3) energy & mineral resources

Question 1

mineral reserve

Answer 1

known & identified deposits where materials can be extracted for profit with existing technology & under present economic & legal conditions

Question 2

mineral resource

Answer 2

reserves and other deposits that may become profitable in the future

Question 3

mineral deposit

Answer 3

a place in the crust where minerals are concentrated in greater abundance than in average places

Question 4

kimberlite: definition & importance

Answer 4

Kimberlite - an igneous intrusive body that contains diamond crystals disseminated throughout
Kimberlite plays a large role in the movement of diamonds up toward the crust, intrusive breccia carries it up

Question 5

placer deposits: definition & use

Answer 5

Placer deposits are deposits created when placers are put in rivers to catch large deposits of valuable materials
‘49 gold rush in CA - gold trapped in bedrock in rivers & streams

Question 6

mining operations & water quality

Answer 6

Acid rain resulting from mining decreases water quality, cyanide contamination in bodies of water from gold dissolution, surface runoff contaminates rivers, and mountaintop mining explosions release toxins into waterways

Question 7

surface mining: definition & why

Answer 7

Surface mining is the process of removing large volumes of rock to recover materials of interest
It’s used due to it being easier & safer than traditional mining, less expensive, and faster

Question 8

smelter emissions & environment

Answer 8

Smelting releases particulates like asbestos or heavy metals, sulfur dioxide, and generally creates air pollution

Question 9

weathering & ores

Answer 9

oxygen can oxidize ores and alter their makeup or value
water can convert minerals to clay or dissolve minerals
Intensive weathering (bauxite)
Rising water table carries elements closer to surface
Leaves behind a ring of deposited iron & aluminum

Question 10

gold mining process

Answer 10

Gold is mined through leeching, where gold ore is spread out and sprayed with a cyanide solution. The gold dissolves and the slurry is collected, leaving behind tailings contaminated with cyanide

Question 11

mineral concentration in the environment

Answer 11

gold —- 0.0000004
mercury – 0.00001
lead ——— 0.0015
copper ——- 0.005
iron —————– 5
aluminum ——— 8

Question 12

recycling: importance & common metals

Answer 12

Recycling reduces waste, protects the planet, conserves natural resources, reduces emissions, and saves energy
Steel, aluminum, copper, brass, and zinc are the 5 most recycled metals

Question 13

(likely) future of coal

Answer 13

Coal reliance will increase as natural gas prices go up & energy crisis continues

Question 14

coal classification

Answer 14

Coal is classified based on type & sulfur content

Type (% carbon) from low to high
Lignite, sub bituminous, bituminous, anthracite

Sulfur content
Low-medium (0-3%), high (>3%)

Question 15

US E consumption in recent decades

Answer 15

Human energy consumption has been steadily increasing and is at an all-time high
Natural gas, oil, and coal are the top 3
Coal has had the most consistent increase
Oil is the most used

Question 16

(likely) future of oil

Answer 16

Oil use will likely decrease in the future as demand will outweigh the amount of available oil

Question 17

methane hydrate

Answer 17

large amounts of methane trapped in ice from bacterial decomposition of organics in water >300m (can’t be accessed)

Question 18

hydrogen fuel cells

Answer 18

a form of renewable energy where hydrogen gas reacts with oxygen in an electron bath to generate electricity, heat, and water (used in motor vehicles)

Question 19

photovoltaic cell

Answer 19

way to use solar energy in which sunlight strikes the cell & photons knock off electrons (low efficiency 20-30%)

Question 20

acid rain: causes & effects

Answer 20

Acid rain is caused by the interaction of SO2 & NOX with water that then turns into precipitation
It produces bicarbonate buildup in rivers & has many negative environmental effects and previous response effects

Question 21

geothermal E

Answer 21

heat from the core releasing E through the earth. Harvested at divergent & convergent boundaries where higher heat flow is released at the surface
(Hydrothermal convection & groundwater system)

Question 22

wind E

Answer 22

taking advantage of winds to store energy through mills, pumps, and turbines
(Winds produced by differences in heat & densities)

Question 23

nuclear E: fission & E sources

Answer 23

Nuclear fission - splitting of an atom by neutron bombardment
Elements used: U-234, 235, 238 & Pu-239

Question 24

nuclear waste storage & risks

Answer 24

Low-level waste - small radioactive waste stored as solids or packed with liquid absorbing materials (isolation is 500 years)
Transuranic waste - human-made, heavier than uranium (isolation is 250,000 years)
High-level waste - a large amount of radioactive waste (isolation is over 250,000 years)
Risks - not long-term viable, radiation emission, more waste than energy produced, national security (?)

Question 25

hydrothermal E: definition & pros/cons

Answer 25

Hydrothermal energy - water taken from groundwater to produce steam that power turbines before being condensed & reused
Advantages - naturally occurring
Disadvantages - slow groundwater recharge, uncommon