earth's resources

Question 1

gospel topic: environmental stewardship

Answer 1

“For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures. I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine. And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.” –D&C 104:13-15
“For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance. But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin. And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.” –D&C 49:19-21

Question 2

mineral resources

Answer 2

Mineral Resources
Useful elements concentrated in the earth’s crust
Types
Metallic
Nonmetallic

Question 3

energy resources

Answer 3

Energy Resources
Energy
Capacity to do work or cause a change
Energy needs have increased greatly
Sources
Sun
Solar radiation
Photosynthesis
Fossil fuels
Gravity
Nuclear fission
Geothermal energy
Chemical bond energy

Question 4

mineral resources details

Answer 4

Present store of mineral resources
Concentrated in the earth’s crust
Very slowly!
Most mineral resources are FINITE
Most mineral resources are NONRENEWABLE

Metals
Precious
Gold, silver, platinum
Base
Copper, iron, aluminum
Nonmetallic
Sand, gravel
“aggregate”
Gypsum
Halite
Building Stones

see process and mineral resource chart

Question 5

ore deposit formation

Answer 5

Magmatic activity
Cooling plutonic intrusions
Hydrothermal alteration
Related to magmatic activity
Hot water is chemically active
Secondary enrichment
Related to magmatic activity
Groundwater moves sulfides (which incorporate economically important metals)

Question 6

bingham copper mine

Answer 6

Kennecott Copper Mine
Owned by Rio Tintic
Largest man-made excavation in the world
2.5 miles wide by 0.75 mi deep
Production since 1906
Has produced more copper than any other mine in history
19 million short tons

Question 7

Porphyry Copper Deposits

Answer 7

Hydrothermal Fluids
Fluids are heated because of shallow igneous intrusions
Surrounding rocks are altered
Common ore elements
Copper
Gold
Silver
Molybdenum

Question 8

nonmetallic mineral resources

Answer 8

Limestone, crushed stone, granite, marble, gypsum, phosphate, pumice, clay, sand, salt, and sulfur

Question 9

energy resources non renewable and renewable

Answer 9

Nonrenewable
Coal
Oil
Natural gas
Nuclear power

Renewable
Biomass
Solar
Wind
Hydroelectric
Tidal
Geothermal

Question 10

biomass

Answer 10

Plants
Wood & wood processing waste
Crops & crop processing waste
Algae
Sewage
Animal or human
Can have high pollutant load
Not efficient
Lots of mass for little energy

Question 11

solar energy

Answer 11

Most abundant
Hard to use
Diffuse
Variable (seasonally & daily)
Difficult to convert
Photovoltaic cells convert the light into energy
Needs large volumes of mineral resources
Solar collectors can intensify the light
Not yet very practicable on large scale

Ashalim Power Station, southern Israel

Question 12

hydroelectric

Answer 12

Two main types
Channeling dammed rivers through turbines (major)
Tidal flux generation (minor)
Positives
Dams reduce risk of floods
Impound water for use in droughts
Recreation
Renewable energy with fewer waste products
Negatives
Damaging to river ecosystems
Accelerate erosion downstream
Trap sediments that otherwise would flow to rivers’ ends

Question 13

wind power

Answer 13

Propeller-driven turbines
Not consistent
Dangerous to large, endangered birds
Extremely noisy
“Negative aesthetic impacts”

Question 14

geothermal

Answer 14

Heated groundwater used to spin turbines
Used to heat and cool buildings
Very efficiently
Little waste, greenhouse gases, air pollution
Works SUPER well…
…in places with easily accessible heated groundwater

Question 15

coal

Answer 15

Black, brittle, carbon-rich sedimentary rock
Altered remains of fossil vegetation
Ancient solar energy
Conditions
Swamps
Reducing environment hinder decomposition
Burial
Depth of 4-10 km
Compacts/heats the peat

Swamp vegetation -> peat -> lignite -> bituminous -> anthracite

Question 16

hydrocarbons (oils and gas)

Answer 16

Hydrocarbon
Hydrogen + carbon
Derived from once-living creatures
Ancient solar energy

Question 17

hydrocarbon formation

Answer 17

Source rock (with high organic content)
Burial of source rock to appropriate depth
Chemical reactions
Migration of petroleum/gas products
Accumulation into reservoir rock
Rock with high pore space to store the fluid
Trapped by caprock or seal
Forced accumulation

Question 18

nuclear energy

Answer 18

Uranium
Ore deposits of uranium come from weathering of rhyolites
Must be concentrated
Controlled fission of U produces huge amounts of heat
(fission = splitting the unstable nucleus)
Heat produces steam which turns turbines

Problems
Radiation
Thermal pollution: left with hot water waste that pollutes the environment
Fear
non renewable

Question 19

nuclear power plants

Answer 19

Controlled fission of U produces huge amounts of heat
Fission – splitting the unstable nucleus
Heat up water= produces steam which turns turbines

Question 20

death rates from energy production

Answer 20

see screenshot

Question 21

environmental stewardship and conservation gospel topic 2

Answer 21

“The earth is endowed with an array of natural resources that will provide for the human family if they are used as the Lord instructed—to care for the poor and the needy and not use more than is needed; to avoid waste; and not to forcibly take resources from another. The fulness of the earth is to be used with wisdom and restraint.”
“Learn, ponder, and pray about what you can do to be a better steward. Use the resources of the earth sparingly and reverently. Adopt lifestyles and personal habits that respect the Creation.”