8.3.5 Summarize the importance of minerals, ores, and fossil fuels as Earth resources on the basis of their
physical and chemical properties.
Read the following to determine the difference between a mineral and a rock.
A mineral is a natural, nonliving, solid crystal that makes up rocks. Minerals are naturally occurring pure
substances. No matter how tiny of a piece of mineral you have it is identical to all other pieces of that same
mineral. Minerals have a very orderly structure that is usually, but not always, seen as crystals. There are more
than 3000 known minerals on Earth. Combinations of different minerals make up all the rocks on earth.
Geologists tell minerals apart based on nine properties: color, luster, density, crystal form, cleavage (smooth,
flat surface pattern when a mineral is broken), fracture (irregular pieces formed when broken), tenacity
(toughness), hardness (ability to scratch or be scratched), and transparency. Minerals have many different uses
that are usually dependent on their properties.
Rocks are made up of more than one kind of mineral. Rocks belong to one of three groups: sedimentary,
igneous or metamorphic.
Any rock containing a metal or nonmetal together with impurities is called an ore. Pure metal is obtained by
mining an ore and then removing the impurities by heat or by chemical processes. Ores are minerals that are
mined because they contain useful metals or nonmetals.
What is the difference between a Rock and a Mineral?
MINERAL
ROCK
Activity: Name That Mineral (Classwork Grade)
ORE
8.3.5 Summarize the importance of minerals, ores, and fossil fuels as Earth resources on the basis of their
physical and chemical properties.
The Earth is rich in ___________________________________________ that we use every day. Earth resources
(minerals, ores, and fossil fuels) have properties that make them important and useful. The two types of properties are:
 ______________________________; for example, hardness, luster, color, texture, the way a mineral splits, or
density
 __________________________________________; for example, the ability to burn, the reactivity to acids
Three common Earth resources that have importance based on their properties are:
________________________________________________________________________
Minerals (building block of rocks)


All rocks are a mixture of many different substances. The individual substances that make up rocks are called
_________________________________. MINERALS ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF ROCKS.
THEY Are _______________________________
Ores (METALS & NONMETALS)



Any rock containing a metal or nonmetal together with impurities is called an _____________________.
Pure metal is obtained by mining an ore and then removing the impurities by heat or by chemical processes.
ORES ARE Minerals that are mined because they contain useful
________________________________________________.
NONRENEWABLE VS. RENEWABLE
WHAT ARE NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES?
Energy resources that cannot be replaced, or renewed, are called ________________________________________.
Types of Nonrenewable Resources: ________________________________
Fossil fuels







Natural fuels that come from the remains of living things are called ___________________________________.
Fuels give off energy when they are _________________________.
Facts: The world depends on _________________________. Energy is the ability to change. People use many
different energy resources; however, they mainly use it to ___________________________ energy.
Fossil Fuels: are _______________________________________ that form over millions of years from remains of
dead plants and other organisms such as ______________________________.
Fossil Fuels are used to make gasoline for cars, to heat homes, to generate electricity, to cook (natural gas) or
heating oil, make plastic, and etc…
THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF FOSSIL FUELS:
1. ___________________________________
2. ___________________________________
3. ___________________________________
TYPES OF FOSSIL FUELS
1. _____________________: a solid _____________________________________rock form from layers of
ancient plant matter, most abundant fossil fuel, and is remove by coal mining
-
Is __________________________ because the sediments that make up coal consists of dead plants, shells,
or animal skeletons.
2. ___________________________________:
a liquid ________________________________ ( contain
the elements hydrogen and carbon) that is used mostly for making heating oil, gasoline, and plastics
-
Is Organic
3.___________________________:
-
gaseous and is used mostly for heating and cooking
Is Organic

Oil and Natural gas are removed by extraction. First a narrow hole or well is drilled down through rock to the oil
deposit. Equipment is put into the well to control the flow and the oil or gas is extracted or pumped.

