Environmental Studies Unit 4 – Non-Renewable Natural Resources

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, resources, processes, environmental impacts, and conservation strategies discussed in the lecture on non-renewable natural resources.

Non-renewable natural resource

A resource that exists in finite quantity or regenerates so slowly that, once used, it is effectively exhausted on a human timescale (e.g., coal, oil, metals).

Renewable natural resource

A resource that is naturally replenished on a short timescale, allowing continuous use (e.g., solar energy, biomass).

Fossil fuel

Carbon-rich, energy-yielding material formed from ancient organic matter; includes coal, oil, and natural gas.

Mineral

Naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition; many serve as sources of metals.

Metal

Element characterized by luster, conductivity, and malleability; extracted from mineral ores for industrial use.

Ore

Rock or sediment that contains sufficient minerals with economically important elements, typically metals, that can be mined profitably.

Tailings

Waste materials left after valuable minerals are extracted from ore, often stored in landfills, lakes, or oceans.

Aggregate

Construction material such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone, used in concrete and road building.

Asbestos

Group of naturally fibrous minerals once used for insulation and brakes; some forms cause lung disease.

Limestone

Carbonate sedimentary rock used to make cement and building plaster.

Potash

Potassium-rich mineral (often feldspar) processed into fertiliser.

Sulphur

Yellow non-metal element obtained from hydrogen sulphide and used in chemical manufacture.

Alloy

Mixture of two or more elements, at least one metal, to enhance properties (e.g., brass, bronze, steel).

Brass

Copper–zinc alloy (≥50 % Cu) noted for corrosion resistance and malleability.

Bronze

Copper alloy mainly with tin (and sometimes Zn, Pb) valued for strength and artistry.

Steel

Iron alloy with carbon and other elements (Cr, Mn, Ni) providing high tensile strength.

Coal

Solid, carbon-rich fossil fuel formed from ancient plant matter; most carbon-intensive fuel.

Lignite

Lowest-rank coal (25-35 % carbon), young and moist, low heating value.

Sub-bituminous coal

Intermediate coal (35-45 % carbon) with moderate heating value; major U.S. output.

Bituminous coal

Coal with 45-86 % carbon; widely used for electricity and steel making.

Anthracite

Highest-rank coal (86-97 % carbon) with greatest heating value; scarce in India.

Strip mining (surface mining)

Removal of overburden to expose coal seams near the surface; highly disruptive and polluting.

Underground mining

Extraction of coal or minerals via shafts and tunnels beneath Earth’s surface.

Oil (crude oil)

Liquid fossil fuel composed of hydrocarbons and trace elements; refined into petrol, diesel, etc.

Natural gas

Hydrocarbon gas mixture chiefly methane; used for heating, electricity, and as chemical feedstock.

Conventional natural gas

Gas found in porous, permeable rock reservoirs, extracted by standard drilling.

Unconventional natural gas

Gas trapped in shale, tight sands, or coal seams requiring special techniques like hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

Hydraulic fracturing (fracking)

Process of injecting fluid at high pressure to fracture rock and release trapped hydrocarbons.

Uranium

Radioactive metal (symbol U, atomic number 92) used as nuclear reactor fuel, especially isotope U-235.

Uranium fuel cycle

Sequence from uranium mining, milling, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, reactor use, to spent-fuel storage or reprocessing.

Thorium

Weakly radioactive metal (symbol Th, atomic number 90); fertile material offering potential alternative nuclear fuel.

Peak oil

Point at which maximum global petroleum extraction rate is reached, followed by decline.

Resource depletion

Reduction of resource availability due to consumption exceeding natural replenishment.

Overconsumption

Use of resources faster than they can be replaced, often driven by population growth and consumerism.

Consumerism

Cultural orientation that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.

Industrialisation

Process of economic change that transforms a society from agrarian to manufacturing-based, often raising resource demand.

Reduce

Conservation strategy focusing on lowering resource and energy use to cut emissions and waste.

Reuse

Using a product repeatedly in its original form to save resources and energy.

Recycle

Processing waste materials into new products, conserving raw materials and energy.

Upcycling (creative reuse)

Transforming waste items into products of higher quality or value than the original.

Sustainable development

Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Sustainable utilisation of resources

Management of resources to balance economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection.

Greenhouse gas (GHG)

Gas that absorbs and re-emits infrared radiation, contributing to the greenhouse effect (e.g., CO₂, CH₄, N₂O).

Greenhouse effect

Warming of Earth’s surface due to GHGs trapping outgoing infrared radiation.

Acid rain

Precipitation with low pH formed when sulphur and nitrogen oxides react with water vapour.

Electrostatic precipitator

Device that removes particulate pollutants from exhaust gases using electrically charged plates.

Energy-efficient equipment

Appliances or machinery designed to perform tasks using less energy, reducing emissions.

Sustainable architecture

Design and construction of buildings to minimise environmental impact through efficient materials and energy use.

Sustainable agriculture

Farming practices that meet food needs while conserving resources, preserving ecosystems, and supporting livelihoods.

Sustainable vehicle automation

Development of low- to zero-emission, often autonomous, transport technologies to cut greenhouse emissions.

Groundwater

Subsurface water stored in aquifers; over-extraction leads to depletion.

Wetland conversion

Alteration of marshes or swamps for agriculture, urbanisation, or hydropower, leading to habitat loss.

Tailings landfill

Site where mining waste is deposited, potentially causing environmental contamination.

Starbucks Greener Retail

Corporate program aiming to cut emissions, energy, and water use in retail outlets through efficiency and renewable energy.