Unequal Distribution of Natural Resources
resource__distribution_of_resources_map.pdf |
uneven_distribution_of_earths_resource_video_student_questions_only.pdf |
Tectonic map showing active volcanoes, plate boundaries, and the Ring of Fire.
Important point (must know):
1. Metal ores are found in locations of past volcanic and hydrothermal activity associated with subduction zones. Hydrothermal activity simply refers to the movement of heated water, usually beneath the surface of the earth. The most common source for hydrothermal activity is a volcanic magma chamber, which heats the surrounding water, causing it to migrate. This heated water carries with it dissolved minerals that will solid in the cracks of rocks when it cools.
2. Petroleum resources are found in locations of buried organic marine sediments and subsequent geologic traps. A geologic trap is an underground rock formation that blocks the movement of petroleum and causes it to accumulate in the reservoir that can be exploited. Oil is always found with water and often with natural gas. They are all confined in a porous permeable reservoir rock (usually sedimentary rock) with an impermeable rock cap.
3. Soil is a natural resource found in locations of active weathering and/or deposition of rock. Soil is made up of mineral particles, organic materials, air, water and living organisms. Below is an excerpt from https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/soil-explained/forms
Soil forms continuously, but slowly, from the gradual breakdown of rocks through weathering. Weathering can be a physical, chemical or biological process:
- physical weathering—breakdown of rocks from the result of a mechanical action. Temperature changes, abrasion (when rocks collide with each other) or frost can all cause rocks to break down.
- chemical weathering—breakdown of rocks through a change in their chemical makeup. This can happen when the minerals within rocks react with water, air or other chemicals.
- biological weathering—the breakdown of rocks by living things. Burrowing animals help water and air get into rock, and plant roots can grow into cracks in the rock, making it split.
- parent material—minerals forming the basis of soil
- living organisms—influencing soil formation
- climate—affecting the rate of weathering and organic decomposition
- topography—grade of slope affecting drainage, erosion and deposition
- time—influencing soil properties.
MINERAL FORMATION
NATURAL RESOURCES PRESENTATION
Assignment: Group Natural Resource Research Project and Presentation
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Websites that you may find helpful
1. Each chapter of the 2018 edition of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries (MCS) includes information on events, trends, and issues for each mineral commodity as well as discussions and tabular presentations on domestic industry structure, Government programs, tariffs, 5-year salient statistics, and world production and resources. The MCS is the earliest comprehensive source of 2017 mineral production data for the world. More than 90 individual minerals and materials are covered by two-page synopses.
https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2018/mcs2018.pdf |
2. Statistics and information on the worldwide supply of, demand for, and flow of mineral resources essential to the U.S. economy, the national security, and protection of the environment. https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/
3. Good source for statistics related to your resource. https://www.statista.com
4. Information varies for different minerals -what it is? Uses? Where it is found? How it formed?’ https://geology.com/minerals/
5. Basic information about elements (or minerals) http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/
6. Major mineral deposits https://mrdata.usgs.gov/major-deposits/map-us.html#home
3. Good source for statistics related to your resource. https://www.statista.com
4. Information varies for different minerals -what it is? Uses? Where it is found? How it formed?’ https://geology.com/minerals/
5. Basic information about elements (or minerals) http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/
6. Major mineral deposits https://mrdata.usgs.gov/major-deposits/map-us.html#home
7. The file to the right includes data for world production of several natural resources and projections for how long the reserves will last.
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