Important: Nonrenewable resources such as these exist in a fixed amount and can only be
_____________________ by processes that take ____________________________ of years. If they are depleted,
they are depleted for good.
Conserving Fossil Fuels:


Turning off lights, Make sure doors and windows are shut tight so heat won’t leak out, Run your air condition as
little as possible, and Add insulation to help save energy
________________________________________________
Renewable Resources:
Energy resources that can be renewed or replaced are called renewable resources.
Examples OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Problems with our energy sources and supply (i.e. pollution, foreign oil) have become an important conservational and
political topics over the past 25 years. _____________________________________ sources such as wind, water, and
solar have been investigated, but only a fraction of the U.S.’s energy comes from these alternate sources.
Energy resources: A major natural resource that all Americans rely on is petroleum fuel (oil or natural gas).
Petroleum is an earth material that forms within the Earth and can be burned to produce heat and electricity or
made into gasoline. Other fuels are coal, uranium, and alternative energy (wind, tidal, solar).
ACTIVITY: CREATE A GRAPHIC ORGANIZER DEPICTING THE DIFFENCE BETWEEN RENEWABLE AND NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES. PASTE THE PICTURES BELOW IN THE CORRECT AREA.
NAME THAT MINERAL ANSWER KEY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
QUARTZ
FELDSPAR
MICA
TALC
HOMOBLENDE
What is the role of coal in the United
States?
The United States holds the world's largest estimated recoverable reserves of coal and is a net
exporter of coal. In 2011, our nation's coal mines produced more than a billion short tons of coal, and
more than 90% of this coal was used by U.S. power plants to generate electricity. While coal has
been the largest source of electricity generation for over 60 years, its annual share of generation
declined from 49% in 2007 to 42% in 2011 as some power producers switched to lower-priced natural
gas.
Coal is an Abundant U.S. Resource
The United States is home to the largest estimated recoverable reserves of coal in the world.
In fact, we have enough coal to last more than 200 years, based on current production levels.
Coal is produced in 25 states spread across three coal-producing regions. In 2011,
approximately 72% of production originated in five states: Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky,
Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Did You Know?
In 2011, Wyoming produced 438 million short tons of coal, or 40% of the coal mined in the
United States. West Virginia was the second largest producer, with 135 million short tons
(12%).
U.S. coal mines produce more coal than the nation consumes.
Most of Our Coal is Used to Generate Electricity
Over 90% of U.S. coal consumption is in the electric power sector. The United States has
more than 1,400 coal-fired electricity generating units in operation at more than 600 plants
across the country. Together, these power plants generate over 40% of the electricity
produced in the United States and consume more than 900 million short tons of coal per year.
Although coal-fired generation still holds the largest share among all sources of electricity, its
use has declined since 2007 due to a combination of slow growth in electricity demand,
strong price competition with natural gas, and increased use of renewable technologies. See
related article — Today in Energy, July 6, 2012
While the share of our electricity generated from coal is expected to decrease by 2035, the
amount of coal used to meet growing demand for power is expected to increase in the
absence of new policies to limit or reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases. Revised emissions policies could significantly change the outlook for domestic coal
use. See related article — Today in Energy, May 4, 2012
Besides its role in generating electricity, coal also has industrial applications in cement
making and conversion to coke for the smelting of iron ore at blast furnaces to make steel. A
small amount of coal is also burned to heat commercial, military, and institutional facilities,
and an even smaller amount is used to heat homes.
Coal is the largest source of U.S. electricity generation.
The United States Exports Coal to Other Countries
Between 2000 and 2010, about 5% of the coal produced in the United States, on average,
was exported to other countries. Coal exports come in two forms: metallurgical coal, which
can be used for steel production, and steam coal, which can be used for electricity
generation. In 2011, U.S. coal exports climbed to 10% (the highest level in two decades),
partly because flooding disrupted coal mining in Australia, which is normally the world's
largest coal exporter. Metallurgical coal dominated U.S. coal exports in 2011 with Europe the
largest importer, followed by Asia. See related article — Today in Energy, June 19, 2012
The United States also imports a small amount of coal; some power plants along the Gulf
Coast and the Atlantic Coast find it cheaper to import coal by sea from South America than to
have it transported from domestic coal mines.
