Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

Chapter 7

MineralsMinerals

Environment: all resources, influences, and conditions near Earth’s surface

Renewable resource: can be replaced in nature at a rate close to the rate used

Nonrenewable resource: fixed amount; used faster that can be replaced in nature

93% of world’s energy = nonrenewable

Which of the following is most likely made from a nonrenewable resource?

A. breadB. gasolineC. oxygenD. lumber

What percent of the world’s energy comes from nonrenewable energy resources?

A. 100 percentB. 93 percentC. 75 percentD. 7 percent

Earth’s MineralsEarth’s Minerals Elements can be nonmetal/metal Important metallic elements in minerals Ore mineral: valuable mineral; contains metallic

elementGangue: rest of the rock

Other valuable minerals not found in ore (nonmetallic)

Sand, gravel, rock salt, talc, graphite, etc

Supply & DemandSupply & Demand

Like a storeWant to supply products to meet the needs of shoppers

Minerals work the sameProblem = natural ability to replace used minerals

Reserve: deposits of a mineral in ores that are worth mining

Difficult to determine where they exist b/c the world hasn’t been explored for all minerals

Minerals are non-renewableKnowing size of the reserve + rate at which it is being used determine how long it will last

Use continues reserves in the US will be used up within the next 60 years

Why are these resources important?Iron steel skyscrapers, buildings, tunnelsCopper electrical wiring and makes brassZinc protects from rustAluminum cans, cookware, bicycle framesLead car batteries, shields around radioactive material

Must plan for when the resources will not be aroundDecrease in demand = longer availability, but will eventually be gone

A mineral reserve refers toA. the rate at which the mineral is usedB. the cost of mining the mineralC. the equipment needed to find the mineralD. the known deposits of the mineral that are

worth mining

Although the mining process can be difficult and expensive, metal mineral reserves are mined because

A. metals are easily locatedB. there is little demands for metalsC. metals are useful and there is a great

demand for themD. metals cannot be imported

Energy ResourcesEnergy Resources Nonrenewable Energy

Fossil fuelsUranium

Fossil fuelFormed from the remains of organisms that lived millions of years agoCoal, petroleum, natural gasBurning = release of energyUsed much faster than they are formingCoal used in power plants to generate electricity

Fossil fuels (cont.)Petroleum (i.e. oil) liquid– Recovered by drilling– Slow chemical changes in organic matter

Compacted & oil/gas forced into pores of sandstone/limestone (usually in shale)

– Oil trap keeps oil/gas from escaping

Natural gas = mix of methane & other hydrocarbon gases

– Found w/petroleum, helps bring petroleum to the surface– Can be found in pockets alone

Other fossil fuels = oil shales, tar sands

UraniumNucleus (nuclei): center of an atom; contains protons (positive part of an atom) & neutrons (neutral part of an atom)Fusion: combining of the nuclei of lighter elements to form a heavier elementFission: splitting of atomsAtomic fusion reaction: atoms of uranium are hit with neutrons

– Releases energy– New neutrons cause fission of other nuclei– Happens in a nuclear power plant

Recovered from black mineral – uraninite

A fossil fuel that is sometimes obtained from shale is

A. uraniumB. peatC. anthraciteD. oil

The main use of coal in the US today isA. home heatingB. electricity generationC. steel productionD. petroleum refining

A fuel commonly found with oil isA. ligniteB. natural gasC. gasolineD. uranium

Fossil fuels include all of the following exceptA. coalB. petroleumC. natural gasD. nuclear energy

Renewable ResourcesRenewable Resources

WaterProduces electricity: hydroelectric powerMost efficient– Water directly turns turbines– E from coal/uranium must convert water to steam first,

which turns a turbine as well

Tides generate electricity– Drops from high to low tide, turns turbine

WindWind power: force of moving airCaptured in a windmillCreates electricity amount depends on:

– Speed of wind– Length of the windmill blades– Efficiency of the windmill

Windmill farm: provides electricity to large areas; contains several hundred windmillsCA more efficient windmills have kept the amount of E generated the same, while the # of farms decreased

The sunSolar power: energy from the sun– Passive: collects and stores solar energy

