Chapter 7
Mineral Resources
Define the following:
Environment: All of the resources, influences, and conditions at or near
Earth’s surface
Renewable resource: A resource that can be replaced in nature at a rate
close to its rate of use.
Non-Renewable resource: A resource that exists in a fixed amount or is
used up faster than it can be replaced in nature.
Fossil fuel: A non-renewable fuel that formed from the remains of
organisms that lived long ago; coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
Conservation: The protection, restoration, and management of natural
resources.
Recycle: To collect and reuse materials from waste.
Renewable resources are resources that can be RESTORED and used
AGAIN and AGAIN.
Renewable resources include: Air, water, and sunlight.
Non-renewable resources can be used only ONE TIME.
Non-renewable resources include: COAL, PETROLEUM,
NATURAL GAS, and CRUSHED STONE.
Some non-renewable resources are very hard to EXTRACT which may
limit the supply and make the resource more EXPENSIVE to those who
need it.
Energy Resources
Renewable
Non-renewable
Wind
Water
Fossil Fuels
Solar (sun)
Geothermal
Uranium
COAL, petroleum, and NATURAL GAS are considered NONRENEWABLE resources even though they continue to form under earth’s
surface. This is because HUMANS are using these resources faster than they
can be produced. Because they take MILLIONS of years to form, they are
considered NON-RENEWABLE.
Since humans are using up non-renewable resources faster than they can be
produced, what do you think will happen to renewable resources?
RENEWABLE RESOURCES USE AND AVAILABILITY SHOULD
INCREASE
CONSVERATION involves preserving resources by reducing their use and
by improving their EFFICIENCY in our use of them. Recycle
GLASS, PLASTICS, and METALS instead of throwing them out. Both
CONSERVATION and RECYCLING are important ways to make sure
that we continue to have things for humans to meet their personal needs.
The EPA LAWS and the 1990 POLLUTION PROTECTION ACT are
ways that the government has acted to protect our environment and our
resources.
Resource
1. Mined minerals
Problems
Waste rock; sulfuric acid; chemical
contamination; water pollution;
open pits; loss of topsoil.
2. Nuclear power
Radioactive byproducts; accident
potential
3. Fossil fuel power
Air pollution; acid rain; threatens
open lands; oil spills.
4.Water power
Need dams for storage
5. Wind power
Interfere with broadcast reception;
interfere with bird migration; use
of arable land, storage limitations
6. Geothermal power
Not located near centers of need;
cave-ins; water pollution
7. Solar power
Storage limitations; weather
dependent