Assignments

1. Chapter: none
2. Earth Revealed: movie. Courtesy of Anneberg Media, URL <http://www.learner.org/resources/series78.html>.  Requires Windows media Player.  Sign in and view #26 Living With Earth II

metallic resource, non metallic-resource, resource, reserve, fossil fuel, renewable, non-renewable

Mineral Resources

Metallic Minerals Resources

• copper, silver, gold, platinum, iron, aluminum, etc.

Non metallic

• precious and semiprecious gemstones
• construction: aggregates, building stone, etc.
• industrial minerals: salt, potash (sylvite), gypsum, kaolinite, quartz, etc.

Mineral Information Instititute

• The role of elements in life processes
• Everyday uses of minerals (pdf files)

Water Resources

• Surface water and ground water
  • Required for drinking, domestic use, agriculture, and industry
  • Water use in the United States/Water resources of the United States (USGS)/USGS FS-058-95

Energy Resources

Non-renewable

• Nuclear energy (fission): Radiogenic minerals
  • Uranium
• Fossil Fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas
  • learn about fossil fuels from fossilfuels.org

Environmental and Political Issues

• Air Pollution and Acid Rain
  • See Healthlink for a discussion of pollution concerns related to our own local Salem Power Plant.
• Disposal and handling of radioactive materials (the NIMBY problem)
  • I rather like this NIMBY commentary by Stephen McDonald of Mens News Daily
• Competition for control of resources resulting in war and corruption
  • The Darkside of natural resources
• Global Warming
  • Global warming is the most hotly debated environment issue related to the burning of fossil fuels. Why? Explore the sites below. What are the different sides of this issue? List the arguments for and against the reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
    • Environmental Defense
    • Climate Hot Map
    • EPA / NOAA
    • National Academies
    • Alternative energy Institute
    • Global Warming Information page
    • NOVA/Frontline debate: What's up with the Weather? - Film

Renewable

• Geothermal Energy (D.O.E. on geothermal energy)
• Water: Hydroelectric power
  • Rivers
  • Tides and waves
  • Water Power, INC
  • National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)
• Solar Energy (ASES Solarguide)
  • Photovoltaics
• Wind (NWTC)
  • Wind Powering America
  • Wind Power in MA (Healthlink)

Other sites to explore--if you have the time

Uses of Rocks and Minerals

• USGS Mineral Resource Program
• Economic Mineral Database, Geologynet Online Geology Databases
• Common Minerals and their Uses Mineral Information Institute
• Rocks and mineral uses from rocksandminerals.com
• Minerals and their uses, National Mining Association
• Minerals in your home, Mineralogical Society of America U.S.G.S. Mineral Information: "Statistics and information on the worldwide supply, demand, and flow of minerals and materials essential to the U.S. economy, the national security, and protection of the environment."

Energy

• U.S.G.S. World Energy Resources
• Uranium Information Center
• Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Energy Program

Water Resources

• U.S.G.S. Water Science for Schools