The Earth’s crust contains
more than 3,000 useful
minerals that are finite—they
are nonrenewable—they
cannot be replaced once they
have been used.
Unlike trees, which are
considered renewable,
because more can be planted
to replace those which have
been cut down, and air and
water which are recycled,
minerals are formed through
processes which take
millions of years.
Formation of Ores
ores - natural mineral
deposits in high
concentration from which
metals and non-mentals can
be profitably extracted
Ex: Hematite – iron ore
Some mineral deposits that
are classified as ores today
weren’t considered ores
before and vice versa.
This is because the world
politics, economics, and the
technologies of recovery
have changed.
Drilling is very
expensive, but it
is the only way
to determine the
presence and quality of the
ore and
the
size
of
the
<>
deposit.
Mining
techniques:
underground
mining
open pit/ surface mining
(Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Utah)
Undersea Mining

The ocean floor contains significant mineral
resources.
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Problems with this method:
1. cost of drilling underwater
2. great water depths to get deposits
Smelting

Process of melting crushed ore at high
temperatures to separate impurities from
molten metal.
Mineral
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Naturally occurring
Inorganic
Solid
Chemical composition
Internal structure
Amethyst
Although mining and mineral
processing technologies have
become cheaper and more
efficient in allowing extraction
from low grade ores, there is
a limit below which a
particular mineral cannot be
profitably recovered.
We should be using minerals
in proportion to their
availability, but seem to be
doing just the opposite!
Economic and Political
Issues
of Mineral Resources
Since tectonic forces have
not evenly distributed mineral
resources across the globe,
some must be imported, while
those that occur in greater
abundance can be exported.
Although the U.S. is still rich
in mineral resources, many
are imported for reasons of
governmental policy and
economics.
A strategic mineral is one that
has been determined to be
essential to the functioning of
our economy and military
capabilities, but which is not
mined/produced in the United
States to meet such needs.
It is “stockpiled”— enough of
the mineral is kept available
for the duration of a threeyear conventional war.
Many Third World countries
have mineral resources which
have only begun to be
recovered for much-needed
revenue.
Unfortunately, environmental
damage, pollution, and the
disruption of the lives of
native peoples have resulted.
Non Renewable/ Renewable

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Nonrenewable Energy can run out.
Examples: coal, oil, natural gas
Renewable Energy can be used over and over
again and never runs out.
Examples: solar power, water power, wind
power
FOSSIL FUELS - the remains of
ancient plants and/or animals,
which when burned release heat
and light energies
coal, crude oil (petroleum), and
natural gas
hydrocarbons - that group of
chemical compounds which
consist primarily of hydrogen
and carbon
Coal - a combustible, sedimentary
and metamorphic rock composed
of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,
sulfur, nitrogen, and various trace
elements
Complex
chemical and physical changes
over millions of years converted
the trees, ferns, and other plants
which flourished in prehistoric
swamps, into coal.
Near anaerobic conditions of
these waters prevented the
dead plants from being
completely decomposed, and
the coal deposits used today
are a result of their
carbonization.
Coal is found
in 32 eastern
counties, is
Ohio’s most
valuable
energy
resource,
and is the nation’s most
abundant fuel.
Coal is found on all continents,
but almost 2/3 of the known
deposits are found in the US,
Russia, and China.
Scientists estimate that the
world’s coal reserves will last
about 200 years.
There are four stages for the
formation of coal, each of which can
be used as a fuel, and with increasing
heat energy output from peat
through anthracite.
Petroleum Oil & Natural gas
Oil and gas are our most
important fossil fuels, obtained
from wells, tar sands, and oil
shale.
Made from marine life called
diatoms, which are like tiny
plants and animals
They
are also of prehistoric origin,
formed from the bodies of
marine invertebrates and
plants which were buried in
marine sediments, then
changed by pressure and
heat over time.
Formation of oil and gas
As the biotic materials changed
from solids to liquids and gases,
they began to migrate upwards
through cracks or permeable
strata until they were stopped by
impermeable layers of rock
(usually shale)--the “cap rock”-in geological formations called
“traps”.
Anticline Oil Trap
Once
located and pumped out of the
ground, the gas and water would
be separated, then the crude oil
would go to the refinery
Different products of oil
Products made from Petroleum
Ink
Crayons
Bubble gum
Dishwashing liquids
Deodorant
Eyeglasses
CDs and DVDs
Tires
Ammonia
Heart valves
Natural gas supplies about 25%
of US energy needs, and is a
preferred source of fuel because it
is:
- Cleaner burning
- Easier to transport in pipelines
- Has a significantly lower cost
when compared to fuels
delivering equal Btu values (heat
output)
(Btu = British thermal unit =
amount of energy needed to raise
the temperature of one pound of
water 1 degree Fahrenheit)
Scientists estimate that about
75% of the petroleum and
natural gas in the US has
already been discovered, but
that there are undiscovered
supplies along the continental
shelf.
What can we do?

