Transcript LITHOSPHERE
LITHOSPHERE ROCKS MINERALS SOIL Lithosphere The outer "solid" part of Earth. It has two parts, the crust and the upper mantle. It is about 100 km thick. Minerals To be classified as a true mineral, a substance must be a solid and have a crystalline structure. It must also be a naturally occurring, homogeneous substance with a defined chemical composition Minerals: Inorganic solids and their composition and properties are defined Hardness The Mohs scale of mineral hardness characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. Created in 1812 by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs Rocks Heterogeneous solids composed of many minerals. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Formed from volcanic eruptions Classification Igneous rocks : when molten magma cools 2 main categories: plutonic rock and volcanic. Plutonic or intrusive rocks result when magma cools and crystallizes slowly within the Earth's crust (example granite), Volcanic or extrusive rocks result from magma reaching the surface as lava. Classification Sedimentary rocks : by deposition of either organic matter or chemical precipitates, followed by compaction of the particulate matter. Sedimentary rocks form at or near the Earth's surface. Classification Metamorphic rocks: by subjecting any rock type to different temperature and pressure conditions than those in which the original rock was formed. These temperatures and pressures are always higher than those at the Earth's surface and must be sufficiently high so as to change the original minerals into other mineral types or else into other forms of the same minerals (e.g. by recrystallisation). Soil Naturally occurring, loose covering on the earth's surface. Made up of broken rock particles that have been altered by chemical and environmental conditions. Soil can be altered by interactions between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and the biosphere. Exploitation of Lithosphere Resources Minerals and Energy Exploitation of Minerals Ore- rock which contains minerals Geologists test for deposits- high concentration and large quantities of minerals Quebec- world depends on certain mineral deposits Extraction process costly and complex Uses of Minerals Found in Quebec Mineral Possible Use Gold Jewellery Electronic equipment Commercial exchanges Copper Plumbing pipes and fittings Electronic wire Electronic equipment Construction (roofs) Zinc Plating of steel (to increase corrosion resistance) Moulded pieces for the automotive industry Nickel Manufacture of stainless steel Coins Magnets Iron Manufacture of steel Energy Resources Fossil fuels Uranium Geothermal resources Used to heat buildings, fuel trucks and cars, power factories Fossil Fuels Energy from coal, natural gas, oil called fossil energy Oil- from dead marine organisms; sand, mud, and other rocks and minerals covered them over time Under pressure slowly transformed into oil Natural gas same source as oil Fossil Fuels Coal- from terrestrial plants and trees used to grow in marshes sand and mud buried marshes Compressed transformed into coal. Contrary to oil, which is liquid, and to natural gas, which is gas, coal is a solid. Fossil fuels While burning, release thermal energy which can be converted into electrical energy or mechanical energy Combustion releases by-products: mainly carbon dioxide (greenhouse effect) Other pollutants such as sulfur dioxide oxides from nitrogen, which are responsible for acid rain natural gas (mainly methane)- gas with greenhouse effect 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide Uranium Radioactive element Fraction nucleus (fission) to release large amount of energy No greenhouse gases but other problems Material in close contact radioactive for hundreds of years Expensive facilities for safety Quebec- Gentilly-2 nuclear plant Geothermal Energy Energy which comes from internal heat of Earth Circulate fluid in depth of Earth Energy transformed into electricity or used directly for heat Volcanic regions- underground water creates hot springs Geothermal heat used in houses- renewable, reduce carbon dioxide Future Energy Hydrogen fuel cells Hydrogen reacts with oxygen electricity + heat + water Hydrogen most abundant element But bonded with other elements and isolation needs lots of energy