Coal Is a Relatively Inexpensive Fuel
Although some natural gas plants are more efficient than coal plants at generating electricity,
in the past the fuel cost of generating one kilowatthour of electricity from natural gas had
typically been higher than that of coal. In 2009, coal began losing its price advantage over
natural gas for electricity generation in some parts of the country, particularly in the eastern
United States as a surge in natural gas production from domestic shale deposits (made
possible by advances in drilling technologies) substantially reduced the price of natural gas.
See related article — Today in Energy, July 13, 2012
Environmental Effects from Using Coal
Coal is plentiful and fairly cheap relative to the cost of other sources of electricity, but its use
produces several types of emissions that adversely affect the environment. Coal emits sulfur
dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and heavy metals (such as mercury and arsenic) and acid gases
(such as hydrogen chloride), which have been linked to acid rain, smog, and health issues.
Coal also emits carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. In 2011, coal accounted for 34% of the
energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. On the production-side, coal
mining can have a negative impact on ecosystems and water quality, and alter landscapes
and scenic views.
Did You Know?
Different types of coal have different characteristics including sulfur content, mercury content,
and heat energy content. Heat content is used to group coal into four distinct categories,
known as ranks: anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite (generally in decreasing
order of heat content).
There are far more bituminous coal mines in the United States than the other ranks (over 90%
of total mines), but subbituminous mines (located predominantly in Wyoming and Montana)
produce more coal because their average size is much larger.
Outlook for Future Coal Use
The economics of burning coal may change if the U.S. adopts policies that restrict or
otherwise control carbon dioxide emissions. For example, a cap-and-trade program to
regulate carbon dioxide emissions would likely increase the cost of burning coal because of
its carbon content, and thereby cause power companies to consider using less carbonintensive generating technologies such as nuclear, renewables, and natural gas. In March
2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a new source performance
standard for emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) that would establish an output-based
emission limit of 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatthour for new fossil-fuel-fired power
plants. This emission limit would effectively require that new coal-fired generating units
employ carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies to reduce uncontrolled
emissions of CO2 by approximately 50%.
Researchers are working on ways to lower the costs and improve the efficiency of various
CCS technologies with a goal of capturing approximately 90% of the carbon dioxide from coal
plants before it is emitted into the atmosphere and then storing it below the Earth's surface.
CCS would theoretically address much of coal's carbon dioxide emissions; however,
substantial economic and technological hurdles remain.
America can count on reliable and affordable electricity from coal for the foreseeable
future. This will only happen if the Obama Administration stops its constant attacks on
this abundant resource. In 2013, coal provided America with 40% of America’s
electricity while providing countless direct and indirect jobs. Many communities around
the country rely upon coal for their livelihoods. Needless to say, coal is an important
part of America’s energy portfolio and an all of the above energy policy, that includes
coal, is key to making sure the lights always stay on across America.
Take a look at the 10 Reasons Why Coal is Here to Stay, courtesy of Matt Smith at
Fuel Fix.
1. Coal has historically been, and is currently, the leading fuel in the US power
generation mix. It is also expected to play a leading role for many years to come:
Coal has benefits beyond its use as a source of power. In fact, only 85% of coal that is
mined is used as a source of energy. Beyond its ability to generate electricity, coal and
coal-byproducts can be used in the production and many various goods. Sometimes, the
coal is used to create, super high temperature oven for processing materials, as is the
case with most concretes. Other products that utilize carbon obtained from coal include
plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and synthetic fibers. However, the majority of coal
specified for production purposes is metallurgical (or coking) coal. This kind of coal is
specially processed with iron ore in the production of steel. More than 700 million tons of
coal mined per year is metallurgical coal that will later produce steel.
