Minerals and Energy Sources Flashcards
memorize (34 cards)
the source of many important commodities, such as copper and gold, used by our society, but it is important to realize that mineral deposits are a nonrenewable resource
Mineral deposits
Two cycles determine how mineral deposits are formed
the rock cycle and the tectonic cycle
refers to the process by which the Earth’s crust is formed
and moved.
Plate Tectonics
where new crust is generated as the plates pull away
from each other.
Divergent boundaries
where crust is destroyed as one plate dives under
another.
Convergent boundaries
where crust is neither produced nor destroyed as the
plates slide horizontally past each other.
Transform boundaries
broad belts in which boundaries are not well defined
and the effects of plate interaction are unclear.
Plate boundary zones
is the study of the planet Earth
Geology
involves searching for favorable mineral deposits
using the physical properties of rocks, such as magnetic intensity and electrical
conductivity.
Geophysical exploration
may include aeromagnetic or gravity
surveys, ground-penetrating radar studies, or the use of seismic waves to show
contrasting rock types.
Geophysical investigations
is the study of the distribution and amounts of elements in
minerals, ores, rocks, soil, water, and the atmosphere and the study of the
circulation of the elements in nature on the basis of the properties of their atoms
and ions.
Geochemistry
commonly include soil sampling, stream sediment sampling, and rock sampling; even plants are also sampled in some
studies.
Geochemical investigations
has become a valuable tool for exploration
geologists.
use of satellite imagery
is the capacity of a physical system to perform work
Energy
is derived from natural processes that are replenished
constantly such as solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal
resources, and biofuels and hydrogen.
Renewable energy
the primary source of energy
Sun
is a clean, renewable source of
energy
Sunlight
can be used to generate electricity
Solar Energy
solar radiation gets converted into DC electricity directly.
Solar Photovoltaic
(SPV) cells
the natural movement of air across the land or sea.
Wind
is an important source of energy accounting for about one third of the
total fuel used in our country and in about 40% of the rural households.
Biomass
are predominantly produced from biomass feed stocks or as a by-
product from the industrial processing of agricultural or food products, or from
the recovery and reprocessing of products such as cooking and vegetable oil.
Biofuels
in the sea are sources of energy.
flowing water and tides
cover 70 percent of the earth’s surface and represent an enormous
amount of energy.
Oceans
