Class 2b: Natural Resources and EnergyToday’s classWhat is a resource?Slide 4Renewable resourcesNonrenewable resourcesTragedy of the commonsExample: Atlantic codSlide 9Resource consumptionMineral resourcesSlide 12Mineral explorationResource reservesSlide 15Mineral extractionSlide 17Mineral concentration and refiningSlide 19Mineral processing/manufacturingSlide 21Example: GoldExample: California Gold RushSlide 24Example: ColtanSlide 26EnergySlide 28Slide 29NuclearOilOPEC1970 oil crisesOil reservesSlide 35Solutions?Slide 37Class 2b: Natural Resources and EnergyToday’s class•What is a resource?•Ecological footprints•Natural resources and resource-based economies•Example: Gabon•Energy and oilWhat is a resource?•Naturally occurring material•Useful to society•Able to be exploited (used)•Availability depends on:–Physical characteristics of the resource–Economic and technological condition of societyRenewable resources•Regenerated as fast as they’re used•Energy sources•Potentially renewable: must be carefully managed–Water–Forests–SoilsNonrenewable resources•Finite on a human time scale•All minerals•Fossil fuels–Generated like sedimentary rocks–Coal, oil, natural gasTragedy of the commons•Resources held in common; free access•Wealth measured by resource use•No incentive to conserve•Tragedy is inevitable: an individual will overuse public resources when it is in his or her best interests•Solutions?Example: Atlantic cod•Grand Banks off Canadian East Coast•For 500 years, rich commercial fishery•1950s technology led to 4x catch rate•Population crashed in 1980s; 70% decrease in catch•Now moratorium on Northern Codwww.mbayaq.orgResource consumption•Ecological footprint•Average productive land per person: 4.5 acres•Average land used by US residents: 24 acres •What’s your footprint?Mineral resources•Mineral: inorganic; specific chemistry, hardness, density, crystal•Location depends on geology: large size or luck•No one country has everythingMineral resources•Six stages in mineral exploration–Exploration–Extraction–Concentration–Refining–Transporting–Manufacturing•Each stage has its own geographyMineral exploration•Where does exploration take place?–Geology–Politics–Economics–Technology•The less risk and cost, the better•Exploration determines where reserves areResource reserves•Estimated vs. proven•Remember: economics and technologyResource reserves•Estimated vs. proven•Remember: economics and technologyMineral extraction•Where does extraction take place? See Step 1!Mineral extraction•Where does extraction take place? See Step 1!Copper CityCopper CoveCopperopolisCoppervale•Two similar stages•Ex: Copper uses 0.5% ore: where?•Near the extraction siteMineral concentration and refining•Two similar stages•Ex: Copper uses 0.5% ore: where?•Near the extraction siteMineral concentration and refining•Depends on the mineral: small or large quantities?•Ex: Copper in small pieces: where?Mineral processing/manufacturing•Depends on the mineral: small or large quantities?•Ex: Copper in small pieces: where?Mineral processing/manufacturing•Long history as a valuable metal–Conducts electricity; ductile–Used as currency–Aesthetic value•Occurs everywhere, even in seawater•Placer vs. lode gold–Weathered gold washed downstream–Veins under the surfaceExample: Gold•Geologically right: former seabed•Politically right: just transferred from Mexico•Technology evolved to extract more gold–Initially placer mining–Then hydraulic mining–Then cyanide heap leachingExample: California Gold Rush•Gold helped Union win Civil War•Population boom made CA a state in 2 years•Agriculture began to boom•San Francisco as gateway•Massive amounts of erosion and deposition–More flooding in Sacramento•Processing involved mercury and arsenic•Don’t eat American River fish!Example: California Gold Rush•Mineral that includes tantalum•Used in cell phones, laptops, etc.•Found in Australia, Central AfricaExample: Coltan•Mineral that includes tantalum•Used in cell phones, laptops, etc.•Found in Australia, Central AfricaExample: Coltan• Good source of income for Congolese• But, militias overrun protected areas and smuggle out coltan• So Nokia et al. go to Australia insteadEnergy•The capacity to do work or transfer heat•(Nearly) All energy comes from the sun•Primary energy sources: heat or do work directly•Secondary sources: turn turbines to generate electricityEnergy•90% of US energy from fossil fuels•Remainder nuclear, hydro•Different geography for each source–Coal, natural gas–Hydro–Nuclear–Solar–WindNuclearSolarWindHydroOil•Worldwide and in US, 40% of energy•2/3 of US use is transportation•Cheaper to import oil than extract it here (60% imported)•Depends on relationships with exporters•2002: Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, Nigeria, IraqOPEC•Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries•Cartel that sets oil prices and supply–Formed to resist European companies–Holds 70% of reserves•Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE; Algeria, Libya, Nigeria; Venezuela; Indonesia1970 oil crises•1973 Israel fights off Egypt and Syria•OPEC wanted to punish Israel’s allies•Plus frustration with 6% of population using 33% of energy•Quadrupled oil prices•Led to gas shortages, efficiency improvements•Today, conservation no longer a concernOil reserves•When will we run out? No, when will production decline?•10% rule: production is about 10% of reserves•New discoveries needed to keep production high•In 2003, 25 billion barrels were used, but only 8 billion were discovered•And consumption is only increasingOil reserves•Resource use follows Hubberts curve•When is the peak of production?•Between 1999 and 2010•What happens economically?Solutions?•Technological improvements•Substitutions•Taking oil by force •New sites of exploration–Less environmentally friendly–New parts of the
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