Module 8 Flashcards
What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable? Provide an example for each
Renewable resources can be used more than once and can be recycled for different uses. Eg: O2, wood, food.
Non-renewable resources can’t be used again they can only be used once. eg: coal, oil.
Location of agriculture resources: Terrestrial
Wheat and grain farming - Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria (Wheat Belt, Murray-Darling Basin)
Cotton - Southern Queensland and New South Wales
Cattle farms - Queensland (largest beef-producing state), Northern NSW
Location of agriculture resources: Aquatic
Salmon farms - Off the coast of southeast tasmainia,
Oysters and muscles - Off the coast north of Sydney (Hawkesbury River)
Prawns - Sydney (Botany bay), Northern Queensland (Cairns, Far North)
Location of Australian Water Sources
Murray- Darling River system - Extends across four states and covers most of NSW
Great Artesian Basin - beneath Queensland, parts of the Northern Territory, South Australia, and New South Wales
Location of Australian Energy Resources
Hydro (Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme) - Southern NSW (Kosciuszko National Park along the Victoria border)
Wind power - Southern Australia where
strong prevailing winds provide ideal conditions
Solar power - Darwin Solar Farm, Sunshine State Solar Farm (Queensland)
Open pit mining (Environmental effect + MItigation strategy + Rehabilitation)
Environmental effect:
Air pollution/dust → health concerns
Sound production → due to blasting
Ground vibration → travel long distances, dangerous for man-made structures etc
Water pollution → drainage/ ground water
Loss of forest and ecology
Rehabilitation → holes in ground can fill with water and become contaminated
Loss of soil fertility → due to acidic water from mine drainage, mixing of soil and overburden during reclamation
Mitigation strategy:
Air pollution/dust → spray with water
Sound → purchase surrounding properties
Water pollution → walls constructed, impermeable layers of clay/plastic
Loss of forest and ecology → replanting of vegetation
Rehabilitation → use collected water as a place for the community/park
Loss of soil fertility → treat soil and replant
Rehabilitation:
Voids (holes) fill with water to become lakes
Covered with clay to prevent acid drainage or passive neutralisation
Underground mining (Environmental effect + Mitigation strategy + Rehabilitation)
Environmental effect:
Air pollution/dust → health concerns
Sound production → due to blasting
Water pollution → drainage/ ground water
Loss of biodiversity
Subsidence
Mitigation:
Air pollution/dust → spray with water
Sound → purchase surrounding properties
Water pollution → walls constructed, impermeable layers of clay/plastic
Protect and manage surrounding habitats and wildlife
Subsidence → Regularly monitor ground stability
Rehabilitation:
Entries covered with clay to prevent acid drainage or passive neutralisation
Areas of subsidence risk must be fenced off
Offshore and onshore drilling (Environmental effects + Rehabilitation)
(smallest footprint of any mining method)
Environmental effects:
Land degradation/Habitat distruction
Groundwater contamination
Oil spills
Rehabilitation:
Offshore - Involves plugging the drill hole (with cement, clay, concrete and plugging devices such as bridge plugs) + removing structures
Onshore - Soil is placed over the shaped landform + native species introduced
Effect of mining on Aboriginal cultural sites + Involvement of traditional owners
- Most Australian mines are located near Indigenous communities
- Mining companies that damage cultural sites are subject to legal action and penalties
- In 2011, MCG Quarries in QLD fined $80,000 for damage
- Protected by the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974
CASE STUDY: Rio tinto 2020 at Juukan Gorge
A sacred rock shelter in the Pilbara region of Western Australia was legally blasted and destroyed
Case study of an important Australian renewable or non-renewable resource (Coal)
How is the resource found + extracted?
How is it used?
Can it be extracted sustainably?
Past, Present, and Future Use and Importance
- How is the resource found + extracted?
Through sedimentary rock in underground deposits across QLD, NSW, SA, TAS and WA
Openpit and underground mining methods - How is it used?
Fuel for energy
In the production of steal and cement
Residential heating - Can it be extracted sustainably?
No - produces greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, and habitat destruction - Past, Present, and Future Use and Importance
Past - Industrial Revolution power factories + steam engines
Present - Major energy source + a large export
Future - the world may invest in renewable energy
Importance - significant role in energy security and industrial processes
Paper and cardboard - Waste management options
Recycling:
How → pulped and de-inked to make new paper
- Pro: Conserves resources and takes much less energy than making new paper
- Con: if the recycling process is not efficient, it can also generate waste
Composting:
How → shred into small pieces, moisten lightly, and layer in a compost bin
Pro: Returns nutrients to the soil and reduces landfill waste
Con: Requires space and proper management
Landfilling:
Pro: Simple disposal method
Con: Takes up space in landfills + produces methane
Incineration:
Pro: Reduces the volume of waste
Con: Can release harmful emissions
Glass - Waste management options
Recycling:
How → sorted by colour, and then melted and manufactured or if type of plastic cant melt used in construction as a substitute for sand
Pro: Indefinitely recyclable without loss of quality. Can erode into sediment easily
Con: Requires energy and transportation costs for recycling
Landfilling:
Pro: Simple disposal method.
Con: Takes up space and does not decompose
Plastics - Waste management options
- Plastic can only be recycled two or three times
- Landfill
- Reduction → minimize use through product design changes
- Incineration
Recycling:
How → Mechanical Recycling: Collecting, sorting,
cleaning, and shredding plastic waste to
produce recycled plastic pellets for new
products.
Chemical Recycling: Breaking down plastics
into their chemical building blocks to produce
new plastics or fuels.
Closed-Loop Recycling: Recycling plastics into
the same product type (e.g., recycling PET
bottles into new PET bottles Pro: Conserves resources and reduces landfill waste Con: Not all plastics are recyclable, and contamination can hinder recycling efforts + can only be recycled two or three times
Landfilling:
Pro: Simple disposal method
Con: Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose, causing long-term environmental issues
Incineration:
Pro: Reduces waste volume
Con: Releases toxic fumes and contributes to air pollution
Organics - Waste management options
Landfilling:
Pro: Simple disposal method.
Con: Produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Composting:
Pro: Produces nutrient-rich soil
Con: Requires space and may attract pests if not managed properly
Animal Feed:
Pro: Utilizes food scraps to feed livestock, reducing waste
Con: Must ensure food safety and proper nutritional balance
Biofuel Production:
Pro: Converts organic waste into renewable energy sources
Con: Requires investment in technology and infrastructure
E-waste - Waste management options
Recycling:
How → items are disassembled, shredded and sorted and then raw materials are used to manufacture new batteries
Pro: Recovers valuable materials and prevents pollution
Con: Can be costly and requires proper facilities
Refurbishment/Reuse: (+)
Pro: Extends the life of electronics and reduces waste
Con: Requires repair costs and expertise
Landfilling: (-)
Pro: Simple disposal method.
Con: Can leach toxic substances into the environment.
Incineration: (-)
Pro: Reduces waste volume
Con: Releases harmful chemicals into the atmosphere
