GEOlogical Part Two
Possible consequences of groundwater overdraft include:
Decreased porosity of the aquifer materials due to compaction. Subsidence of the ground surface. Reduction in the amount of water the aquifer material can hold. Correct! All of the above
What minerals are most widely used as abrasives? Choose all that apply:
Diamond Corundum (sapphires and rubies) Garnet
Conflicts between different instream water uses often arise because:
Different flow levels are needed for different types of instream uses.
The level of water in Mono Lake decreased because of:
Diversion of surface streams that once flowed into Mono Lake.
The process of aluminum smelting relies on which of the following:
Electrolysis, or passing an electrical current through molten aluminum oxide (Al2O3) to separate the aluminum from oxygen.
Explain the process of eutrophication. Your answer should include: a) An explanation of the causes of eutrophication. b) Consequences of eutrophication for aquatic ecosystems.
Eutrophication: an increase in nutrients from agricultural runoff will promote algae growth in water. When the algae starts to decay and dies, it will then become oxygen demanding waste. This is also referred to as "dead zones" which have a large economic impact on coastal communities.
A possible consequence of eutrophication is:
Fish kills, because there is less dissolved oxygen in the water.
Which of the following describes how copper ore is deposited in volcanic areas on land:
Fluids from a cooling magma chamber are injected into the rock above the chamber, forming veins of quartz and copper minerals.
Explain how fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) are a form of "fossilized sunlight."
From the sun, a form of stored energy from photosynthesis are carbohydrates. When carbohydrates are within the layers of rock, as a result of this they then become fossil fuels or 'fossilized' solar energy from the Cretaceous and Jurassic period.
The most common ore mineral for lead is:
Galena (Pb,S)
In addition to copper, what other elements are usually extracted from copper mines (for example, the Kennecott Copper Mine in Utah)?
Gold (Au) Silver (Ag) Molybdenum (Mo)
Why was gold prized in ancient times (and today!) for jewelry and other valuable decorative objects?
Gold exists as a native element, meaning it does not need to be separated from other elements like sulfur or oxygen in order to be used. Gold is very rare in the Earth's crust, so it holds its value over time. Gold is very soft and flexible, making it easy to work with even with low technology methods. Gold is malleable, which means it can be hammered into very thin pieces without breaking or cracking. Gold atoms do not bond with other elements like oxygen, which means it will never tarnish or rust. Correct! All of the above.
What is the most common method of extracting ore minerals, such as chalcopyrite, from the surrounding ore rock?
Grinding the rock to a fine powder and flotation to separate the ore minerals from the rest of the rock.
Other than ice sheets and glaciers, the largest fraction of Earth's fresh water is found as:
Groundwater
Which of the following minerals form in evaporite deposits?
Gypsum (CaSO4) Halite (NaCl) Sylvite (KCl) Magnesium chloride (MgCl2) Potash (K2CO3) Correct! All of the above
The most common ore mineral for iron is:
Hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4)
Briefly explain why copper deposits form on the ocean floor. Your answer needs to include: 1) the type of plate boundary where these deposits form, and 2) an explanation of how the copper ends up on the ocean floor.
Hot water escapes from the ocean floor thus carrying and depositing copper elements in a dissolved form. On the other hand, cold water is unable to keep the elements (such as sulfur, gold, silver, etc.) dissolved so the elements precipitate in solid form by a black smoker. Copper deposits on the ocean floor arise in the same region as mountain ranges. Similar to mountain ranges, mid-ocean ridges act as divergent plate boundaries as well.
Compare and contrast the Riparian Doctrine and the Prior Appropriation Doctrine. Include a discussion of the circumstances where each one is used to allocate water rights. Your answer needs to include: a) A description of at least four of the main characteristics that define each doctrine. b) The region(s) where each doctrine is used, and a brief explanation as to why this doctrine is used there.
a) Riparian Doctrine: This doctrine came as a result of ownership, referring to water rights belonging to landowners owning property that are adjacent to streams. The use of water is due to the ownership of the land and tying into water rights being sold with the land. Water flowing through the property can be used as long as it's returned to the source before it leaves the land. Prior Appropriation Doctrine: This doctrine can be seen as water rights apart from property rights as a way to differentiate one another. Water is divided between various users, and set with a, "First in time, first in right" mindset. And at some times challenging when a transfer in water rights occur. b) Riparian Doctrine: This doctrine is implied mainly in eastern states. Utilized where there is a substantial amount of surface water. Prior Appropriation Doctrine: This doctrine is implied mainly in western states. Utilized where water is limited and in consumptive arid regions.
