Natural Resources Test Flashcards
Define natural resources
Material or substances that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
Ex water, minerals, animals
What are examples of natural resources
Forests, water, minerals, animals
Define raw materials
The basic material from which a product is made
What are examples of raw materials
Wood from a tree is turned into timber and then into furniture
List all four cutting techniques
Clear cutting
Strip cutting
Shelter wood
Single tree selection
What are the two categories of resources
Non renewable and renewable
Define renewable resource
Those that are constantly available or can be reasonably replaced or recovered
Define non renewable resource
Those that cannot be be easily replaced once they are destroyed
What is an example of a renewable resource
Plants, animals, and water
What is an example of a non renewable resource
Fossil fuels and minerals
Define natural threat
Damage to the forests but not man made
What are the different types of natural threats
Disease, forest fire , insect infestation
What is forest infestation
A forest being. Invaded by pests or parasites
What percentage of the Canadian territory is forested
45%
What ecozone contains most of the Canadian forests
Canadian shield
Define minerals
A naturally occurring, pure, non living substance found in the rocks of the earth
Which ecozone are you most likely to find metallic minerals
Canadian Shield
What ecozone are you most likely to find fossil fuels and industrial minerals in
Interior platform
What are the three categories of minerals
Metallic minerals
Industrial minerals
Fossil fuels
Provide an example for each type of mineral
Metallic : iron, silver
Industrial : gravel, diamond
Fossil fuels : oil, gas, coal
Define metallic mineral
Minerals that when refined, yield various forms of metal
List two uses of metallic minerals
Manufacturing and transportation (building the car)
Define fossil fuels
A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms
What are fossil fuels used for
Primarily used for energy
Define industrial minerals
All things mined which re neither metallic minerals nor fossil fuels
List the uses of industrial minerals
Construction and building of electronics
Where is potash concentrated
Saskatchewan
Define the process of mining
Process of obtaining minerals from the ground
What are tailings? How are they formed
the materials left over after the process of separating ore from the material it is found in.
Where does Canada rank in global mineral production
Third
Where does Canada tank in global mineral exportation? Why ?
First
What did the Trudeau government promos last year
announced its plan to eliminate the use of traditional coal fired electricity in Canada by 2030.
Define overburden
the material which lies above a mineral deposit, such as rock, soil, and trees.
List the three types of mining
- Strip Mining
- Open Pit Mining
- Underground mining
Define strip mining and it’s two environmental concerns
is used to extract minerals such as coal and oil sands, that are located in horizontal layers near the surface.
Chemicals can seep into the water by run off and be carryed into the air from wind
Define open pit mining and it’s two environmental concerns
is used to extract minerals that are located near the surface but may extend deep into the earth.
The exposed rock that was under the earth for so long can release radioactive chemicals into the air and creates a chemical liquid called tailings
Define underground mining and it’s two environmental concerns
is used to extract mineral ores located deep in the earth.
The chemicals released into the air during the extraction and refining of minerals is one of the biggest contributing factors to acid rain and The soil that remains after mining operations end is often let irreparably damaged.
What are two economic concerns for Canada mineral industry
Jobs in refinement are being lost
Becoming more expensive as new policies are put in place
What are two environmental concerns for Canada’s mineral industry
chemicals also jeopardize our air quality.
•Abandoned mines provide an interesting problem for the future.
Where does Canada rank per capita in global energy consumption? Why?
Third
What are the two categories of energy sources
Conventional and alternative
Describe the process in which oil and gas forms
Oil and gas form from the carbon material found in dying organic matter, such as fossils.
Which two ecozones is the majority of Canada’s oil production found in
Boreal plains and prairie ecozones
In 2001 how many times more oil did Alberta produce than any other province?
Three times
Define oil production
refers to both crude oil which is pumped from the ground, and synthetic crude oil which is created from oil sand.
Define oil sand
is a naturally occurring mixture of sand, clay or other minerals, water and bitumen.
Describe bitumen
a thick oil like substance which can be refined into a form of crude oil.
Define thermal electric power
energy which is created using steam to turn a turbine.
List the four main types of alternative energy production
Hydro
Solar
Wind
Ocean
List one advantage for thermal electric and one disadvantage
Plants can be built where they are needed.
These plants create large amounts of greenhouse gasses.
Define nuclear energy list 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages
They do not normally produce air pollution
Plants can be built where they are needed
There is no permanent way to handle waste products
The radioactive materials are hazardous
What is the most important form of alternative energy in Canada
Hydro
What percentage of Canada’s electricity is generated through the use of moving water
59.3 percent
Canada is the second largest producer in what type of energy
Hydroelectricity
Define hydro electricity and list one advantage and disadvantage
Electricity generated through capturing the force of moving water
It’s a renewable resource
Building dams requires the flooding of other areas
Define wind energy and list one advantage and disadvantage
The kinetic force of wind can be used to propel a turbine and generate electricity
Wind is free
Their sounds attract animals which then fly into the blades
Define solar energy and list one advantage and disadvantage
Is generated through the capture of the suns heat and radiation
Used to generate heat and electricity
The initial start up costs are high
What form of solar power is used for electricity
Solar thermal
Describe the process in which the ocean is used to generate energy
The harnessing of wave or tide friction in order to generate energy
What are the two forms of fresh water
Static and flowing
What percentage of the worlds fresh water does Canada contain
20%
Define wetland
Areas of land that have become saturated with water
What percentage of Canada’s territory is covered in wetlands
14%
List and define the five drainage basins
An area drained by a river and its tributaries Pacific Arctic Hudson Bay Atlantic Gulf of Mexico
Describe how ground water becomes contaminated
Chemicals and pollutants can sink into the water table and contaminate the water
Describe how surface water is contaminated
Run off of chemicals and acid rain
What are the three forms of water pollution
Physical
Biological
Chemical
What is the most dangerous type of water pollution
Chemical
