Geography Unit 2

UNIT 2: NATURAL RESOURCES AROUND THE WORLD USE + SUSTAINABILITY

Overview of Unit 2

• Learning Objectives:

  • Understanding what natural resources are.

  • Identifying examples of natural resources.

  • Locating where natural resources can be found.

  • Exploring how we extract and utilize natural resources.

  • Discussing sustainable practices for caring for the Earth.

Skills Development in Unit 2

• Researching Skills:

  • Collecting relevant information from various sources.

• Understanding Patterns:

  • Examining patterns of the use and abuse of natural resources worldwide.

• Recognizing Geographic Perspectives:

  • Analyzing different cultural views on the use of natural resources.

• Understanding Interrelationships:

  • Investigating the relationship between natural resource use and the physical environment.

Definition of Natural Resources

• Natural Resources:

  • Aspects of our natural environment that can provide goods and services.

Examples of Natural Resources

• Categories:

  • Fossil Fuels: Oil, coal, and natural gas

  • Metals, minerals, and stone

  • Air, sunlight, soil, and water

  • Wood, animals, and plants

Classification of Natural Resources

• Three Types:

  1. Renewable Resources

  2. Nonrenewable Resources

  3. Flow Resources

Characteristics of Resource Types

• Renewable Resources:

  • Definition: Resources that can regrow/reproduce as long as they are not overused.

  • Examples: Soil, agriculture, food, fish, and forests.

• Nonrenewable Resources:

  • Definition: Limited resources that cannot be replaced if exhausted.

  • Examples: Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and minerals.

• Flow Resources:

  • Definition: Resources that must be utilized when and where found or they are lost.

  • Characteristics: Move and are replenished by natural processes.

  • Examples: Wind, water, and sunlight.

Natural Resources in Canada

• Exploring Canadian Natural Resources:

  • Types of resources available in Canada, including minerals and oil & gas.

  • Suggested online exploration for detailed maps and classifications of resources.

Benefits of Natural Resources to Canada

• Contribution to Economy:

  • Natural resources significantly impact Canada's economy, contributing about $260 billion to GDP.

• Unit 2, Lesson 3: Resource Extraction Methods & Impacts

Lesson Goals

• By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

  • Define "extraction" and explain its relationship to mining and forestry practices.

  • Describe methods/techniques and types of mining and forestry practices.

  • Recognize examples of metals and minerals in our everyday lives.

What is “Extraction”?

• Definition:

  • Extraction = taking out something, often with effort or force.

  • Refers to activities dedicated to retrieving natural resources from the Earth.

  • Important for sourcing materials for human use.

Modes of Natural Resource Extraction

• Investigating:

  • How resources are extracted through:

    • Forestry

    • Mining

  • Techniques and methods in mining and forestry practices.

Mining

• Overview:

  • Minerals and metals are embedded in rock below Earth's surface.

  • Extraction is necessary for accessing these valuable resources for everyday items.

Mining Techniques

• Open Pit Mine:

  • Why: Metals and minerals close to the surface.

  • How: A large hole is dug, removing any covering materials.

  • Example: The Diavik Diamond Mine (Northwest Territories).

• Post-Exhaustion Reclamation:

  • Once mined out, companies are legally required to reclaim the land.

  • Activities include filling holes, planting vegetation to restore the ecosystem, and creating recreational areas.

• Underground Mine:

  • Why: Used when minerals are deep underground.

  • How: Vertical shafts and horizontal tunnels are created; elevators transport materials.

  • Profound mining example: Syama Gold Mine in Mali.

Environmental Impact Assessment

• Before mining begins, environmental assessments are crucial.

  • Assess impacts on water, wildlife, land, and communities.

Waste from Mining

• Mining generates significant waste, referred to as tailings.

  • Tailings management is vital due to possible toxins contaminating water.

  • Waste is often disposed of in mined areas or dedicated waste pile sites.

Impacts of Mining

• Positive:

  • Economic growth, resource availability, job creation, and technological advancement.

• Negative:

  • Habitat disruption, pollution, loss of land, erosion, and social consequences such as health risks.

Forestry Practices in Canada

• Large forested areas are sources for lumber.

  • Trees contribute to various products (furniture, housing materials).

  • Types of trees:

    • Deciduous: (e.g., Maple, Oak) used for furniture; found in warmer regions.

    • Coniferous: (e.g., Pine, Spruce) used for paper; thrives in cooler climates.

Forestry Process

1. Healthy trees are marked for cutting.

2. Trees are felled, branches removed.

3. Trunks cut into transportable sections.

Forestry Techniques

• Selective Logging:

  • Mature trees are selectively cut, protecting younger trees.

• Strip Logging:

  • Trees cut in strips, alternating with untouched areas.

• Clear-Cut Logging:

  • All trees in an area are felled, leading to habitat destruction.

• Urban Logging:

  • Removal of mature trees for safety or construction; increasing utilization of removed materials.

Impacts of Forestry Practices

• Research opportunities:

  • Assess both positive and negative impacts of forestry.

Interactive Learning on Resource Extraction

• Minecraft Activity:

  1. Simulate mining and resource extraction.

  2. Explore consequences and benefits.

  3. Evaluate environmental effects and resource management.

Class Discussion Questions

• How did extraction affect your Minecraft world?

• What challenges did you face? Did you run out of resources/tools?

• Reflect on environmental changes due to extraction; discuss balancing resource needs and environmental protection.