Most of the world's oil and natural gas reserves were formed by ______________ that died millions of years ago, were buried by sediments, and converted to oil or natural gas by heat and pressure.
marine microorganisms (algae, plankton, etc.)
Most of the world's coal reserves were formed by ______________ that died millions of years ago, were buried by sediments, and converted to coal by heat and pressure.
swamo plants
What trace element gives blue corundum (or sapphire) its unique color?
Iron (Fe) and titanium (Ti)
The Earth's core is mostly composed of:
Iron and nickel
How plentiful is iron in the Earth's crust?
Iron makes up about 5% of the Earth's crust.
What type of geologic formation does most of the world's iron come from?
Iron rich minerals that formed as sedimentary deposits in ancient oceans, called banded iron formations.
Which of the following are problems associated with cement manufacturing?
It releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, which is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. It releases fly ash into the atmosphere, which contains toxic elements like lead, mercury, and cadmium that cause cancer and other serious health problems. 1 and 2 only
Where did all the gold on Earth originally come from?
It was formed in supernovas, or the collision of two neutron stars.
Graphene is the strongest material that has ever been found. How strong is this man-made material estimated to be (somewhat whimsically)?
It would take an elephant balanced on a pencil to break through a sheet of graphene the thickness of saran wrap.
What metal has the highest recycling rate in the U.S.? (About 98% of this metal is recycled!)
Lead
Diamonds and graphite are both pure carbon. Why are these materials so different?
More bonds: Carbon atoms in diamonds are bonded with four other carbon atoms, while carbon atoms in graphite are only bonded with three other carbon atoms. Stronger bonds: Carbon atoms in diamonds form a dense cage-like structure, while carbon atoms in graphite form flat sheets that are not fully bonded to each other. Formation of bonds: Carbon atoms in diamonds form bonds under high pressure, so the atoms are forced together and form very tight bonds. Carbon atoms in graphite form bonds in low pressure, so the atoms form loose bonds (the atoms are more spread out). Correct! All of the above
Which of the following best describes how the smelting of copper ore is currently done in the United States?
Most smelting is not done in the U.S. because it is expensive to meet clean air standards. It is cheaper for mining companies to smelt copper ore in countries with lower pollution standards.
The air we breath is mostly:
Nitrogen
90% of the copper mined from the Earth is extracted by what method?
Open pit mines - rock at the surface of the Earth is removed to expose the ore deposit.
What element is removed from iron ore in the blast furnace?
Oxygen (O)
The Earth's mantle is mostly composed of:
Oxygen and silicon
Briefly describe three ways that placer deposits are mined. What resources do we get from placer deposits? (List at least three)
Panning: by utilizing hands, minerals are removed by scooping sediments. Hydraulic mining: high pressure hoses are utilizing in order to remove gravel. Then, in order to remove minerals, the materials are then run though sluices. Dredging: machines are utilized in order to scoop gravel deposits. Then, in order to remove minerals, the materials are then run though sluices.
The conflict over water use in the Klamath Basin can be thought of as a conflict between:
Prior appropriation doctrine and public trust doctrine.
Most of the silica that is used for glass production comes from:
Quartz, which is usually extracted from sand.
What is ore?
Rock that contains enough metal to make it economically worthwhile to extract it.
Unlike copper ore, most lead ore is extracted by which of the following mining methods?
Room and pillar mines - underground mines laid out in a grid-like pattern of rooms and pillars excavated in the ore deposit; the pillars keep the mine from collapsing.
Which of the following is a non-point pollution source?
Salt runoff from roads.
More than 99% of global water is not available for human use because it is: This question has multiple answers - choose all that apply.
Saltwater Glaciers Groundwater
Which of the following describes how copper ore is deposited on the ocean floor:
Sea water seeps into fractures at mid-ocean ridges, where it becomes enriched in copper and other metals. The water escapes through black smokers (hydrothermal vents) and the metals are deposited on the ocean floor.
