Resources of the Earth

by Craig, James R.; Vaughan, David J.; Skinner, Brian J.

• ISBN13: 9780130834102
• ISBN10: 0130834106
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Extensively illustrated, balanced, broadbased, and uptodate, this book explores the nature and critical issues of all major types of earth resources--energy, metallic, nonmetallic, water, soil--and the impacts that resource usage has on the earth environment. It provides geologic background of resource formation and occurrence of most of the various types of resources; offers an international perspective; discusses resources not only from the scientific point of view, but also from the point of economic, political, historical considerations; and considers how the extraction and use of the resources creates impacts--local or global, immediate or delayed, visible or invisible, singular or cumulative.Minerals: The Foundations of Society. Plate Tectonics and The Origins of Mineral Resources. Earth's Resources Through History. Environmental Impacts of Resource Exploitation and Use. Energy from Fossil Fuels. Nuclear Power and Alternative Energy Sources. Abundant Metals. The Geochemically Scare Metals. Fertilizer and Chemical Minerals. Building Materials and Other Industrial Minerals. Water Resources. Soil as a Resource. Future Resources.For anyone interested in earth resources.

Table of Contents

Preface	vi
PART I INTRODUCTION AND THE ORIGIN OF RESOURCES	1	(4)
Modern Society and Earth Resources: The Complex Network	1	(1)
The Changing World	2	(1)
Interdependence and Complexity	2	(1)
The Earth -- Our Only Home	3	(1)
The Formation of Earth Resources and Plate Tectonics	3	(2)
Minerals: The Foundations of Society	5	(18)
The World's Resource Needs	6	(1)
Population Growth: The Force That Drives Resource Consumption	7	(5)
Materials We Use	12	(3)
Consequences of Resource Exploitation	15	(5)
Resources, Reserves, and Ores	20	(2)
Where Do Earth Resources Come From?	22	(1)
Internet Information Sources	22	(1)
CO2 and the Greenhouse Effect	13	(3)
The Lessons of Busang and Bre-X	16	(7)
The Origins of Earth Resources	23
Inroduction	24	(1)
Plate Tectonics	24	(2)
Subsurface Igneous and Metamorphic Processes	26	(11)
Surface Processes	37	(3)
Shallow Subsurface and Diagenetic Processes	40	(2)
Marine Processes	42	(2)
Conclusions	44	(1)
Internet Information Sources	44
Fluid Inclusions	28	(4)
Placer Deposits: Panning Gold and Mining Gravel	32	(4)
Seabed Ownership	36
PART 2 HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF RESOURCE USAGE	5	(234)
Historical Changes	45	(1)
Environmental Impacts	46	(3)
Earth Resources Through History	49	(28)
Introduction	50	(1)
Resources of Antiquity	51	(1)
From Rome to the Renaissance	52	(1)
Global Exploration and Colonialism	52	(3)
Humans and Metals	55	(5)
Modern Trends in Resource Usage	60	(5)
Global Distribution and the International Flow of Resources	65	(11)
Internet Information Sources	76	(1)
The California Gold Rush	56	(12)
The Industrial Revolution	68	(9)
Environmental Impacts of Resource Exploitation and Use	77	(52)
Introduction	78	(1)
How Exploiting Resources Affects the Environment	79	(21)
How Using Resources Affects the Environment	100	(13)
Disposal or Recycling of Industrial and Domestic Waste Products	113	(9)
Internet Information Sources	122	(3)
Acid Rain	84
Radon	5	(115)
The Move to Recycle	120	(5)
PART 3 ENERGY
Fossil Fuels	125	(2)
Nuclear Energy	127	(1)
Alternative Energy	127	(2)
Energy From Fossil Fuels	129	(61)
Introduction	130	(1)
Energy Units	131	(1)
The Changing Use of Energy	131	(2)
Fossil Fuels	133	(55)
Future Fossil Fuel Resources	188	(1)
Internet Information Sources	188	(2)
The Persian Gulf War 1990-91: Oil, Politics, Environment	134	(14)
The United States Strategic Petroleum Reserves	148	(7)
Coal Bed Methane	155	(24)
Plastics	179	(11)
