Minerals and coal resources of South Africa Flashcards
What are resources?
things we can use
What is non-renewable resources?
It can only be used once, they are not renewed or replaced by nature. People cannot renew them either. Minerals like gold cannot be made by people nor nature, it takes thousands of years to form.
What is renewable resources?
It is resources that can be used again and again, for example like wind, which can be used to make energy to produce electricity. Wind will not run out.
Some resources are renewable, but only if people _____
manage how much they use, such as fish. If people catch too much, there will be no more fish in the future
Minerals are substances from
underground, like gold and silver
Are minerals non-renewable or renewable
non-renewable, they take a long time to form
In South Africa gold and diamonds are used to
make jewellery and coins
Platinum, iron and tin are used to make thing like
cars and machinery
Manganese is an important ingredient in making ___
steel. It makes steel stronger
Is coal non-renewable or renewable
non-renewable
How is coal formed?
Over 300 million years ago in swamps
Explain the process of coal forming?
dying trees and plants fell into the water and were gradually covered in mud, rotting plant layers hardened and dried out under the mud, forming peat, layers of peat became curried deeper and the weight or pressure of the soil above, as well as the heat, turned the peat into coal.
Coal is used for
fuel or to make electrical power, making tar for roads, also paints and plastics
How has mining changed the history of South Africa?
People built settlements in places where they discovered minerals and coal, eg. Johannesburg and Kimberley. There is still settlements where the economic activity is mining.
What is it called: __________resources can only be used once.
non-renewable