Implications
With oil and natural gas prices rising at alarming rates, the return of the US to a greater
reliance on coal might seem inevitable. The nation is currently paying over $620 billion
per year for petroleum imports, and this ongoing transfer of wealth abroad cannot help
but have a substantial negative impact on the domestic economy. There are three ways to
moderate that impact: reduce consumption of liquid fuels through conservation; produce
more fuels domestically; or electrify transport, which will require more electricity. Coal
could help with either of the latter two strategies. Given that the nation possesses so much
coal, and that energy from coal is still relatively cheap, it would seem inevitable that
strong arguments will be made for a dramatic increase in coal production to help solve
the nation’s energy problems.
Yet if most of the recent analyses cited here are correct, this strategy has a short shelf life.
Within the planning horizon for any coal plant proposed today lie much higher coal
prices and perhaps even resource scarcity.
Assuming this higher demand scenario (from CTL, increased exports, and growing
electricity consumption), by 2030 the nation’s dependence on coal will be much greater
than is currently the case, and coal’s proportional contribution to the total US energy
supply will have grown substantially. But at the same time, prices for coal are likely to
have increased precipitously because of transport bottlenecks and higher transport costs
(due to soaring diesel prices), falling production trends in many current producing
regions, and the lack of suitable new coalfields. The interactions of high and rising coal
prices with efforts to maximize output are hard to predict.
The Importance of Natural Gas to
the US Economy
Natural gas is playing an increasingly important role in the US economy. Use of natural
gas in the United States is growing as it is increasingly seen as a good alternative to oil. As
the oil reserves in many parts of the world are being depleted, the availability of a viable
alternative such as natural gas is becoming increasingly important. For the United States, the
potential for natural gas to replace the role of oil in the economy is particularly important
because it is one of the most oil dependent countries in the world. Natural gas is an attractive
alternative for the US because it has the ability to produce natural gas domestically. The US
has particularly large reserves of shale gas, which it has only recently been possible to exploit
due to improvements in the technology.
Increased exploitation of natural gas in the United States offers a means of reducing
the country's dependence on oil and providing plenty of energy for use in people's homes and
in industry. It will help the US economy to cope with the depletion of the world's oil reserves
as peak oil production is reached and passed. It will also provide a secure source of energy
that does not depend on sources of fossil fuels that lie abroad, often in unstable parts of the
world such as the Middle East.
The increasing use of natural gas in the US is also important for the country's economy
because it can be produced domestically. This means that the natural gas industry can help
to produce new jobs in the US and to make a significant input into the US economy. There
are more than 6300 natural gas producers in the US, ranging from small companies to major
energy producers. The US has over 530 processing plants for natural gas. These plants
produce nearly 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas a year, which is distributed through the
natural gas pipeline network, which includes more than 300,000 miles of piping across the
entire country. The US natural gas pipelines have the capacity to transport more than 148
billion cubic feet of gas every day, moving it from the regions where it is produced to the
places where it is used.
The natural gas sector in the United States is growing in importance and it is providing
new opportunities for employment and technological advancement. The US has at least a
hundred years worth of natural gas available for exploitation. The natural gas sector
contributes approximately 4 million jobs and over 385 billion dollars to the US economy.
Natural gas provides the United States with a source of energy that will be able to provide a
replacement for some of the power that is currently obtained from oil. Increasing use of
natural gas in the US will help to reduce the country's dependence on oil. Natural gas in the
United States is transported around the country and distributed to its users through a network
of natural gas pipelines. More information about the natural gas pipelines that are used to
transport natural gas can be found on the entregapipeline.com website.
Natural gas is undergoing a revolutionary transformation. Due to advances in drilling
technology, vast amounts of the commodity have been unlocked. With a 100-year supply within
the U.S. borders and under America’s control, natural gas is quickly replacing other fossil fuels
as America’s energy source of choice.
In just a few years, demand has risen appreciably and is expected to continue to do so for
decades to come. Natural gas is environmentally friendly, relatively inexpensive and has wide
application in American commerce. Demand drivers are far-reaching and include numerous
industries and initiatives. Currently, natural gas is making headway as a replacement for coal in
power generation. Captive truck fleets and buses are turning to natural gas for its environmental
and cost advantages relative to gasoline and diesel. Even the maritime and railroad industries
are exploring operating ships and locomotives using natural gas rather than diesel fuel.
