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