Chapter 12 – Geology and Nonrenewable Minerals
12.1 What are the earth’s major geological processes and what are mineral resources?
49. The U.S. dependence on foreign sources of ____ could be lessened by a new process that extracts the valuable
material from the brine waste of geothermal plants.
a.
lithium
b.
rare earth elements
c.
gold
d.
manganese
e.
zinc
a
12.4 How can we use mineral resources more sustainably?
50. The recycling process of what metal produces 95% less air pollution and 97% less water pollution, and uses 95% less
energy than mining and processing its ore?
a.
copper
b.
lithium
c.
silica from glass
d.
steel
e.
aluminum
e
12.4 How can we use mineral resources more sustainably?
51. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the resulting spoils from ____ have buried lengths of
stream that are roughly equal to the distance between the two U.S. cities of New York and Chicago?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
12.3 What are the environmental effects of using nonrenewable mineral resources?
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.3.4 – Discuss four harmful environmental effects of mining.
52. What types of mining operations produce three-fourths of all U.S. solid waste?
a.
strip and mountaintop removal
b.
open-pit and strip
c.
surface and subsurface
Chapter 12 – Geology and Nonrenewable Minerals
d.
area strip and mountaintop removal
e.
contour strip
c
12.3 What are the environmental effects of using nonrenewable mineral resources?
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.3.4 – Discuss four harmful environmental effects of mining.
53. What industry produces more toxic emissions than any other in the U.S.?
a.
technology
b.
manufacturing
c.
energy
d.
mining
e.
automobile
12.3 What are the environmental effects of using nonrenewable mineral resources?
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.3.4 – Discuss four harmful environmental effects of mining.
54. Acid mine drainage involves ____.
a.
the combination of water and acidic compounds used to process ores
b.
acid that drains out of gold mines
c.
rainwater from a mine carrying sulfuric acid to nearby streams and groundwater
d.
acid waste left over from the mining process
e.
identical processes to those of acid rain
c
12.3 What are the environmental effects of using nonrenewable mineral resources?
55. What determines which part of a known ore supply is extracted and used?
a.
economics
b.
geology
c.
tax laws
d.
subsidies
e.
environmental regulations
a
12.2 How long might supplies of nonrenewable mineral resources last?
56. What is the primary advantage of biomining?
a.
speed of processing
b.
volume of ore
Chapter 12 – Geology and Nonrenewable Minerals
c.
cost of implementing
d.
reduced environmental impact
e.
simplicity of the process
12.2 How long might supplies of nonrenewable mineral resources last?
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.4.3 – Specify three factors limiting the mining of lower-grades ore.
57. Most of the chemical elements and compounds found in ____ occur in such low concentrations that recovering these
mineral resources takes more energy and money than they are worth.
a.
rare earth element deposits
b.
biomines
c.
recycling
d.
low-grade ores
e.
seawater
e
12.2 How long might supplies of nonrenewable mineral resources last?
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.4.4 – Discuss the prospects of extracting minerals from the oceans.
58. Experts are particularly concerned about the U.S. depletion and lack of national reserves of manganese, cobalt,
chromium, and platinum because they are nonrenewable ____ resources.
a.
security metal
b.
strategic metal
c.
biogenic metal
d.
rare metal
e.
trace metal
12.2 How long might supplies of nonrenewable mineral resources last?
59. Rare earth elements are not actually ____, but they are difficult to find in high enough concentrations and process at
an economically viable price.
a.
economic
b.
rare
c.
mineable
d.
sustainable
e.
recoverable
12.2 How long might supplies of nonrenewable mineral resources last?
60. The 17 ____ include scandium, yttrium, and 15 lanthanide chemical elements, including lanthanum.
a.
semi-precious minerals
b.
metallic ores
c.
non-metallic ores
d.
rare earth metals
e.
strategically important minerals
Core Case Study: The Crucial Importance of Rare Earth Metals
61. When there is a dispute about ____, it is often because of different assumptions about supplies and rates of use.
a.
strategic minerals
b.
subsidies
c.
depletion allowances
d.
market price
e.
depletion times
e
12.2 How long might supplies of nonrenewable mineral resources last?
62. The use of ____ is likely to play a large role in the predicted materials revolution.
a.
renewable minerals
b.
depletion allowances
c.
subsidies
d.
sustainable mining
e.
nanotechnology
e
12.4 How can we use mineral resources more sustainably?
63. What is the best way for governments to support more sustainable use of nonrenewable mineral resources?
a.
enactment of more treaties
b.
consensus on international policy
c.
enforcement of strict tax laws
d.
increased depletion allowances
e.
reduced mining subsidies
e
64. What kind of subsidies can governments use to promote sustainable use of nonrenewable minerals?
a.
clean-up and environmental compliance
b.
aggressive foreign policy and conflict where necessary
c.
market price and trade agreements
d.
mining and allowances
e.
reuse, recycling, and substitution programs
e
12.4 How can we use mineral resources more sustainably?
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.5 – Summarize three ways to use mineral resources more sustainably.
