Earth’s Energy and
Mineral Resources
Chapter 5
Energy

The ability to create change.
Nonrenewable Resources

Resources that are being used faster than
natural processes can replace them.

Fossil fuels

Fuels that form from the remains of buried
organisms.

Coal, oil, natural gas
Coal



Most abundant fossil fuel in the world.
Is a rock that contains at least 50% plant
remains.
At current rate of use, coal will last for
another 250 years.
Synthetic Fuels

Fuels extracted from solid organic
material, such as coal.

Hydrocarbons are extracted from the coal to
form liquid and gaseous synthetic fuel.
Stages of Coal Formation

As plant material decays it loses gas and
moisture and increases in carbon content.

Stage 1 – Peat


Stage 2 – Lignite


Soft, brown coal formed from the burial and pressurization of
peat
Stage 3 - Bituminous Coal


Organic sediment with a high concentration of water and
impurities
Soft coal that is compact, black, and brittle
Stage 4 – Anthracite

Cleanest burning coal because it has the highest carbon
content
Oil


Thick, black liquid formed from the buried
remains of microscopic marine organisms.
Composed of hydrocarbons.
Natural Gas



Often forms with oil.
Composed of hydrocarbons.
Enough natural gas is located in the US to
last about 60 more years.
Formation of Oil and Natural Gas




Tiny marine organisms called plankton die and
are buried by sediment.
Pressure and heat change the organisms to
natural gas and oil.
Because both oil and gas are lighter than water,
they move toward the surface of the earth.
While moving up, they may be trapped under an
folder layer of impermeable rock such as shale.


Shale is known as a caprock.
The rock layer underneath the caprock is known as a
reservoir rock.
Coal Mining

Strip mining

Used when coal deposits are close to the
surface.
Layers of soil and rock are removed and piled to
the side
 Coal is removed
 Soil is replaced and trees are planted through land
reclamation.

Coal Mining

Underground coal mining

Tunnels are dug in order to remove the coal.

Drift mining


Coal close to the surface is removed through horizontal
openings in the sides of hills or mountains.
Slope mining

An angled opening and air shaft are made in the side of
the mountain to remove the coal.
Drilling for Oil and Gas

Wells are drilled down to rock layers that
may have oil and gas deposits.




Wells are lined with pipe to prevent collapse.
Once the targeted layer is reached,
equipment to control the flow of oil.
Surrounding rock is fractured to allow oil
and gas to flow into the well.
Oil and gas are pumped to the surface.
Fossil Fuel Reserves

Fossil Fuel Reserve


Amount of a fossil fuel that can be extracted
at a profit using current technology.
Fossil Fuel Resource

Fossil fuels that are concentrated enough that
they can be extracted in useful amounts.
Methane Hydrates



Stable molecules found trapped in ice
structures in ocean floor sediments
Form under relatively low temps and high
pressures.
Estimated to contain more carbon than in
all current fossil fuel deposits combined.
Nuclear Energy

Nuclear fission


The splitting of heavy elements to produce energy.
Carried out in nuclear power plants using uranium.




Uranium fuel rods sit in water inside a nuclear reactor.
Neutrons are fired into the fuel rod, splitting the uranium
atoms which produces heat and releases more neutrons to
hit other atoms.
Heat causes the water to produce steam which drives a
turbine, which turns a generator that produces energy.
Process produced radioactive wastes that must be stored at
least 10,000 years.
Nuclear Energy

Fusion


Materials with low mass are fused to produce
a substance with higher mass.
Occurs naturally in the sun (hydrogen is fused
into helium).
Inexhaustible Energy Resources

Energy sources that are constant and will
not run out.




Sun
Wind
Water
Geothermal
Solar Energy

Solar cells


Actively collect energy from the sun and
transform it into electricity.
Disadvantages

Only works when sunlight is available
Wind Energy

Windmills


Wind Farm


Use wing to produce energy.
Large number of windmills in one area.
Disadvantages


Not consistent
Wind must blow at certain speeds
Energy from Water

Hydroelectric Energy



Electricity produced with water power.
Water released through dams turn turbines
which then turn generators that produce
electricity.
Disadvantages

Environmental concerns with loss of habitat,
increased erosion, and increased sediment
deposition.
Energy from the Earth

Geothermal energy


Energy obtained using hot magma or hot, dry
rocks inside the Earth.
Heated groundwater produced steam which is
used to turn turbines which turn generators
which produce electricity.
Renewable Energy Resources

Energy sources that can be replaced in
nature or by humans in a relatively short
period of time (within the lifetime of a
human).
Biomass Energy

Energy derived from burning organic
materials such as wood, alcohol, and
garbage.
Wood

Disadvantages:


Small particles are released into the air when
burned.
Habitat is destroyed.
Alcohol

Gasohol


Ethanol, produced during the distillation of
corn, mixed with gasoline
Disadvantages

Currently takes abundant energy to produce
Garbage



Approximately 2/3 of garbage is burnable.
Garbage can be burned to heat water,
producing steam used to drive generators.
Disadvantages

Air pollution and heavy metals
Mineral Resources

A deposit of useful minerals
Metallic Mineral Resources

Ores

Deposits in which minerals exist in large
enough amounts to be mined for profit.
Mineral must be in demand
 Enough mineral must exist to make mining
profitable
 Must be fairly easy to separate from rest of the
material

Metallic Mineral Resources

Refining Ore


After the ore is mined, it is crushed and
waster rock (called gangue) is removed
Once the mineral is removed it is refined in
processes such as smelting in order to be as
pure as possible.
Nonmetallic Mineral Resources


Any mineral resources not used as fuels or
as sources of metal.
Divided into two groups:


Industrial minerals
Building materials
Nonmetallic Mineral Resources

Examples of Industrial Minerals




Sylvite is used in fertilizers
Halite is used for various salts
Corundum and garnet are used as abrasives
Examples of Building Materials



Aggregate and limestone in concrete
Gypsum in plaster and wallboard
Various rocks as building blocks/sheets
Recycling Mineral Resources


Using old materials to make new ones
Advantages:



Reduces the demand for new mineral
resources
Uses less energy to make product
Profit