Renewable
or
Non-Renewable
Resources
Non-renewable resources were formed
billions of years ago by geological forces.
The events that occurred to create such
resources are impossible to recreate.
Kyonite
Rhodolite (Garnet)
Slate
Virginia continues to get most of its
energy from non-renewable energy
sources because the state has very large
coal and natural gas deposits. Coal is the
most valuable of Virginia's mineral
resources and is used primarily to
generate electricity.
In Virginia the dollar value of all mineral
resources produced has risen almost
threefold in the past 25 years, from
$540,595,000 in 1973 to $1,702,576,00 in
1997. Yet this figure tells only a small part
of the story of the importance of the
state's geologic resources.
In Virginia the dollar value of coal
produced has risen almost fivefold in the
past 35 years, from $250,000,000 in 1970
to $1,201,200,000 in 2004 while
production actually decreased.
The graph on the next slide tells more
What Is This Graph Showing?
The X axis shows years (1970-2004)
the Y axis shows money values (millions).
Our nonrenewable
resources are
important to Virginia’s
economy.
Can we replace or replenish
these resources?
Can we do without these
resources?
Discussion Time !!
What nonrenewable resource adds the
most money to Virginia’s economy?
COAL
Where does coal come from?
Virginia’s Coal
• Coal originated from ancient plants that flourished in
swamp-like environments millions of years ago. In
Virginia, coal was formed mainly during the
Carboniferous period of the Earth's history, 280 to 360
million years ago. There are also coal beds in Virginia
that were formed during the Triassic period, 205 to 245
million years ago.
• By comparison, most of the coals in the western U.S.
were formed during the Cretaceous period,
70 to 140 million years ago, and the Tertiary period,
2 to 70 million years ago.
Are all minerals and rocks formed
in the same manner?
The three types of rocks are igneous, sedimentary and
metamorphic. Igneous rocks form when molten rock, or
magma, cools and hardens. Sedimentary rocks result from
erosion of any rock type, followed by depositing the
resulting sediment into a natural basin, and finally
cementing the sediment into stone. Metamorphic rocks
form when any rock is subjected to great heat and
pressure, but not enough heat to melt the rock.
For example, when magma crystallizes, it may form the
igneous rock, granite. If the granite is then eroded, it
may become sand. Later, the sand may harden to form
sandstone, a sedimentary rock. If the sandstone is
heated and pressurized, it might turn into quartzite, a
metamorphic rock. It is possible
(although rare) for that quartzite
to melt and then crystallize,
turning it back into an igneous
rock. This process can change
any rock type into any other.
It is called the Rock Cycle.
What type of rock is
formed here?
Are these rocks a
renewable or
non-renewable
resource?
Are any of Virginia’s resources
formed this way?
Explain.
Name three of Virginia’s
nonrenewable resources that are
formed by a rock cycle?
How are these resources used?
Answer the following?
• Do you believe the state of Virginia is
too depended on its non-renewable
resources? Explain.
• Devise a conservation or a reduce
dependency plan for Virginia non-renewable
resources and write a paragraph.
• Do you believe Virginia will use all of its
non-renewable resources?