8. Economic Geology and Energy Resources Flashcards
What is an ore deposit?
A concentration of minerals that can be economically extracted.
What is the difference between a resource and a reserve?
A resource is a total available supply; a reserve is the portion that is economically viable to extract.
What is the main source of petroleum and natural gas?
Organic-rich sedimentary rocks (e.g., shales).
What is coal primarily composed of?
Carbon from decomposed plant material.
What is placer mining?
Mining of valuable minerals from river or beach sediments.
What is the main use of rare earth elements?
They are used in electronics, magnets, and renewable energy technologies.
What is hydraulic fracturing (fracking)?
A technique to extract oil and gas by injecting fluid into rock formations.
What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources?
Renewable resources replenish naturally (e.g., solar, wind); nonrenewable take millions of years to form (e.g., coal, oil).
What is the main method for extracting copper?
Open-pit mining or underground mining.
What is the difference between conventional and unconventional oil?
Conventional oil flows naturally from reservoirs; unconventional requires extraction techniques like fracking.