With abundant supplies available, America has the opportunity to be energy independent
and become a net exporter of natural gas. Natural gas has enabled America to rethink its energy
needs, and numerous changes sparked by technological advances across multiple industries are
underway.
We believe that we are currently in the early stages of a major energy transformation in
the U.S. and that natural gas will play a primary role over the next several decades.
Due to the growth in natural gas production, primarily from shale gas, the United States
is benefitting from some of the lowest prices for natural gas in the world and faces the question
of how to best use this resource.
Different segments of the U.S. economy have different perspectives on the role natural
gas can play. Suppliers, which have become the victims of their own production success, are
facing low prices that are forecast to remain low. Some companies that have traditionally
produced only natural gas have even turned their attention to oil in order to improve their
financial situation. Smaller companies are having a difficult time continuing operations and
larger companies, including international companies, have bought into many shale gas assets.
Prices have remained low even as consumption has increased, in part, because producers have
raised production to meet the demand and because companies have improved efficiency and
extraction techniques. Some companies, many with large production operations, have applied
for permits to export natural gas. This has raised concerns from consumers of natural gas that
domestic prices will rise. The debate regarding exports is ongoing.
Industries that consume natural gas have seen input costs drop, and some have heralded
low natural gas prices as the impetus for a manufacturing revolution in the United States. Some
companies have begun to make major investments to take advantage of the low natural gas
prices, particularly in petrochemicals. Other companies are waiting to see if prices will remain
low long enough to warrant major investments in new facilities. Meanwhile, the electric power
sector has already seen a transition from coal-fired generation to natural gas. Low natural gas
prices are also putting pressure on renewable sources of power generation. However, increases
in demand will put upward pressure on natural gas prices.
The transportation sector, the one part of the economy vulnerable to foreign energy
supplies, is beginning to explore ways to use more natural gas. Transportation makes up less
than 1% of U.S. natural gas consumption and would require billions of dollars in investment to
increase that share significantly.
All of the change that has taken place so far has occurred despite environmental concerns
and regulatory developments at the state and federal level that might curtail production. Natural
gas is a fossil fuel that produces various pollutants, some more than other fossil fuels and some
less. Methane, the major component of natural gas, is also a potent greenhouse gas when
released without burning. Other environmental concerns focus on water use and disposal in
hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas from shale formations.
Over the next five years, many of the issues being debated now may be decided. The
industry and market are adapting to the newly found supplies and the concerns associated with
them, as well as integrating more natural gas into the economy. There are many evolving issues
some of which Congress can influence directly because of statutes and some indirectly. On the
demand side, legislation has been introduced regarding exports of liquefied natural gas and
alternative fuels for vehicles. There has been other legislation related to environmental
regulations of natural gas.
The importance of oil in our world today
Petroleum (also known as crude oil or simply oil) is a fossil fuel that was formed
from the remains of ancient marine organisms. When petroleum products such as
gasoline are burned for energy, they release toxic gases and high amounts of
carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Carbon helps regulate the Earth’s atmospheric
temperature, and adding to the natural balance by burning fossil fuels adversely
affects our climate.
There are huge quantities of petroleum found under Earth’s surface and in tar pits
that bubble to the surface. Petroleum even exists far below the deepest wells that
are developed to extract it.
However, petroleum, like coal and natural gas, is a non-renewable source of energy.
It took millions of years for it to form, and when it is extracted and consumed,
there is no way for us to replace it.
Oil supplies will run out. Eventually, the world will reach “peak oil,” or its
highest production level. Some experts predict peak oil could come as soon as
2050. Finding alternatives to petroleum is crucial to global energy use, and is the
focus of many industries.
Oil is a major component of modern civilization. In developing countries,
access to affordable energy can empower citizens and lead to higher quality of life.