Ex: a special window collects energy & doesn’t let heat escape

– Active: has 3 parts Solar collector facing:

absorbs heat Storage area: gets heat from

the collector and stores it until needed

Distributor: distributes heat throughout the building

Solar cells: convert light into electricity

Geothermal EnergyHeat from Earth’s interiorSteam that naturally risesDrilled & controlled like oil wellsConverted into electrical energy when steam/hot water piped through a power plant & run through a generatorHigh where there is high volcanic activityCA the Geysers = largest source of geothermal energy in the world

All of the following methods of generating electricity involve a turbine except

A. burning coalB. nuclear fissionC. solar cellsD. water power

Hydroelectric power generates electricity with A. waterB. moving electronsC. moving airD. hot bedrock

The amount of power produced by a windmill depends on all of the following except

A. the speed of the windB. the length of the windmills’ bladesC. the energy needs of consumersD. the efficiency of the windmill

Which of the following is not a method of conserving nonrenewable resources?

A. recycling materialsB. developing substitute materialsC. discovering new deposits of

nonrenewable materialsD. reducing waste

The energy source that depends on Earth’s internal heat is

A. water powerB. geothermal energyC. fossil fuelsD. uranium

Which energy source can be renewed by falling rain?

A. hydroelectric powerB. wind powerC. geothermal powerD. solar power

California GeologyCalifornia Geology

Geology of CaliforniaGeology of California

California has formed over the last billion years of Earth's history

Oldest rocks exposed in CA are in the Death Valley & Mojave Desert regions

represent ancient oceanic crust & marine platform sediments that accumulated in the oceans of CA

Death ValleyDeath Valley

Death ValleyDeath Valley

Driving into Death ValleyDriving into Death Valley

Forces that shaped the earth in the past are still occurring today, as best demonstrated by California's

EarthquakesVolcanic eruptionsLandslidesFloodsOther natural events

ResourcesResources

Power sources in CA:

Nuclear14%

Natural Gas38%

Renewable11%

Coal20%

Hydroelectric17%

Oil is found in 18 of the 58 counties in CAKern County (Bakersfield) = one of the largest oil production places in the countryWe only get 1/2 of our oil from CA wells

Solar power plants in CA's Mojave Desertuse a highly curved mirror = a parabolic trough – Focuses sunlight on a pipe running down a central point

above the curve of the mirror– The pipe so hot that it can boil water into steam– The steam is used to turn a turbine = electricity

Huge rows of solar mirrors = "solar thermal power plants"

– Makes electricity for more than 350,000 homes. Problem = it works only when the sun is shining

– On cloudy days & at night, the power plants can't create energy

Some plants are a "hybrid" technology– During the daytime they use the sun– At night & on cloudy days they burn natural gas to

boil the water so they can continue to make electricity

Geothermal energy = 6% of CA electrical needsFrom plate tectonic spreading, or rifting

Use the geothermally heated hot water inSwimming pools Health spasWarm buildings for growing plants, like in the green houseUsed to heat buildings during the winter (San Bernardino, in Southern CA)

– Hot water runs through miles of insulated pipes to dozens of public buildings

City Hall, animal shelters, retirement homes, state agencies, a hotel and convention center

There are 14 areas in CA where we use geothermal energy to make electricity

Some are not used yet b/c the resource is too small, too isolated or the water temperatures are not hot enough to make electricityMain spots:

The Geysers area north of San Francisco NW corner of the state near Lassen Volcanic National Park Mammoth Lakes area - the site of a huge ancient volcano Coso Hot Springs area in Inyo County Imperial Valley in Southern California

CA's existing nuclear power plants provide a significant amount of CA's non-fossil fuel based energy and power

But there is a significant amounts of spent nuclear fuel

In addition to power …In addition to power …

California Central Valley Full of sediments = major agricultural area– Caused from faults that occurred as the Sierra Nevada

rose and eroded

Agriculture = Need for WaterAgriculture = Need for Water

Economy = industry & agriculture = need for a lot of water

Most water is from rain & snow in the mountainsYet in Eastern CA water from the Colorado River

As you travel further north = more precipitation (rainfall)

Water and GeographyWater and Geography

California is a state of different climates, which causes water supply to vary widely

Depends on runoff from the Sierra Nevada Mountain RangeFloods and droughts can occur in the same year

