Chapter 5Chapter 5

Section ISection I

Nonrenewable energy resourcesNonrenewable energy resources

Most energy sources are nonrenewable, which Most energy sources are nonrenewable, which means they are used up faster than natural means they are used up faster than natural processes can replace them.processes can replace them.

Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels Fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal Fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal

formed from the remains of swamp plants and formed from the remains of swamp plants and other organisms that were buried and altered other organisms that were buried and altered over millions of years.over millions of years.

CoalCoal

Coal-most abundant fossil fuel, a rock that Coal-most abundant fossil fuel, a rock that contains at least 50 percent plant remainscontains at least 50 percent plant remains

Hydrocarbons can be extracted from coal to Hydrocarbons can be extracted from coal to form liquid and gaseous synthetic fuelsform liquid and gaseous synthetic fuels

As decaying plant material loses gas and As decaying plant material loses gas and moisture, carbon concentration increases.moisture, carbon concentration increases.

Stages of coal formation –peat, lignite coal, Stages of coal formation –peat, lignite coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite coal, the bituminous coal, and anthracite coal, the cleanest-burning type of coalcleanest-burning type of coal

Oil & Natural GasOil & Natural Gas

Over millions of years the buried remains of Over millions of years the buried remains of microscopic marine organisms form oil and microscopic marine organisms form oil and natural gas.natural gas.

Oil is a thick black liquid hydrocarbonOil is a thick black liquid hydrocarbon Natural gas is a gaseous hydrocarbon that Natural gas is a gaseous hydrocarbon that

often forms wit oil, but above it, since natural often forms wit oil, but above it, since natural gas is a lighter molecule.gas is a lighter molecule.

Americans obtain most of their energy from oil Americans obtain most of their energy from oil and natural gas.and natural gas.

Natural gas is used mostly for heating and Natural gas is used mostly for heating and cooking.cooking.

Oil is used in many ways including as heating Oil is used in many ways including as heating oil, or gasoline, and in manufacturing.oil, or gasoline, and in manufacturing.

Fossil fuels are removed from the ground Fossil fuels are removed from the ground through mining or pumping.through mining or pumping.

Strip mining or open-pit mining, in which Strip mining or open-pit mining, in which upper layers of rock and soil are removed to upper layers of rock and soil are removed to expose coal, is used when coal deposits are expose coal, is used when coal deposits are near the surface.near the surface.

Underground coal mining methods –tunneling, Underground coal mining methods –tunneling, drift mines, and slope mines.drift mines, and slope mines.

Since oil and natural gas are under pressure, Since oil and natural gas are under pressure, they can be pumped up a narrow pipe to the they can be pumped up a narrow pipe to the surface.surface.

Reserve –amount of a fossil fuel that can be Reserve –amount of a fossil fuel that can be extracted at a profit using current technologyextracted at a profit using current technology Current reserves of coal will last about 250 yearsCurrent reserves of coal will last about 250 years United States reserves of natural gas will last about United States reserves of natural gas will last about

60 years.60 years. Methane hydrates, located in ocean floor Methane hydrates, located in ocean floor

sediments, are believed to contain high amounts of sediments, are believed to contain high amounts of carbon and might someday be a useable source for carbon and might someday be a useable source for clean-burning methane.clean-burning methane.

Conserving fossil fuels will help slow down the Conserving fossil fuels will help slow down the current consumption rate.current consumption rate.

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

Alternate energy source produced from the Alternate energy source produced from the fission, or splitting of uranium atoms.fission, or splitting of uranium atoms.

Nuclear energy is considered a nonrenewable Nuclear energy is considered a nonrenewable resource.resource.

One problem with nuclear energy is that One problem with nuclear energy is that nuclear power plants produce highly nuclear power plants produce highly radioactive nuclear waste; EPA has determined radioactive nuclear waste; EPA has determined that nuclear waste must be stored and that nuclear waste must be stored and contained for at least 10,000 years.contained for at least 10,000 years.

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Section IISection II

Inexhaustible energy resources include the Inexhaustible energy resources include the SUN, wind, water, and geothermal energy.SUN, wind, water, and geothermal energy.

