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Environmental Science > The Lithosphere > Flashcards

The Lithosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

Define mineral

A

a solid, naturally occurring inorganic substance, with a definite physical and chemical structure

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2
Q

Define resource

A

a stock or supply of materials

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3
Q

What is sedimentary rock?

A

rock that has formed through the deposition and solidification of sediment

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4
Q

What is igneous rock?

A

rock that is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava

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5
Q

What is metamorphic rock?

A

starts as one type of rock, over time due to heat and pressure changes into a new type of rock

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6
Q

Examples of sedimentary rock

A

sandstone
limestone
chalk
clay

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7
Q

Examples of igneous rock

A

basalt
granite
obsidian

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8
Q

Examples of metamorphic rock

A

marble
slate
soapstone

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9
Q

How do igneous and metamorphic rocks become sedimentary?

A

weathering and erosion
deposition

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10
Q

How do sedimentary and metamorphic rocks become igneous?

A

melt
subduction

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11
Q

How do sedimentary and igneous rocks become metamorphic?

A

heat and pressure

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12
Q

Sedimentary rocks and processes: proterozoic marine sediments

A

iron ions present in oceans
iron ions react with O2 to form iron oxides
iron oxides form deposits on ocean floor

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13
Q

Sedimentary rocks and processes: alluvial deposits

A

rivers with high energy and velocity carry lots of sediment
as energy and velocity decrease, sediments drop out of solution and are deposited based on mass and density

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14
Q

Sedimentary rocks and processes: secondary enrichment

A

metal ore (e.g. copper) exposed to oxygen and water at surface
metal oxidises and goes into solution
water percolates downwards until it reaches water table
metal reduces and precipitates out of solution
copper is concentrated just below water table

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15
Q

Sedimentary rocks and processes: evaporites

A

water contains salts
water evaporates
salt precipitates on land

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16
Q

Sedimentary rocks and processes: biological deposits

A

over time, remains of living organisms lithify

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17
Q

What is coal formed from?

A

terrestrial vegetation

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18
Q

What is oil formed from?

A

microscopic marine organisms

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19
Q

What is limestone and chalk formed from?

A

remains of shells of marine organisms

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20
Q

How are granite batholiths formed?

A

large volume of magma moves up through the earth’s crust
cools and solidifies to form granite

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21
Q

Explain hydrothermal deposition

A

hot magma rises through lithosphere

water in surrounding rocks is heater

metals and minerals go into solution

hot water moves away from magma, fracturing the rock

water cools

metals and minerals precipitate out of solution

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22
Q

Explain how slate is formed

A

shale undergoes heat and pressure

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23
Q

Explain how marble is formed

A

limestone undergoes heat and pressure

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24
Q

Define reserve

A

deposits of natural resources that can be extracted and exploited profitably with current technology

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25
Q

Define stock

A

all material in lithosphere (reserve and resource)

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26
Q

Define resource

A

all the material we can extract from earth’s surface

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27
Q

Why might reserves increase or decrease?

A

changes in market value
changes in costs
changes in demand
changes in technology and availability

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28
Q

What is an inferred reserve?

A

presence of a mineral can be predicted from knowledge of geological structures

amount cannot be estimatedWH

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29
Q

What is a probable reserve?

A

sufficient information about the deposit is known so further exploration is justified

30
Q

What is a proven reserve?

A

sufficient exploration to accurately estimate the amount of the mineral that can be economically extracted

31
Q

What does Lasky’s principle state?

A

as the purity of a mineral decreases, the amount of the mineral present increases exponentially

32
Q

What is the cut off ore grade?

