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Environmental Science > The Lithosphere > Flashcards

The Lithosphere Flashcards

1
Q

Define mineral

A

a solid, naturally occurring inorganic substance, with a definite physical and chemical structure

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2
Q

Define resource

A

a stock or supply of materials

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3
Q

What is sedimentary rock?

A

rock that has formed through the deposition and solidification of sediment

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4
Q

What is igneous rock?

A

rock that is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava

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5
Q

What is metamorphic rock?

A

starts as one type of rock, over time due to heat and pressure changes into a new type of rock

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6
Q

Examples of sedimentary rock

A

sandstone
limestone
chalk
clay

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7
Q

Examples of igneous rock

A

basalt
granite
obsidian

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8
Q

Examples of metamorphic rock

A

marble
slate
soapstone

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9
Q

How do igneous and metamorphic rocks become sedimentary?

A

weathering and erosion
deposition

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10
Q

How do sedimentary and metamorphic rocks become igneous?

A

melt
subduction

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11
Q

How do sedimentary and igneous rocks become metamorphic?

A

heat and pressure

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12
Q

Sedimentary rocks and processes: proterozoic marine sediments

A

iron ions present in oceans
iron ions react with O2 to form iron oxides
iron oxides form deposits on ocean floor

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13
Q

Sedimentary rocks and processes: alluvial deposits

A

rivers with high energy and velocity carry lots of sediment
as energy and velocity decrease, sediments drop out of solution and are deposited based on mass and density

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14
Q

Sedimentary rocks and processes: secondary enrichment

A

metal ore (e.g. copper) exposed to oxygen and water at surface
metal oxidises and goes into solution
water percolates downwards until it reaches water table
metal reduces and precipitates out of solution
copper is concentrated just below water table

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15
Q

Sedimentary rocks and processes: evaporites

A

water contains salts
water evaporates
salt precipitates on land

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16
Q

Sedimentary rocks and processes: biological deposits

A

over time, remains of living organisms lithify

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17
Q

What is coal formed from?

A

terrestrial vegetation

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18
Q

What is oil formed from?

A

microscopic marine organisms

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19
Q

What is limestone and chalk formed from?

A

remains of shells of marine organisms

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20
Q

How are granite batholiths formed?

A

large volume of magma moves up through the earth’s crust
cools and solidifies to form granite

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21
Q

Explain hydrothermal deposition

A

hot magma rises through lithosphere

water in surrounding rocks is heater

metals and minerals go into solution

hot water moves away from magma, fracturing the rock

water cools

metals and minerals precipitate out of solution

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22
Q

Explain how slate is formed

A

shale undergoes heat and pressure

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23
Q

Explain how marble is formed

A

limestone undergoes heat and pressure

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24
Q

Define reserve

A

deposits of natural resources that can be extracted and exploited profitably with current technology

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25
Define stock
all material in lithosphere (reserve and resource)
26
Define resource
all the material we can extract from earth's surface
27
Why might reserves increase or decrease?
changes in market value changes in costs changes in demand changes in technology and availability
28
What is an inferred reserve?
presence of a mineral can be predicted from knowledge of geological structures amount cannot be estimatedWH
29
What is a probable reserve?
sufficient information about the deposit is known so further exploration is justified
30
What is a proven reserve?
sufficient exploration to accurately estimate the amount of the mineral that can be economically extracted
31
What does Lasky's principle state?
as the purity of a mineral decreases, the amount of the mineral present increases exponentially
32
What is the cut off ore grade?
the grade of material that has been set as the minimum grade that can be extracted to make a profit
33
Survey techniques: IR spectroscopy
earth's surface emits IR different materials emit IR at different wavelengths
34
Survey techniques: gravimetry
measures gravitational pull higher reading = higher density of materials
35
Survey techniques: magnetometry
detects rocks that are magnetic cobalt, nickel, iron
36
Survey techniques: seismic surveys
produce artificial seismic waves reflected by different layers of rocks estimate depth and location of deposit
37
Survey techniques: resistivity
electric current passed between two probes low resistivity = metals present
38
Survey techniques: trial drilling
physically collects a sample of rock confirms presence
39
Survey techniques: chemical analysis
send trial drilled sample to lab determines purity of ore
40
Factors that affect the viability of mining: location to infrastructure
closer = cheaper
41
Factors that affect the viability of mining: depth
higher = easier surface mining = cheaper
42
Factors that affect the viability of mining: purity
Lasky's principle must meet cut off ore grade
43
Factors that affect the viability of mining: hydrology
below water table = mine floods = high cost
44
Factors that affect the viability of mining: chemical form
pure ores = lower processing cost determines economic viability
45
Factors that affect the viability of mining: availability of technologies
determines depth we can dig development = increase in reserve
46
Factors that affect the viability of mining: transport costs
higher cost = lower viability
47
Factors that affect the viability of mining: market economics
stable value = higher mine viability
48
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: exploration
disturbs wildlife assess organisms present before surveying
49
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: habitat loss
reduced biodiversity local extinction habitat fragmentation recreates habitat elsewhere trap and relocation organisms
50
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: loss of amenity
reduced biodiversity return land to original use after mining
51
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: air pollution
dust CO2 released by fossil fuel combustion for energy carbon capture and storage water sprays around mines
52
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: noise pollution
migration changes interactions between organisms timing restrictions acoustic barriers
53
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: increased turbidity
pollutes water sedimentation tanks
54
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: toxic leachate
toxic to living organisms divert and treat neutralise using limestone
55
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: spoil disposal
contains toxic leachate return spoil to the ground improve spoil heap
56
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: transport nuisance
noise and dust pollution time restrictions restricted routes and access
57
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: flooding
restrict and divert abstracted water
58
Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: subsidence
collapse of the ground return spoils to the ground use void for carbon capture and storage
59
Mine site restoration: The Eden Project
reclaimed china clay pit all water used is sanitised rain water energy comes from wind turbines in cornwall
60
How can we extend the time that existing reserves can be exploited?
place restrictions on the amount of materials we extract improve technology recycling existing materials
61
Improved exploitation of low grade deposits: bioleaching
bacteria are mixed with low grade ore - carries out chemical reactions metal ore goes into solution - produces a leachate leachate is collected
62
Improved exploitation of low grade deposits: phytomining
mining metals using plants plants concentrate metals in their tissues
63
Improved exploitation of low grade deposits: iron displacement
iron displaced oxidised metal
64
Improved exploitation of low grade deposits: leachate collection
metal ions removed from leachate via electrolysis
65
Improved exploitation of low grade deposits: polymer adsorption
positively charged uranium adsorbs to polymer strands
66
What is a deep sea polymetallic nodule?
mineral concretions on the sea bottom formed from concentric layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core
67
How can we extract polymetallic nodules?
vacuums dredge large swaths from seafloor hydraulic pumps and hose systems bring nodules to surface
68
Environmental impacts of deep sea mining
increased turbidity habitat loss compaction of sea floor disrupts aquatic life
69
Advantages of recycling
saves energy saves money creates jobs reduces landfill waste protects ecosystems
70
Disadvantages of recycling
can cause pollution high initial costs complex sorting and processing takes up large amounts of space to store
71
What is meant by the term cradle to cradle design?
all materials remain in a continuous cycle of use

Environmental Science (27 decks)

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