65. What are the chimney-like structures near the hot water vents that come into contact with cold seawater and
precipitate out various metal sulfides?
a.
black smokers
b.
white smokers
c.
hydrothermal vents
d.
underwater volcanoes
e.
manganese pipes
a
12.2 How long might supplies of nonrenewable mineral resources last?
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.4.4 – Discuss the prospects of extracting minerals from the oceans.
66. What is the international problem regarding mining on the ocean floor?
a.
pirates and thievery
b.
extreme water depth
c.
rights to minerals
d.
who is responsible for the clean up
e.
who will pay what taxes
c
12.2 How long might supplies of nonrenewable mineral resources last?
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.4.4 – Discuss the prospects of extracting minerals from the oceans.
67. What topographic feature is left behind at unreclaimed surface mines?
a.
vegetated terraces
b.
contours
c.
tailings
d.
decrepit buildings
e.
highwalls
e
12.4 How can we use mineral resources more sustainably?
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.5 – Summarize three ways to use mineral resources more sustainably.
68. What is a surface hazard resulting from subsurface mining?
a.
highwalls
b.
fires
c.
explosions
d.
cave-ins
e.
subsidence
ANSWER:
e
DIFFICULTY:
REFERENCES:
12.3 What are the environmental effects of using nonrenewable mineral resources?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.3.3 – Outline the five ways of mining mineral deposits.
Matching
Match each rock with its type.
a.
sedimentary
b.
igneous
c.
metamorphic
REFERENCES:
12.5 What are the earth’s major geological processes and what are the mineral resources?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.2 – Describe the rock cycle of the three major types of rock found in the
earth’s crust.
69. slate
ANSWER:
c
70. granite
ANSWER:
71. marble
ANSWER:
c
72. sandstone
ANSWER:
a
73. shale
ANSWER:
a
Match the items listed below with the appropriate description.
REFERENCES:
12.3 What are the environmental effects of using nonrenewable mineral resources?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.3.3 – Outline the five ways of mining mineral deposits.
Chapter 12 – Geology and Nonrenewable Minerals
Figure 12.3
DIFFICULTY:
Bloom’s: Remember
REFERENCES:
12.5 What are the earth’s major geological hazards?
PREFACE NAME:
Figure 12.3
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
ENVS.MLSP.16.12.1.2 – Describe the movement of the earth’s tectonic plates using
diagrams.
74. On the figure of the earth’s crust, choose the letter that represents cold dense materials falling through the mantle.
ANSWER:
75. On the figure of the earth’s crust, choose the letter that represents the continental crust.
ANSWER:
76. On the figure of the earth’s crust, choose the letter that represents hot material rising through the mantle.
ANSWER:
77. On the figure of the earth’s crust, choose the letter that represents the oceanic crust.
ANSWER:
78. On the figure of the earth’s crust, choose the letter that represents the inner core.
Completion
79. A(n) ____________________ forms when a preexisting rock is subjected to high temperatures, high pressures,
chemically active fluids, or a combination of these agents.
80. Surface and subsurface mining accounts for about ___________________ of all U.S. solid waste.
81. Under the rigid outer portion of the mantle is the ____________________, a zone of hot, partly melted flowing pliable
rock.
82. A process in the rock cycle that results in the breaking down of rocks into smaller particles can be described as
____________________.
83. A(n) ____________________ is an element or inorganic compound that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust.
84. A volcano is created when ____________________ rises via plume or in a fissure through the lithosphere.
Chapter 12 – Geology and Nonrenewable Minerals
85. Scientists use the Richter scale, on which each unit has a(n) ____________________ ten times greater then the next
smaller unit, to classify earthquakes as insignificant, minor, damaging, destructive, major, or great.
86. Thus far, the biologic mining method called ____________________ is economically feasible only with low-grade
ores for which conventional mining methods are too expensive.
87. The reduction of mining ____________________ is a way that governments can promote sustainable use of
nonrenewable minerals.
88. One of the environmental problems with gold mining is the leftover and sometimes leaky leach ponds that contain
____________________.
89. Earthquakes and volcanoes are largely related to the position of ____________________ as they separate, collide, and
slide past one another.
90. Granite is a type of ____________________ rock.
91. Heating ores to release the metals they contain is called ____________________.
Chapter 12 – Geology and Nonrenewable Minerals
92. The slowest natural cycle on and in Earth is the ____________________ cycle.
93. Seismic waves move upward and outward from the earthquake’s ____________________ like ripples in a pool of
water
94. Magnitude is the measure of ground motion or tremors caused by an earthquake, as indicated by the
____________________ of seismic waves.
95. The amplitude or size of the seismic waves from an earthquake is measured by a recording instrument called a(n)
____________________.
96. Increasing ____________________ for reuse, recycling, and finding substitutes is a way that governments can
promote the sustainable use of nonrenewable minerals.
97. Redesigning ____________________ processes to use less mineral resources is a way that corporations and
researchers could practice more sustainable use of nonrenewable minerals.
98. A way that you can promote the sustainable use of nonrenewable minerals is to reuse or ____________________
metal products whenever possible.
Essay
99. Draw a flow chart that explains the life cycle of a metal resource.
100. Briefly explain why caution is advised in proceeding with the new and powerful use of nanotechnology.