Unit 5 APES

Crustal abundance

Crustal abundance

The average concentration of an element in the Earth's crust.

Ore

A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted profitably.

Slag

The byproduct left after metals are separated from their ore during smelting or refining.

Strip mining

A surface mining technique that removes layers of soil and rock to expose a resource.

Open-pit mining

A mining method where a large pit or hole is dug in the ground to extract minerals or ore.

Mountaintop removal

A mining method where the summit of a mountain is removed to access underlying resources.

Placer mining

Extracting minerals from placer deposits by washing or dredging.

Sub-surface mining

Mining that involves digging tunnels or shafts into the earth to reach buried resources.

Tailings/spoils

The waste material left after extracting valuable minerals from ore.

Mine reclamation

The process of restoring land that has been mined to a usable state.

Overburden

The layer of soil and rock that must be removed to access a mineral deposit.

Eminent domain

The government's power to take private land for public use, often with compensation.

Reclamation bond

A financial assurance that a mining company will restore land after mining is completed.

National wildlife refuge

A protected area managed to conserve wildlife and habitats.

National wilderness area

A federally protected area where human activities are limited to preserve natural conditions.

Tilling

The agricultural practice of plowing or turning over soil before planting.

No-till agriculture

Farming that avoids soil disruption by planting crops directly into undisturbed soil.

Contour plowing

Plowing along the contours of the land to reduce soil erosion.

Terrace farming

A farming method where steps or terraces are built into a slope to prevent erosion and conserve water.

Vertical farming

Growing crops in vertically stacked layers, often indoors.

Intercropping

Growing two or more crop species together in the same field to maximize land use and reduce pests.

Monocropping

Growing a single crop over a large area.

Shelter belts

Rows of trees or shrubs planted to reduce wind erosion and protect crops.

Prescribed burn

A controlled fire set intentionally to manage forest health or reduce wildfire risk.

Irrigation

Supplying water to crops to aid growth.

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms like fish, shellfish, or algae.

Hydroponics

Growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water instead.

Drip irrigation

A water-saving irrigation method where water drips slowly to the base of plants.

Flood irrigation

A method where fields are flooded with water to irrigate crops.

Furrow irrigation

A method where trenches or 'furrows' are dug between crop rows and filled with water.

Center pivot irrigation

A system where sprinklers rotate around a central pivot, irrigating crops in a circular pattern.

Spray irrigation

A method that sprays water across fields using pipes and nozzles.

Slash and burn

A farming technique where vegetation is cut and burned to clear land for agriculture.

Biofuel

Fuel derived from organic materials, such as plant or animal waste.

IPM (Integrated Pest Management)

A pest control strategy combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods.

Herbicide

A chemical used to kill or control unwanted plants (weeds).

Fungicide

A chemical used to kill or prevent the growth of fungi.

Rodenticide

A chemical used to kill rodents.

CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation)

A large-scale industrial agricultural facility for raising animals in confined spaces.

Antibiotics

Medications used to treat bacterial infections, often administered to livestock to prevent or treat illness.

Rangeland

Open land used for grazing livestock or wildlife.

Tragedy of the commons

A situation where individuals overuse a shared resource, depleting it for everyone.

Ecoducts/Green belts

Structures or natural areas that connect habitats to allow wildlife movement and reduce urban sprawl.

Urban sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into rural land.

Urban blight

The decay and decline of urban areas due to neglect or lack of investment.

Exurb

A semi-rural area located beyond the suburbs, often populated by commuters.

Smart growth (city planning)

An urban planning strategy focusing on sustainable development, compact cities, and reducing sprawl.

Infill (urban planning)

Developing vacant or underused land within existing urban areas.

Multi-use lands

Lands managed for multiple purposes, such as recreation, timber, and wildlife conservation.

Clearcutting

A logging practice where all trees in an area are cut down.

Coppice method

A forestry technique where trees are cut to encourage new growth from the stump.

Seed tree method

Leaving a few mature trees standing during logging to provide seeds for natural regeneration.

Shelterwood approach

A logging method where some trees are left to provide shade and support for new growth.

Ecologically sustainable forestry

Forest management practices that maintain biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Maximum sustainable yield

The largest amount of a resource that can be harvested without compromising its ability to regenerate.