Which of the following is associated with the smelting process for copper ore?
Smelters release sulfur dioxide (SO2), formed from the reaction of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) with oxygen (O2) in the smelter. The release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere causes acid rain. Smelters release carbon dioxide (CO2), formed from the reaction of copper oxide (CuO) with carbon (C) from coal burned in the smelter. The release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere contributes to climate change. Smelters release fly ash into the atmosphere, which contains particulates like soot that cause respiratory problems. Smelters release fly ash into the atmosphere, which contains toxic elements like lead, mercury, and arsenic that cause cancer and other serious health problems. Correct Answer All of the above.
Describe what type of rocks are most commonly source rocks, reservoir rocks, and trap rocks for oil and natural gas. Your answer should also include a brief explanation of why each rock type is usually a source rock, reservoir rock, or trap rock.
Source rocks: Shale is the most common example of this rock type. Oil and gas drifts out of shale over a long period of time. Reservoir rocks: Sandstone is the most common example of this rock type. This rock provides room inside the rock in order to soak oil up like a sponge and trap oil through its pores. Trap rocks: Shale is the most common example of this rock type. This is because trap rocks act as a structural foundation that doesn't allow liquids to phase through the clay packed particles.
The most common ore mineral for zinc is:
Sphalerite ([Zn, Fe]S)
Most of the iron mined in the United States comes from:
States in the Great Lakes region; for example Michigan and Minnesota.
What is "green steel?"
Steel that is "mined" from trash like tires and car parts, which might otherwise end up in landfills.
What mineral groups are most often used as ores for metals? Choose all that apply.
Sulfides (metals bound to sulfur) Oxides (metals bound to oxygen) Carbonates (metals bound to carbon and oxygen) Native metals (metals that are not bound to other elements)
Quiz 2: Question 8
Sulfur causes problems when sulfide minerals are mined for metals. In the image below, identify each of the following locations where sulfur is a problem.
Name a location on Earth where conditions are good for forming future oil and natural gas deposits (in other words, the criteria needed to start the process of oil and natural gas formation are currently present).
The Gulf of Mexico would be a great example.
For Earth materials, the term grade refers to:
The concentration of a desirable metal in an ore rock. The viscosity (or "thickness") of oil. The concentration of sulfur and "dirt" (silt, sand, rocks) in coal. The concentration of salts or contaminants in water supplies. Correct! All of the above.
Why is jade so strong?
The crystals form bundles of long fibers that cross in different directions.
What technology allowed for the first smelting of iron?
The development of the bloomery (or furnace), which increases the amount of oxygen added to fire and makes the fire hotter.
Quiz 3: Question 2
The following questions are about the diagram below:
Quiz 3: Question 3
The following questions are about the diagram below:
Quiz 4: Question 6
The image below shows the temperatures and depths (which correspond to pressure) necessary to create oil and natural gas. What substances are indicated
Artesian flow occurs where:
The potential pressure surface of a confined aquifer is above the actual ground surface elevation.
Silicate minerals are the most abundant group of minerals on Earth, yet we generally do not extract metals from these minerals. Briefly explain why we do not use silicate minerals as ores for metals.
The reason why we don't use silicate minerals as ores for metals, is because of the strong bonds formed by silicon and oxygen atoms. This makes the process to extract metals difficult due to the form of the crystal structure of silicate minerals.
Which of the following best describes perennial streams:
They are a site of groundwater discharge and they are known as gaining streams.
Which of the following is NOT true about rare earth elements?
They are incredibly rare in Earth's crust; even more rare than the precious metals (silver, gold, platinum, etc).
Which of the following describes minerals:
They are naturally occurring substances (they form in nature, not in labs). They have a specific chemical formula that is always the same. For example, all quartz is composed of silicon and oxygen, which combine as 1 silicon atom for every 2 oxygen atoms (SiO2). They have an ordered atomic structure. The atoms form bonds that result in a crystal structure that is always the same. For example, the atomic structure of all quartz is always identical. Mixtures of different kinds of minerals form rocks. Correct! All of the above.
