Earth Res and Env Geos Midterm

Slope

Change in y divided by change in x (rise/run).

Percentage

A part out of 100; calculate by dividing the part by the whole and multiplying by 100.

Dimensional analysis

A method of converting units using conversion factors so unwanted units cancel.

Scientific notation

A way to express very large or small numbers using a coefficient multiplied by a power of 10.

Area

The amount of two-dimensional space inside a boundary.

Volume

The amount of three-dimensional space an object occupies.

Resource lifespan

How long a resource will last at the current rate of use.

Resource lifespan formula

Amount of resource available divided by rate of consumption.

Element

A pure substance made of one type of atom.

Mineral

A naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and crystal structure.

Rock

A naturally occurring solid made of one or more minerals or other materials.

Resource

A material or source that can be used to meet human needs.

Mineral resource

A useful concentration of minerals that can potentially be extracted.

Energy resource

A source that can be used to produce usable energy.

Electricity

A secondary form of energy produced from primary energy resources rather than a primary energy resource itself.

Metallic mineral resource

A mineral resource containing a useful metal.

Nonmetallic mineral resource

A useful mineral resource that is not mined primarily for a metal.

Renewable resource

A resource replenished naturally within a relatively short time

Nonrenewable resource

A resource that runs out or is not replenished within human lifetimes.

Renewable energy examples

Solar

Nonrenewable energy examples

Coal

Water as a resource

Water can act as renewable or nonrenewable depending on how quickly it is replenished compared with use.

Luster

How light reflects from the surface of a mineral.

Streak

The color of a mineral's powder.

Mohs Hardness Scale

A scale used to compare a mineral's resistance to scratching.

Mineral identification

Identification using physical properties such as luster

Why understand Earth processes?

Earth processes control where resources form

Why use renewable energy?

Renewables can reduce dependence on finite resources and potentially reduce environmental impacts.

Most relied-on U.S. renewable in total primary energy consumption

Biomass.

Biomass vs. wind in the U.S.

Biomass is greater in total primary energy consumption

Alternative energy resource

An energy source used as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels; it may be renewable or nonrenewable.

Energy resource evaluation factors

Land use

Human resource demand trend

Humanity's need for resources is increasing.

Energy

The ability of a system to do work.

Watt

A unit of power equal to one joule per second.

Coal formation

Plant material is buried and changed by increasing heat and pressure over long periods of time.

Four coal ranks

Peat

Coal ranks lowest to highest

Peat → lignite → bituminous → anthracite.

Coal energy highest to lowest

Anthracite → bituminous → lignite → peat.

Coal extraction

Coal is obtained through surface or deep mining.

Ore

A naturally occurring material containing a valuable substance that can potentially be extracted profitably.

Ore grade

The percentage of an ore that consists of the metal of interest.

Ore profitability

Depends on ore grade

Weight percent

The percentage of a mineral's total mass contributed by a particular element.

Weight percent formula

(Mass of element in mineral ÷ total mineral mass) × 100.

Pyrite formula

FeS₂.

Weight percent sulfur in pyrite

53.4%.

Surface mining

Mining that removes material near Earth's surface to reach a resource.

Deep mining

Underground mining used to reach resources located deeper below Earth's surface.

Critical minerals

Mineral resources considered especially important because of their economic or supply significance.