GHHS EARTH SCIENCE - Energy Resources Vocabulary

Renewable Resource

a resource that can be replenished (get more) within a human lifetime (~80 years)

Nonrenewable Resource

a resource that has limited amounts and no more can be made - within a human lifetime (~80 years)

Ore

The desired mineral resource that is in its raw form, often mixed with surrounding materials

Metals

resources that are typically shiny in appearance and are also good conductors of heat and electricity

Nonmetals

resources that are typically not shiny (dull) in appearance and are also poor conductors of heat and electricity

Lode

term that refers to a large amount of a desired mineral found within the rock

Veins

a streak or band of a desired mineral that is located within a layer of rock

Placer deposits

deposits of a mineral resource that are often deposited at the base of a stream

Conservation

using resources in such a way that helps them to last longer. This can involve using less, making substitutions, or recycling.

Hydrocarbon

substances made entirely out of carbon and hydrogen (often used as fuels)

Coal: PEAT

earliest form of coal, not even considered a rock, but more like compacted soil

Coal: LIGNITE

peat is compacted further to form this substance, which is also known as brown coal and is a sedimentary rock

Coal: BITUMINOUS

lignite is compacted further to form this substance, which is also known as soft coal and is a sedimentary rock

Coal: ANTHRACITE

bituminous coal is exposed to extreme pressure to form the metamorphic type of coal. often referred to as clean coal because it burns with less emissions than bituminous

Petroleum

This is a hydrocarbon formed from the remains of ancient animals. It can be refined into many different substances.

Natural gas

This product is also known as methane and is harvested through a process known as hydraulic fracturing (fracking)

Fracking

this process (also known as hydraulic fracturing) involves injecting "water" deep into the ground to crack open the rock so that the natural gas trapped within the layers is released

Mountaintop Mining

This type of coal mining involves removing the tops of mountains.

Strip Mining

This type of coal mining involves removing strips of coal at a time to gradually peel away layers that reveal the coal beneath

Petrochemicals

all of the many substances that can be created from petroleum

BP Deepwater Horizon

the largest oil spill in the US. Oil from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico leaked into the Gulf for more than one month. Chemical dispersants were used to break up the spill into tiny particles

Nuclear Fission

the splitting of a uranium atom into 2 smaller atoms that generates large quantities of energy

Nuclear Fusion

the process of combining two smaller atoms into one large atom. For example, stars combine two hydrogen atoms to create one helium atom and they glow with the energy created

Nuclear Reactor

a facility that uses the energy from splitting uranium atoms to generate electricity

Fukushima, Japan

Site of a nuclear meltdown as a result of a tsunami that came onshore and flooded a nuclear powerplant

Chernobyl

Site of a nuclear meltdown in Russia

Three Mile Island

Site of a partial nuclear meltdown in the US

Solar Energy

using the energy from the sun to heat water, to make steam, to turn a turbine, to generate electricity

Geothermal Energy

using the energy from inside the earth (magma) to heat water, to make steam, to turn a turbine, to generate electricity

Hydroelectric Energy

using the energy of water falling over a dam to turn a turbine, to generate electricity

Tidal Energy

using the energy of the ocean tides to turn a turbine, to generate electricity

Wind Energy

using the energy of the wind to turn a turbine, to generate electricity

Biomass Energy

renewable energy that comes from an organic (once living) source. Could be from plants or even waste products.

Carbonization

conversion of an organic (once-living) substance into a carbon-based residue. this is how coal is formed

Crude Oil

naturally occurring, unrefined petroleum

Deforestation

the act of removing all trees from a forest

Fossil Fuels

fuel made from the remains of once-living organisms (coal, oil & natural gas are examples)

Fuel Rods

used in a nuclear reactor, typically made of Uranium 235

Mining

the act of removing valuable resources from Earth, consists of many different types

Radiation

form of energy given off during the decay of radioactive elements (namely uranium used as fuel in nuclear reactors)

Recycle

the process by which a substance is not discarded, but is used again - sometimes in a different way.

Organic

made of once living things (animals OR plants)