Which of the following describes how kimberlite deposits (the deposits that diamonds come from) are formed?
They form from volcanic eruptions of magma that originated deep in the Earth.
Aside from hydrogen and helium, how did the rest of the elements in the periodic table form?
They were produced in stars by the fusion of hydrogen and helium.
T/F According to the article about China banning "foreign waste," U.S. recycling companies are considering changing the rules for what is allowed in our curbside recycling bins.
True
T/F Aluminum is very expensive to produce, but can be recycled over and over without losing its quality. Because of this, about two thirds of all the aluminum ever made is still in use today.
True
T/F In general, the elements listed first on the periodic table (elements with low atomic numbers) are also the most abundant elements in the universe.
True
How old are the rocks that contain most of the world's iron deposits?
Very old (Precambiran, older than 500 million years).
Which of the following would likely serve as an aquitard?
Well sorted clay
Which of the following would likely make the best aquifer?
Well sorted sand
Define a) porosity, b) permeability, and c) hydraulic conductivity. Include a brief explanation of how each affects groundwater flow in an aquifer.
a) Porosity: A percentage of the total volume, what gets measured is the volume of pore space. b) Permeability: between soil grains or rock particles is where connected spaces or fractures are found. These connected passageways allow easy access for groundwater to flow through the material. c) Hydraulic conductivity: At what rate the water moves through the aquifer as the unit of measure. Also depending on the aquifer in how porous and permeable it is.
List at least three examples of renewable resources and briefly explain why they are considered renewable.
1) Food crops 2) Wildlife 3) Cotton Renewable resources such as all of these resources, can be substituted by a 'natural way of things' approach or by utilizing practical steps and practices.
List at least three examples of non-renewable resources and briefly explain why they are considered non-renewable. Are these resources non-renewable on geologic timescales?
1) Metals 2) Fossil Fuels 3) Rock Materials Non-renewable resources such as all of these resources, can not be substituted after their primary use.
List at least 4 reasons why it is very difficult to predict future reserves, and thus future mining operations for Earth resources (e.g. metals, fossil fuels, etc).
1) The Price of Extraction 2) Political Situations Arise 3) An Environmental Cost 4) New Deposits Discovered All of these reasons correlate to the size of the reserve and due to the constant sway and shift of the reserve. Which alters the prediction and in turn, affects any mining action in order to extract Earth's resources.
Metallic resources can be divided into categories based on how abundant they are. Answer the following questions about these categories of metals: 1. What are the two main categories of metals, and how is each category defined? 2. List two examples of metals from the first category and briefly explain how we use them (your answer should be one sentence or less for each metal, and should give an example of materials made from that metal). 3. One of these categories can be further subdivided into groups based on how we use these metals. What are these subgroups? 4. Give one example of metals from each of these subgroups and briefly explain how we use each metal (your answer should be one sentence or less for each metal, and should give an example of materials made from that metal).
1. The two main categories of metals are abundant metals and scarce metals. Abundant metals are best described as metals within the Earth and concentrated greater than 0.1% of the Earth's crust. Scarce metals are best described as metals within the Earth and concentrated less than 0.1% of the Earth's crust. 2. Abundant metal: Aluminum is an abundant metal and can be used in a variety of ways including cans and kitchen utensils. Scarce metal: Copper is a scarce metal which can conduct heat and electricity so electrical wires and even coins are made of copper. 3. That would be the scarce metals! The subgroups are: ferro-alloy metals, base metals, and precious metals. 4. Ferro-alloy metal: Cobalt is a ferro-alloy metal that can be used in roof tiles and even in pottery and ceramic art pieces. Base metal: Tin is a base metal that is used in iron or steel and is especially essential for building bridges. Precious metal: Silver is a precious metal that is usually found in the process of making jewelry and coins.
Briefly describe at least five ways that lead has been used historically.
1. Flavoring in Roman wine and food 2. Plumbing pipes 3. Egyptian eyeliner 4. LED light and stained glass window frames 5. Fuel additive
Describe two different ways that limestone forms. Keep your descriptions brief (2-3 sentences or less for each description).