Solar energy-energy from the SunSolar energy-energy from the Sun South-facing windows act as passive solar South-facing windows act as passive solar

collectors, warming exposed rooms.collectors, warming exposed rooms. Solar cells actively collect Sun energy and Solar cells actively collect Sun energy and

convert it to electricity.convert it to electricity. Solar energy is not readily useable on cloudy Solar energy is not readily useable on cloudy

days or at night.days or at night.

Wind Farms – uses a large number Wind Farms – uses a large number of windmills to generate electricityof windmills to generate electricity

Few regions of the world have strong enough Few regions of the world have strong enough wind to generate electricity.wind to generate electricity.

Wind does not always flow steadily, so it is an Wind does not always flow steadily, so it is an unreliable resource.unreliable resource.

Hydroelectric energy –electricity Hydroelectric energy –electricity generated from running water generated from running water

flowing over dams; dams can create flowing over dams; dams can create environmental problems.environmental problems.

Geothermal energy – energy Geothermal energy – energy obtained from hot magma or dry, obtained from hot magma or dry,

hot rocks inside Earth.hot rocks inside Earth. heatingheating accessible only in a dew areas - Icelandaccessible only in a dew areas - Iceland

Renewable energy resources, such as biomass Renewable energy resources, such as biomass energy, energy from burning organic material, energy, energy from burning organic material, can be replaced in a relatively short time such can be replaced in a relatively short time such as during a human life span.as during a human life span.

Burning wood, the most commonly used Burning wood, the most commonly used biomass fuel, can cause pollution and disrupt biomass fuel, can cause pollution and disrupt natural habitats when trees are cut down.natural habitats when trees are cut down.

Biomass fuel, such as corn, can be distilled Biomass fuel, such as corn, can be distilled into an alcohol, such as ethanol, and mixed into an alcohol, such as ethanol, and mixed with another fuel.with another fuel.

Currently, the production processes for Currently, the production processes for biomass fuels, such as ethanol, use more biomass fuels, such as ethanol, use more energy than the ethanol produces.energy than the ethanol produces.

Garbage – trash burning power plants Garbage – trash burning power plants burn garbage to generate electricity, but burn garbage to generate electricity, but the resulting air pollution and toxic ash the resulting air pollution and toxic ash

residue can present problems.residue can present problems.

Section IIISection III

Mineral resourcesMineral resources

Deposits of useful minerals; metals are from Deposits of useful minerals; metals are from ore, deposits in which minerals exist in ore, deposits in which minerals exist in quantities large enough to be mined at a profit.quantities large enough to be mined at a profit.

Economic factors such as supply and demand Economic factors such as supply and demand determine whether a mineral deposit is an ore.determine whether a mineral deposit is an ore.

To extract a useful substance from an ore, it To extract a useful substance from an ore, it must be concentrated and refined, which uses must be concentrated and refined, which uses energy; smelting is one method of refining energy; smelting is one method of refining some ores.some ores.

Nonmetallic Mineral ResourcesNonmetallic Mineral Resources

any mineral resources not used as fuels or as any mineral resources not used as fuels or as sources of metalssources of metals

Industrial mineralsIndustrial minerals

Include sandstone for glass making, halite for Include sandstone for glass making, halite for table and road salt, garnet for abrasive table and road salt, garnet for abrasive sandpapersandpaper

Nonmetal Mineral ResourcesNonmetal Mineral Resources

used for building materials including used for building materials including aggregate (for concrete), gypsum (for plaster aggregate (for concrete), gypsum (for plaster and wallboards), and building stone (granite, and wallboards), and building stone (granite, limestone, and sandstone)limestone, and sandstone)

Recycling uses old materials to produce new Recycling uses old materials to produce new ones and helps reduce demand for mineral ones and helps reduce demand for mineral resources, which are nonrenewable.resources, which are nonrenewable.

Virginia Mineral ResourcesVirginia Mineral Resources

coal – for fuelcoal – for fuel

Limestone – building stoneLimestone – building stone

gravel – construction (concrete and gravel – construction (concrete and road beds)road beds)

Crushed rockCrushed rock

construction (concrete and road beds)construction (concrete and road beds)

TitaniumTitanium

lightweight, durable (wheelchairs, auto and lightweight, durable (wheelchairs, auto and airplane parts, airplane parts,

non-toxic (repair broken bonesnon-toxic (repair broken bones found in coastal plains – black sandfound in coastal plains – black sand