Chapter 14 Study Guide

1. Earth is a dynamic planet

core: composed of dense, intensely hot mass of metal (mostly ron)
thousands km in diameter
mantle: molten outer core is hot, pliable layer of rock
less dense than core/ higher light concentrations
crust: outermost layer of earth, lightweight brittle

2. Tectonic processes move continents
Tectonic plates: convection currents in mantle force to move
overlying crust, mosaic of huge blocks
Plates slide slowly across earth surface, sometimes breaks
Magma: molten rock forced up thru cracks form new oceanic curst that
up underwater in = mid oceanic ridges
Ridges = 74,000 km (46,000mi)
Continential plate usually rides up over seafloor = ocean plate subdued
or pushed down into mantle
Plate down = heat and pressure & crystallized minerals
Volcanoes: magma erupts thru vents & fissures in
overlying crust
PANGEA= super continent; before continents split & moved around

3. Rocks are composed of minerals
Mineral: naturally occurring, inorganic, solid element or compound w/
specific chem comp &crystal structure
Rock: solid, cohesive, aggregate (form) of one or more minerals
(individual mineral crystals mixed & held tightly)
Diff kinds of rocks = diff % of these or other minerals

4. Rocks & minerals recycled constantly
Rock cycle: creation, destruction, and metamorphosis
Igneous rock: earth crust, solidified magma
Metamophic rock: extreme heat/ pressure transform mineral
structures to create new forms
Folded, heated, squeezed, layers by tectonic process
Often show patterns of banding/folding
Ex) marble, quartzite, slate
5. Weathering breaks down rocks
Sedimentary rocks: accumulations of sand, mud & other material
deposited over time from another source
erode steadily exposed = air, water, changing temps,
reactive chemicals
weathering: gradually breaking down of exposed rocks
o mechanical weathering (physical): physical break ups of rocks
ino smaller particles w/o changing in chem compo of constituent
minerals
o chemical weathering: selective removal/alteration of specific
components that leads to weakening & disentrigation of rock
o sedimentation: deposition of 02, h20, ice gravity
layer accumulates millions yrs = mass compact hardens
deep layers sand becomes sandstone & clay
rocks grained, deposited near shore or in deep h20
also form as salt layers



14.2 Earth resources

4,400 diff mineral species

1. Metals especially valuable resources
Economic metals
Iron
Aluminum
Manganese
Copper
Chromium
Nickel
op
Rare earth metals = key to production of small electronics, lightweight
motors, batteries for hybrid cars
Sparsely distributed= considerable enviro disturbance


2. Fossil Fuels originated as peat and plankton
fossil fuels: deposits from living organisms
coal: leaves and other plant materials accumulated in ancient swamps
oil: remains of tiny plankton & algae
o rich in delta enviro
o sand, mud, clay = oil compounds in shale or sandstone
o ex) texas & saudi Arabia = oil body fluid

3. Conserving resources saves energy & materials
Reduce effects of mining/processing including h20 contamination,
air pollution and energy use
o Ex) aluminum = expensive- intensive energy process
o May metals can be RECYCLED

Consumed in USA, Japan, Europe
4. Resource substitution reduces demand
Consumption reduced by sub traditionl materials w/new
Recuse cost & weight + fuel efficiency (car substitute)


14.3 Environmental effects of resource extraction

1. Different mining tech pose diff risks to h20 & 02
Extract geological materials
o Open pit mining
o Strip mining
o Underground mining
Dangerous
Ex) mine fire in Centralia, PY / been burning since 1962 =
control efforts $40 million
Ex) china coal mine fire over 400 yrs
o Surface mining
Surface mining control and reclamation act (1977):
required better restoration of strip mined lands


2. Processing produces acids & metals
Metals extracted by oves by heating w/or chem solvents
o Both release large # of toxic materials = enviro hazard
o Smelting/roasting ore= major 02 pollution
Ex) 1800s Ducktown, TN = open wood fires to extract
copper = dense clouds of sulfur oxide
o Future increasingly liable for enviro damages

3. High value minerals can support corruption
Valuable materials bankrolled political dictators, criminal gangs and
terrorism around world
o Although international agreements often ban trade that finances
war & genocide, illegal trade continues
o Unaware obtained thru inhumane labor & enviro destructive
mining & processing methods
Public policy in US encourages mining on public lands as a
way of boosting economy & utilizing natural resources

14.4 Geological hazards

1. Earthquakes occur on plate margins
Earthquakes: sudden movements in earths crusts that occur along faults
(planes of weakness) where 1 plate slides past another
o ex) 2010 haiti earthquake
o San Andres fault in CA, one of most visible faults in the world
o Vary dramatically in amount of energy & movement release
Most deaths revolve around collapsing building

2. Tsunamis can be more damaging than earthquakes
Tsunamis: powerful waves triggered by earthqukes/landslides
o ex) 2011, japan, 9.0 earthquake = heavy dangerous waves
25,000 ppl dead, missing

3. Volcanoes eject gas, ash, as well as lava
Volcanoes: (undersea magma vents) produce much of earths crust
o Threaten to human pop b/c eruption & ash
o Exceed 1,000 c & 100km/hr (60mph)

4. landslides and mass wasting can bury villages
mass wasting: geological materials are moved downslope from on place
to another
o slow but swift, dangerous and very obvious
o building on steep unstable slopes = increase chances

5. Floods are the greatest geological hazard
Cause damage when ppl get in its wat
o Ex) Yangtze River, 1931, killed 3.7million ppl
Heat storage (climate change) in atmosphere= cause xtreme weather
events (droughts & intense rainfall)
Clearing forests & destroy natural wetlands = INCREASE
VOLUME AND RATE OF H20 DISCHARGE AFTER STORM
National flood insurance program = aid ppl w/o insurance