There are many ways to help protect
our natural resources.
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Can you think of an action that you do
already to protect our minerals or fossil
fuels from running out?
Conservation
Because mineral resources
are finite (nonrenewable),
they must be conserved by
this and future generations.
They may become lost from
an economic aspect, but we
can use technology to
recover and reuse them, by
buying products made from
recycled materials.
What do you think?

Most of our mineral resources are located
in the public lands of Western US and
Alaska—3/4 of these public lands are now
off limits.
Should we ruin these landscapes to keep our
luxury lifestyle? When will it be ok to ruin
them?
So until then----the way to
help conserve the mineral
resources we have is:
recycling to reuse mineral
products;
redesigning products to
reduce mineral requirements;
substituting more common
minerals when possible
and
reclaiming the mined land
11:4 ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY SOURCES
Direct Solar Energy - taking the
energy straight from the Sun
and using it—but this energy
is difficult to collect, convert,
concentrate and store.
passive solar energy - the
method of using the Sun’s
radiant energy which requires
no other energy input
It has been used since
ancient times, such as the
cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde.
The openings in the cliff faces
were warmed during the day,
but shaded from the direct
rays, and would radiate heat
stored in the rock during the
evening.
Cold-blooded animals, such
as insects and reptiles, will
sun themselves to increase
their body temperatures.
active solar energy - requires
some energy input to operate
fans or pumps
President Barack Obama, checked out the solar panels at
Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in May of 2009
Usually there is some kind of
solar energy collector—a
solar panel—through which
water or air is circulated.
The heat energy is then
transported and released
where it is needed in the
building.
photovoltaic cell (solar cell) device which
converts solar energy
directly to electricity;
unfortunately, they are
expensive
Besides the fossil fuels which
have already been discussed
previously, another form of
stored solar energy is:
biomass - organic material
which can be used as fuel to
generate heat or electricity
One advantage of biomass is
that is renewable.
The burning of wood and
animal dung is the major
source of energy for most of
the world.
hydroelectric power - using the
kinetic energy of moving or
falling water to
generate electricity
People harnessed this energy
early in their history, as
currents in rivers were used
to carry boats or turn
water/mill wheels.
wind power - using the winds
(caused by uneven heating of
the Earth’s surface) to
generate electricity or run
pumps.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY - use
of the Earth’s internal
temperatures to heat, cool, or
generate electricity
Water is pumped into the
ground through pipes where
it will release heat picked up
from a building or absorb
heat from magma sources to
be circulated.
The ground stays about 22C
(55F) which allows it to
supplement a
home heating
or cooling
system.
Iceland,
uses geothermal energy
extensively—since it sits on
top of the Mid-Oceanic Ridge,
the ground has an ‘endless’
supply of heat energy which
can be used to heat buildings
or generate electricity.
TIDAL POWER - using the
differences in tide levels to
power electrical generators
There must be extreme
differences between high and
low tides.
Tidal power plants have been
built in France, Canada, and
Russia, but this source of power
is limited to the very few areas of
the world which have the
extreme difference between high
and low tides necessary to run a
plant using tidal power.