Energy for the Future---Nuclear Power and Other Possible Alternatives	190	(49)
Introduction	191	(1)
Nuclear Power---Uranium and Nuclear Fission	192	(18)
Alternative Energy Sources	210	(27)
The Future	237	(1)
Internet Information Sources	237	(2)
United States Nuclear Waste Storage-Yucca Mountain	201	(15)
Chernobyl	216	(12)
Hydroelectric Power	228	(11)
PART 4 METALS	239	(92)
History	239	(1)
Types and Abundances of Metals	240	(3)
Abundant Metals	243	(36)
Metals and Their Properties	244	(1)
The Nature of Ore Deposits	244	(2)
Iron: The Backbone of Industry	246	(15)
Manganese	261	(3)
Aluminum, the Metal of the Twenty-first Century	264	(7)
Titanium	271	(1)
Megnesium	272	(2)
Silicon	274	(3)
Abundant Metals in the Future	277	(1)
Internet Information Sources	278	(1)
The Iron Ranges	252	(13)
Making and Recycling Automobiles	265	(11)
The Values of Metals	276	(3)
The Geochemically Scarce Metals	279	(52)
Production of the Geochemically Scarce Metals	280	(1)
Distribution of Scarce Metals in the Crust	280	(3)
Ore Minerals of the Scarce Metals	283	(1)
Classification of the Scarce Metals by Usage	283	(1)
The Ferro-Alloy Metals	284	(13)
The Base Metals	297	(15)
The Precious Metals	312	(13)
The Special Metals	325	(4)
Internet Information Sources	329	(2)
Lead in the Environment	287	(21)
More than Zinc from a Zinc Mine	308	(11)
Gold Extraction Using Mercury and Cyanide	319	(12)
PART 5 FERTILIZER, CHEMICAL CONSTRUCTION, AND INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES	331	(70)
Construction and Industrial Minerals	331	(1)
Fertilizer and Chemicals Minerals	332	(3)
Fertilizer and Chemical Minerals	335	(27)
Introduction	336	(1)
Minerals for Fertilizers	336	(1)
Historical Overview of Fertilizers	336	(5)
Nitrogen	341	(1)
Phosphorus	342	(3)
Potassium	345	(3)
Sulfur	348	(1)
Minerals for Chemicals	349	(12)
Fertilizer and Chemical Minerals in the Future	361	(1)
Internet Information Sources	361	(1)
The Early Potash Industry and U.S. Patent Number 1	339	(19)
Lake Peigneur, Where Oil and Salt did not Mix	358	(2)
Minerals in Foods, Medicines, and Cosmetics	360	(2)
Building Materials and Other Industrial Minerals	362	(39)
Introduction	363	(1)
Untreated Rock Products	364	(9)
Treated Rock Products	373	(8)
Other Major Industrial Minerals	381	(13)
Gemstones	394	(5)
The Future for Building Materials and Industrial Minerals	399	(1)
Internet Information Sources	399	(2)
Marble for the Masters	367	(15)
What Is This Page Made Of?	382	(7)
Synthetic Diamonds	389	(12)
PART 6 WATER AND SOIL FOR LIFE SUPPORT	401	(96)
Water	401	(1)
Soil	402	(3)
Water Resources	405	(57)
Introduction	406	(1)
The Global Distribution of Water	406	(19)
Our Use of Water	425	(17)
Potential Water Problems	442	(11)
Large-Scale Transportation and Diversion Systems	453	(7)
Internet Information Sources	460	(2)
Restoring a River: The Kissimmee	414	(16)
Water for New York City	430	(11)
Water in the Middle East	441	(16)
The Death of a Lake---The Aral Sea	457	(5)
Soil as a Resource	462	(24)
Introduction	463	(1)
Soil Formation and Distribution	463	(9)
Soil Type and Land Use	472	(6)
Erosion and Deterioration of Soils	478	(3)
Conservation---The Keyword for Soil Science	481	(3)
Internet Information Sources	484	(2)
How Fast Does Soil Form?	468	(5)
The Dust Bowl	473	(4)
Selenium Poisoning in the San Joaquin Valley	477	(5)
Deforestation, Soil Erosion, and the Destruction of Environmental Assets	482	(4)
Future Resources	486	(11)
Introduction	487	(1)
Future Mineral Resources	487	(3)
Metals for the Future	490	(1)
Fertilizers and Chemicals for the Future	491	(1)
Building and Industrial Materials for the Future	491	(1)
Energy for the Future	491	(3)
The Future of Alternative Energy Sources	494	(1)
Water and Soil for the Future	495	(1)
Technology and Innovation	495	(1)
Internet Information Sources	496	(1)
Appendix: Calendar of Earth Resources Events	497	(5)
Glossary	502	(8)
Index	510