocks- they originate deep under the Earth's crust. Changes in the composition of the minerals of certain rocks create metamorphic rocks. (changes occur when there is a lot of pressure acting on them and when surrounding temperatures are extremely high)
- Foliated metamorphic rocks - Slate, Schist, Gneiss
- Non-Foliated metamorphic rocks - Migmatite, Marble, Quartzite
Please explain 4 benefits of biodiversity
- Give us oxygen to breathe & remove carbon dioxide from atmosphere.
- Regulate the climate & the average temperature of the planet so living things can survive.
- Provide habitat and food for living things.
- Maintain the structure and composition of soil & allow matter to regenerate.
- Contributes to the pollination of flowering plants.
- Provide food & medicine for human well-being.
The Core is the inner and densest part of our planet. What are it's two layers? And describe them
The Outer Core- made up of molten materials that are permanently moving.
The Inner Core- the densest and hottest part of the planet. It's solid due to the extreme pressure from the layers surrounding it.
What are Non-Silicates? And what are some examples?
Non-silicates are a more heterogeneous group of minerals. They do not contain silica.
Ex: Sulfides, Phosphates, & Oxides
What are the two different types of mines? Please describe each.
Surface/Open-Cast Mines- In these deposits, minerals are near the surface. We dig a funnel-shaped pit to extract valuable minerals.
Underground Mines- Minerals here are much deeper under the ground. To extract them, we make vertical tunnels called shafts and horizontal tunnels called galleries.
What are Sedimentary Rocks and what are the two different types? And please give me examples of each type.
Sedimentary Rocks- originate from sediments. Sediments are fragments of rocks and organic matter that have been transported and deposited by water or wind.
Detrital Sedimentary Rocks - Conglomerate, Sandstone, Clay
Non-Detrital Sedimentary Rocks - Limestone, Gypsum, Charcoal
Please explain 4 examples of what would happen if ecosystems were to disappear.
- Less oxygen in the atmosphere and more carbon dioxide.
- Average temperature will rise and changes in climate (drought or floods in some regions)
- Many living things will become extinct if their habitat disappears.
- Increase in plagues and the migration of people and animals.
- Social conflicts due to lack of food and water sources.
- Soil would become less fertile and so would the cycle of matter (increase desertisation).
Our planet has 4 layers, what are they? And describe them
The atmosphere - gaseous layer
The hydrosphere - contains water in its three states of matter
The geosphere - the solid layer
The biosphere - the layer where life exists
What are the physical properties used to classify minerals? (Your answer should be 7-8 properties)
- Shape of crystals
- Streak
- Color
- Luster
- Hardness
- Cleavage
- Density
- Crystal Structure
When there is uncontrolled extraction of minerals, what are some of the problems we face?
(I'm looking for two answers)
Water and the ground are contaminated with metals.
People working in mines develop health problems such as headaches, heavy metal poisoning, and respiratory problems.
Please describe the rock cycle.
The process of a rock transforming into a different type of rock.
All rocks on the surface of the Earth -> Effects of water and wind (Lithification) -> Sedimentary Rocks
Solid rocks inside the Earth -> High pressure or temperature (Metamorphism) -> Metamorphic Rocks
Molten rocks inside the Earth
-> If they solidify in the interior -> Plutonic Igneous Rocks
-> If they solidify in the exterior -> Volcanic Igneous Rocks