Environmental Science: Geology, Minerals, and MIning

__________, a commonly mined energy resource, is not a mineral.

coal

During the formation of sedimentary rock layers, sediments accumulate over time, leading to __________ of the layers.

compaction

Australia is composed of relatively old and thick _______________

continental crust

Which of the following correctly represents the basic layers of Earth from the innermost to the outermost?

core, mantle, crust

Tsunamis are caused by ________.

displacement of sea water by volcanoes, earthquakes or coastal landslides

At ________ plate boundaries, tectonic plates are pushed away from each other when magma rises to the surface, creating new crust.

divergent

The earthquakes that occur in Southern California generally occur above a __________________

fault

Smelting of iron ore involves ________.

heating beyond iron's melting point and combining the material with carbon

Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone National Park in the United States acquires its energy from a _________________

hot spot

Volcanoes are formed ________.

in subduction zones or in rift valleys

The formation of sedimentary rock through compaction and cementation is termed __________.

lithification

Strip mining, subsurface mining, and solution mining all take place in which "sphere" of the planet?

lithosphere

Within which of the following layers of Earth does plate tectonic movement occur?

lithosphere

Longer projected lifetimes for scarce minerals can be achieved with all of the following, EXCEPT: finding more available substitutes for these minerals. researching more efficient extraction techniques. exploring for new mineral reserves. lowering prices for products using these minerals. recycling.

lowering prices for products using these minerals. recycling.

What is the downslope movement of soil and rock due to gravity?

mass wasting

If a mineral is opaque, lustrous, malleable, and can conduct heat and electricity, it is a(n) ________.

metal

The U.S. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires ________.

mining companies to post bonds to cover restoration of mined areas before permits are granted

This type of mining often results in highly contaminated areas (holes in the ground called quarries) when toxic sulfides from the ore react and produce sulfuric acid.

open-pit mining

The dwindling supplies of rare strategic metals such as indium, tantalum, and platinum may be extended if we rigorously ________.

recycle existing supplies

A(n) ________ is a solid aggregation of ________.

rock; minerals

_______________ found in the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe is composed of dense and relatively young rock.

seafloor crust

The slowly increasing distance between South America and Africa is due to _______________

seafloor spreading

Layered __________________ exposed by erosion can be seen when looking at the Grand Canyon in the United States.

sedimentary rock

Coal mining involves which two of the following mining techniques?

strip mining and subsurface mining

The extremely deep ocean Marianas Trench is a result of _______________

subduction

Earth's mantle ________.

surrounds the core as a thick, elastic rock formation

Coltan ore contains ________.

tantalum

Minerals are components of ________.

the lithosphere

Tantalum is needed for mobile phones, and the Congo is a major supplier of this metal. Which of these is true of how mining for tantalum has occurred in the Congo?

Profits from tantalum mining have helped fuel a war that has killed more than 5 million people.

It takes ________ energy to produce aluminum from ore than to obtain it from recycled sources.

20 times more

Recycled tantalum accounts for approximately ________ of its availability for use in manufacturing.

20-25%

Heavy landscape damage and water pollution have occurred in ________ as a result of ________.

Appalachia; mountaintop removal mining for coal

If you want to avoid buying a "blood diamond," you should avoid purchasing ________

a diamond from Sierra Leone

Which of the following areas would experience the most devastation after an earthquake? a city built on a thick bed of stone a city built with strict codes in place to allow for flexible buildings a city that has invested in strengthening structural components in older buildings a marsh-like environment that was filled with landfill in order to build a city

a marsh-like environment that was filled with landfill in order to build a city

Which of these leads to uncertainty in our ability to predict how long a mineral resource will last? changing rates of mineral recycling changes in product technologies that use minerals development of new extraction technologies all of the above

all of the above

You have been appointed as a chief advisor for the MIDAS project. As far as costs of restoration and reclamation of mining sites, you should strongly recommend that ________.

any corporation wishing to invest should post a bond for reclamation and hire Afghans to do the work

Where do large-scale strike-slip faults, which cut through the entire lithosphere, occur?

at transform plate boundaries