A

the grade of material that has been set as the minimum grade that can be extracted to make a profit

33
Q

Survey techniques: IR spectroscopy

A

earth’s surface emits IR

different materials emit IR at different wavelengths

34
Q

Survey techniques: gravimetry

A

measures gravitational pull

higher reading = higher density of materials

35
Q

Survey techniques: magnetometry

A

detects rocks that are magnetic

cobalt, nickel, iron

36
Q

Survey techniques: seismic surveys

A

produce artificial seismic waves

reflected by different layers of rocks

estimate depth and location of deposit

37
Q

Survey techniques: resistivity

A

electric current passed between two probes

low resistivity = metals present

38
Q

Survey techniques: trial drilling

A

physically collects a sample of rock

confirms presence

39
Q

Survey techniques: chemical analysis

A

send trial drilled sample to lab

determines purity of ore

40
Q

Factors that affect the viability of mining: location to infrastructure

A

closer = cheaper

41
Q

Factors that affect the viability of mining: depth

A

higher = easier

surface mining = cheaper

42
Q

Factors that affect the viability of mining: purity

A

Lasky’s principle

must meet cut off ore grade

43
Q

Factors that affect the viability of mining: hydrology

A

below water table = mine floods = high cost

44
Q

Factors that affect the viability of mining: chemical form

A

pure ores = lower processing cost

determines economic viability

45
Q

Factors that affect the viability of mining: availability of technologies

A

determines depth we can dig

development = increase in reserve

46
Q

Factors that affect the viability of mining: transport costs

A

higher cost = lower viability

47
Q

Factors that affect the viability of mining: market economics

A

stable value = higher mine viability

48
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: exploration

A

disturbs wildlife

assess organisms present before surveying

49
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: habitat loss

A

reduced biodiversity
local extinction
habitat fragmentation

recreates habitat elsewhere
trap and relocation organisms

50
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: loss of amenity

A

reduced biodiversity

return land to original use after mining

51
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: air pollution

A

dust
CO2 released by fossil fuel combustion for energy

carbon capture and storage
water sprays around mines

52
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: noise pollution

A

migration
changes interactions between organisms

timing restrictions
acoustic barriers

53
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: increased turbidity

A

pollutes water

sedimentation tanks

54
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: toxic leachate

A

toxic to living organisms

divert and treat
neutralise using limestone

55
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: spoil disposal

A

contains toxic leachate

return spoil to the ground
improve spoil heap

56
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: transport nuisance

A

noise and dust pollution

time restrictions
restricted routes and access

57
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: flooding

A

restrict and divert abstracted water

58
Q

Environmental impacts of mineral exploitation and reduction methods: subsidence

A

collapse of the ground

return spoils to the ground
use void for carbon capture and storage

59
Q

Mine site restoration: The Eden Project

A

reclaimed china clay pit

all water used is sanitised rain water

energy comes from wind turbines in cornwall

60
Q

How can we extend the time that existing reserves can be exploited?

A

place restrictions on the amount of materials we extract

improve technology

recycling existing materials

61
Q

Improved exploitation of low grade deposits: bioleaching

A

bacteria are mixed with low grade ore - carries out chemical reactions

metal ore goes into solution - produces a leachate

leachate is collected

62
Q

Improved exploitation of low grade deposits: phytomining

A

mining metals using plants

plants concentrate metals in their tissues

63
Q

Improved exploitation of low grade deposits: iron displacement

A

iron displaced oxidised metal

64
Q

Improved exploitation of low grade deposits: leachate collection

A

metal ions removed from leachate via electrolysis

65
Q

Improved exploitation of low grade deposits: polymer adsorption

A

positively charged uranium adsorbs to polymer strands

66
Q

What is a deep sea polymetallic nodule?

A

mineral concretions on the sea bottom formed from concentric layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core

67
Q

How can we extract polymetallic nodules?

A

vacuums dredge large swaths from seafloor

hydraulic pumps and hose systems bring nodules to surface

68
Q

Environmental impacts of deep sea mining

A

increased turbidity
habitat loss
compaction of sea floor
disrupts aquatic life

69
Q

Advantages of recycling

A

saves energy
saves money
creates jobs
reduces landfill waste
protects ecosystems

70
Q

Disadvantages of recycling

A

can cause pollution
high initial costs
complex sorting and processing
takes up large amounts of space to store

71
Q

What is meant by the term cradle to cradle design?

A

all materials remain in a continuous cycle of use

Environmental Science (25 decks)

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