1. In order to weather the rocks, rain precipitation is valuable in bringing water and oxygen (mildly acidic) into the limestone formation. Then, elements are leached from the rocks by the reaction with the seawater in order to produce calcite. 2. Living organisms' shells such as corals, and algae created by foraminifera creatures, contain the vital calcite within their body structure. The accumulation of these various materials help to form limestone.
Briefly explain 3 things that must occur in order for marine microorganisms to turn into oil and natural gas deposits that can be extracted by conventional methods.
1. Oil and natural gas are mitigated out of source rock. Then they are transported into sandstone or another type of reservoir rock 2. Oceanic microorganisms are buried on the ocean floor to extend into the oil window. 3. In order to stop, oil and natural gas are mitigated and trapped by shale or another type of trap rock. This is in order to collect itself into larger quantities unless its restricted.
At the Kennecott Copper Mine in Utah, about 500,000 tons of rock is blasted and extracted every day. This amount of rock is equivalent in weight to:
10,000 humpback whales
After grinding and flotation, copper concentrate contains about _____% pure copper.
28%
Groundwater withdrawl has caused some parts of the Central Valley in California to sink as much as __________ feet.
30
An element is:
A pure chemical substance consisting of one type of atom, distinguished by its atomic number and the number of protons in its nucleus. Examples include elemental metals like copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and gold (Au).
Nearly all of the Earth resources we use come from the Earth's crust. What percentage of the planet does the crust represent?
About 1%
According to the interview about recycling electronics, how much of our electronic waste ends up being shipped to other countries and recycled in ways that are very toxic?
About 80%
Name a location on Earth where conditions were good for forming oil and natural gas deposits in the past (in other words, the criteria needed to start the process of oil and natural gas formation occurred millions of years ago).
Again, the Gulf of Mexico would be great example.
Most of the water consumed globally is used for:
Agriculture
What types of geologic formations are likely to form oil traps? This question has multiple answers - choose all that apply.
Anticlines Faults Stratigraphic features of rock layers Salt domes
Briefly explain why copper deposits on land are usually found in areas where volcanoes existed in the past. Your answer needs to include: 1) an explanation of the connection between copper deposits and volcanoes, and 2) why the volcanoes often no longer exist.
As stated in the previous question, copper deposits arise in the same territory as mountain ranges. Volcanoes erode away over time meaning they're unnecessary in order for copper deposits to form. However, magma chambers are essential. As a magma chamber cools, the fluids that are being injected above the chamber will form mineral veins including quartz and porphyry copper deposits.
The most common ore mineral for aluminum is:
Bauxite [Al(OH)3]
What trace element gives blue diamonds their unique color?
Boron (B)
To be useful as an aquifer, a rock must be:
Both porous and permeable
Small amounts of copper are necessary for the following aspects of human health and development:
Brain and nervous system. Blood and blood vessels. Muscle tone and functioning. Bones and skin. Correct! All of the above.
What mineral is limestone composed of?
Calcite (CaCO3)
What is the difference between cement and concrete? Cement is a mix of __________________________. Concrete is a mix of __________________________.
Cement is a mix of lime, silica, and alumina. Concrete is a mix of water, aggregate, and cement powder.
What country currently dominates the mining of rare earth elements, with over 90% of global production?
China
The most common ore mineral for mercury is:
Cinnabar (Hg,S)
Most of the world's oil and natural gas supplies were formed during these geologic time periods because:
Continents were closer together and surrounded by warm, shallow seas during these time periods.
What happens to bacteria, or "superbugs" like MRSA on copper surfaces as opposed to stainless steel or plastic surfaces?
Copper atoms interfere with the membrane around bacteria, which kills the bacteria. Bacteria can live for much longer on stainless steel and plastic surfaces. Both two & three are correct
One of the most common forms of copper ore is the mineral chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). Which elements in this mineral are actually extracted and used, and which ones are waste products?
Copper is extracted and used, but iron and sulfur are waste products.
Most of the world's copper resources come from what kind of ore?
Copper sulfide ores; rocks that contain copper and sulfur.
Most of the world's oil and natural gas supplies were formed during which of the following geologic time periods? This question has multiple answers - choose all that apply.
Cretaceous (about 145 to 65 million years ago) Jurassic (about 200 to 145 million years ago)