Precipitation amounts can vary from less than an inch in CA’s Death Valley desert to about 56 inches along the North Coast

Precipitation Captured & stored in reservoirs It can recharge groundwater basins – These underground aquifers can hold 6-10 times the

amount of surface water reservoir Many are over-pumped & some are contaminated by toxins Other aquifers are too deep to reach economically

Agriculture is Important to the Economy

Agriculture is Important to the Economy 1 out of every 6 jobs in CA is tied to agriculture in some

wayCA has the largest agricultural economy in the nation1/2 of the nation’s fruits, nuts, and vegetables are grown here

Fresno is the most productive county in the nation, with an agricultural worth of 3.5 billion dollars in 2000

Some crops use great quantities of waterEX: a hamburger patty = more than 1,300 gallons

Water Projects & State’s EconomyWater Projects & State’s Economy Water development has three primary goals

flood controlwater storagehydroelectric power generation

CA is home to four massive water projects, plus numerous local projects

The Los Angeles Aqueduct brings water from the Owens Valley south to Los AngelesThe Colorado River Aqueduct brings water from the Colorado River to Southern California for urban uses

the Imperial Irrigation District operates the Imperial Dam and All-American Canal, which supply water for irrigation in the Imperial Valley. The State Water Project brings water from the San Francisco Bay Delta & delivers it to farmers in the Central Valley, as well as providing water for urban uses in Southern CAAll water projects and rivers

in CA

Local Water Projects

Local Water Projects

                                                                                                                

                                                                                                          

Mineral ResourcesMineral Resources

Sierra NevadaGold formation– Minerals are deposited in the veins of quartz by a

hydrothermal (of or relating to hot water) solution

Natural HazardsNatural Hazards Earthquakes cause

Tsunami (:large wave caused from an underwater earthquake)

– Could happen in CA if an earthquake occurred along the Pacific Rim– Primary concern when living on the coast

Landslides– Where there is weak underlying rock/sediments– Can occur in any state– Causes=

Severe storms, earthquakes, volcanic activity, coastal wave attack, & wildfires

Most likely place for earthquake = San Andres fault

Photo of the 2005 La Conchita LandslidePhoto of the 2005 La Conchita Landslide

.

Volcanoes6 active volcanoes in CANext slide has pictures

ErosionCreates coastal cliffs– Caused by waves striking the base of these cliffs

Mount Shasta

People living along the coast of CA are primarily concerned with which natural disaster?

A. tsunamisB. forest firesC. earthquakesD. volcanic eruptions

Which two power sources provides the greatest amount of electric power for CA?

A. nuclear and geothermalB. natural gas and coalC. natural gas and hydroelectricD. coal and nuclear

Which of the following describes the formation of gold deposits in the Sierra Nevada?

A. heat and pressure exerted on a coarse-grained metamorphic rockB. heat and pressure compacted carbonized materialC. mineral deposited by hydrothermal solutions in quartz veinsD. highly viscous magma cooled quickly at Earth’s surface

What might cause a tsunami to strike the coast of CA?

A. volcanic activity with CAB. any earthquake along the Pacific RimC. high tides along the Pacific RimD. an earthquake in the Sierra Nevada

Hazard MapsHazard Maps

Hazard MapsMany typesEarthquake hazard maps most widely used in CA– Show fault lines– Show number of earthquakes that have occurred in a

certain time frame– Help in predicting where an earthquake will occur

Seismic belt: chances of an earthquake happening in this area are greater than anywhere else

California Division of Mines and GeologyPlay an important role in providing earthquake informationGood resource if you are considering building in CA

Which is the major source of water for eastern California?

A. the Pacific OceanB. the Colorado RiverC. groundwaterD. snowmelt

Geologic hazard map helps peopleA. locate water resourcesB. identify evidence of past geologic

eventsC. predict future geologic eventsD. predict the future and learn about the

past

Why is water more important in CA than in other states?

A. CA has less water than any other stateB. CA’s water is polluted by the Pacific

OceanC. More people live in CA than in any

other stateD. CA economy relies on

industry/agriculture, which requires more water

What is the source of most of CA’s water?A. coastal rain from the Pacific Ocean

windsB. underground aquifers throughout the

stateC. rain and snow in mountain watershedsD. canals running from the Colorado River