Petroleum provides transportation fuel, is a part of many chemicals and medicines,
and is used to make crucial items such as heart valves, contact lenses, and
bandages. Oil reserves attract outside investment and are important for improving
countries’ overall economy.
However, a developing country’s access to oil can also affect the power
relationship between a government and its people. In some countries, having
access to oil can lead government to be less democratic—a situation nicknamed a
“petro-dictatorship.” Russia, Nigeria, and Iran have all been accused of having
petro-authoritarian regimes.
It's easy to understand why oil is so important in our lives. Your
parents couldn't drive their car unless it was filled with gasoline or petrol.
The school bus couldn't make it to school without gasoline.
Gasoline is made from crude oil. Lubricating oil is also used to keep our
automobile engines from getting too hot and to ensure that all moving parts
of the machinery are kept in good working order.
In fact, our world would almost grind to a halt without oil. Factories would
stop running. So would cars. Airplanes would be grounded.
Tractors on the farm would sputter to a standstill and rust. And people's
homes and offices, if heated by oil, would freeze in winter. Oil is used in
many products. Here are just a few examples: farm fertilizers, plastic toys
and other plastic goods, cosmetics, detergents, and nylon clothing. Even
waxes for chewing gum are made from oil.
Petroleum has played an important role in the social, economic, and political
history of the United States and the world. Since the nineteenth century, the United
States has been using petroleum as a source of energy production. We have
encountered major energy crises in 1973, 1979, and 1990. All three of these crises
coincided with increased social usage of petroleum as well as political turmoil in
major exporting countries. Today we face a fourth energy crises along with
economic and political unrest. The future of our country’s energy supply is
uncertain, but we are sure the world will soon run out of petroleum and need other
major sources of energy. The U.S. has dangerously relied on oil to play a major role
in the past, present, and future of its social, economic, and political history.
Throughout the twentieth century and into the beginning of the twenty first
century petroleum has played an increasingly important role in the economy of the
United States. Petroleum has become an important input in nearly every form of
production that is carried out in the United States. Farming, mining, and
manufacturing of all kinds have come to depend on petroleum and as such the price
of outputs in these sectors and the health of our economy has depended heavily on
the price of petroleum. Fortunately the price of petroleum in the U.S. has remained
relatively low and stable throughout history. However, there are a few small
exceptions to this truth. The three most noticeable exceptions to low stable
petroleum prices came in 1973, 1979, and 1990.
As a nation we are not only dependent on petroleum for transportation fuels and
heating oil, but for a long list of products that we utilize daily without knowing the
association with oil. We use and rely on petroleum daily, in a multitude of ways: from
the gas in our cars to the fertilizer and pesticides used for our crops, even the clothes
we wear! Although a large percentage of the oil we refine does go toward fueling
our transportation needs and heating our homes. Believe it or not, some of the
petroleum we are unknowingly dependent on is refined into chemicals which are the
building blocks for many products that are used in everyday life. Products such as
rubber, plastics, nylon, vinyl and even polyester which are all derived from
petrochemicals.
Examples of products we use (or encounter) every day that contain petroleum
are:
BUNKER FUEL Bunker fuel, which is also know as heavy oil, is used to power ships. It
typically contains a high number of pollutants and contaminants. Use is increasing with
the shipping associated with global commerce.
DETERGENT All soapless detergents used to wash clothes and dishes are derived
from the petrochemical glycerin.
PLASTICS All plastic, unless it is “bioplastic”, is made from petrochemicals. Every
product made from or containing plastic is a product that exists only through the
distillation of petroleum.
JET FUEL The standard type of jet fuel, Jet A, is a petroleum product with a number of
additives to prevent sparking, gumming, corrosion, and icing.
DIESEL FUEL Diesel, unless it is “biodiesel”, is made from refining crude oil. It is
generally used in medium- and heavy-duty vehicles requiring a great deal of power and
torque, like garbage trucks, road equipment, buses, and trains.
HEATING OIL Heating oil is a petroleum product used to fuel furnaces or boilers. In
the U.S., most heating oil is consumed in the northeast.
SYNTHETIC RUBBER- Synthetic rubber is used for car tires and rubber soles on
shoes. The demand for synthetic rubber is four times greater than that for natural
rubber.
SYNTHETIC FIBERS- Polyester, nylon, and acrylic are all derived from
petrochemicals. They are used for curtains, carpets, rope and even our everyday
clothing.
FERTILIZERS & PESTICIDES- All major commercial fertilizers are ammonia based,
made from natural gas, and most commercial pesticides come from oil.
PAINT -Plastic and oil based paints, as well as paint additives, are manufactured from
petrochemicals.
GASOLINE- Gasoline is the most commonly used product by Americans for their day
to day transportation needs. 45% of all oil used in the U.S. goes to gasoline, which
means we consume in excess of 180 million gallons of gasoline a day.
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM – Pertochemical ethylene is what is used in photographic film.
FOOD ADDITIVES – The shelf life of canned foods can be increased by food
additives, derived from petrochemicals.
MAKE UP – Make-up’s that contain oils, perfumes, waxes and color, are derived from
petrochemicals.
MEDICINE – Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), the active ingredient in many pain reliever
medicines, is manufactured from petrochemicals.
CANDLES – Wax is a raw petroleum product.
Crude oil is the most important natural resource of the industrialized
nations. It can generate heat, drive machinery and fuel vehicles and
airplanes. Its components are used to manufacture almost all chemical
products, such as plastics, detergents, paints, and even medicines. As it is
such an important resource it is very important to expand our technical
ability to discover new sources and extend the production lives of existing
oil fields. Life without oil? Impossible! Within our daily lives oil is used
almost everywhere: Every year, 18 million tonnes of crude oil are processed
into synthetic materials in Germany. Oil within our materials: 40 percent of
all textiles contain oil; for functional clothing this may be as much as 100
percent. Oil within our leisure activities: 40 billion liters of oil a year are
used to make CDs and DVDs. Oil helps us relax: A single sofa contains 60
liters of oil. Modern life is inconceivable without crude oil. The world
consumes almost 14 billion liters of oil each day. This affects us all.
Reduce Oil Dependence Costs
Around one-third of the oil we use is
imported, costing our economy roughly $192 billion annually. Increased domestic
oil production from shale formations and improved fuel economy standards have
decreased oil imports over the past few years, but the U.S. Department of Energy
projects that we will continue to rely on imports for 25% to 32% of our petroleum
needs in the future. Most of the world's oil reserves are concentrated in the
Middle East, and about 73% are controlled by Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC) members. Oil price shocks and price manipulation by
OPEC have cost our economy dearly—about $2 trillion from 2004 to 2008.
Solutions It's unclear whether we will ever completely eliminate our need to
import oil, but we can reduce cartel market control and the economic impact of
price shocks by reducing our petroleum consumption. EPA has established new
corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for new cars and trucks to help
decrease our dependence on oil and to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
Increased standards for model year 2012 to 2025 vehicles are projected to
• Gradually increase real-world fuel economy to about 45 mpg for the average car
and 32 mpg for the average truck
• Save consumers more than $1.7 trillion in fuel costs
• Reduce our dependence on oil by more than 2 million barrels per day in 2025—
about half of the oil that we currently import from OPEC countries each day
• For vehicles purchased in 2025, save new car buyers $8,000 in fuel costs over
that vehicle's lifetime (when compared to a vehicle meeting the model year
2011 CAFE standards) Ultimately, the solution to this problem lies in
technological progress:
• Developing advanced vehicle technologies that use energy more efficiently
• Creating new energy sources that can replace petroleum cleanly and costeffectively
• You Can Help You can help improve our energy security by selecting a
vehicle that uses less petroleum. Each vehicle in our Find and Compare Cars
section has an Energy Impact Score that shows the amount of petroleum it
uses each year. You can also decrease your petroleum use by getting the
best fuel economy possible out of your current car by driving sensibly,
keeping your car in shape, and planning and combining trips.