Chapter 14: Geology and Earth Resources14.1 Earth Processes Shape Our ResourcesThe Solid EarthGlobal EarthquakesGlobal VolcanoesThe Earth’s PlatesThe Plate Tectonics ModelGlobal Plate Motions14.2 Rocks And MineralsThe Rock Cycle14.3 Economic Geology And MineralogyBingham Canyon Pit, UtahBingham CanyonEverything in Mines is BigEverything in Mines is Very BigMy Truck Can Eat Your TruckSlide 17Slide 18Slide 19Slide 20Slide 21Slide 22Slide 23Slide 24Taconite PelletizerTaconite PelletsTaconite PelletsSmelter, Sudbury, OntarioSlide 29Slag Pouring, Sudbury, Ontario14.4 Environmental Effects of Resource ExtractionTailings, Bingham Canyon, UtahMercury Mine, CaliforniaMine Runoff, ColoradoClimax Tailings Ponds, ColoradoCoal Tip, EnglandAberfan Slide, Wales14.5 Conserving Geological ResourcesRecycling ElectronicsThree Emerging Resource Problems14.6 Geological HazardsProducts of EruptionsEnvironmental Hazards of VolcanoesVolcanic Explosivity IndexMajor Hazards of EarthquakesSafest & Most Dangerous BuildingsNot the Best Place to Build?Construction, TurkeyConstruction, TurkeyConstruction, TurkeyConstruction, BosniaTile Roof, Costa RicaTile Roof, Costa RicaAdobe Buttresses, TexasTypes of Mass WastingSoil CreepSlide 57Vaiont Slide, Italy, 1962Rear of DamYungay, Peru, May 31, 1970Yungay, Peru, May 31, 1970Lituya Bay, Alaska, July 9, 1958Lituya Bay, Before and AfterThe Scour LineThe Highest Wave Ever RecordedDealing With Mass-WastingChapter 14: Geology and EarthResources14.1 Earth Processes Shape Our Resources•Earth is a dynamic planet •Tectonic processes reshape continents and cause earthquakes and volcanoesThe Solid EarthGlobal EarthquakesGlobal VolcanoesThe Earth’s PlatesThe Plate Tectonics ModelGlobal Plate Motions14.2 Rocks And Minerals•The Rock Cycle Creates And Recycles Rocks •Weathering And Erosion Wear Down RocksThe Rock Cycle14.3 Economic Geology And Mineralogy•Metals are essential to our economy •What Do You Think? Should We Revise Mining Laws? –The Mining Law of 1872•Nommetallic minerals include gravel, clay, sand, and saltsBingham Canyon Pit, UtahBingham CanyonEverything in Mines is BigEverything in Mines is Very BigMy Truck Can Eat Your TruckWhere Are They Now?The KruppsTaconite PelletizerTaconite PelletsTaconite PelletsSmelter, Sudbury, Ontario“Superstack”, Sudbury, Ontario:Once 1% of the entire planet’s sulfur emissions – 40,000 tons/daySlag Pouring, Sudbury, Ontario14.4 Environmental Effects of Resource Extraction•Mining can have serious environmental impacts–Acid runoff–Toxic metals•Processing ores also has negative effects–Sulfur Emissions–Waste DisposalTailings, Bingham Canyon, UtahMercury Mine, CaliforniaMine Runoff, ColoradoClimax Tailings Ponds, ColoradoCoal Tip, EnglandAberfan Slide, Wales14.5 Conserving Geological Resources•Recycling saves energy as well as materials–About 50% of Iron and Steel is Recycled–Recycling Electronics •New materials can replace mined resources–New Methods of Mining Low-Grade Ores–Synthesizing Minerals (Quartz, Diamonds)–Alternatives (Plastics for Metals)Recycling ElectronicsThree Emerging Resource Problems•Lithium (Batteries)–Evaporites (Bolivia): Far Easier to Extract–Pegmatites (Lepidolite, Spodumene)•Rare Earths (Electronics)–Col-Tan and Congo Civil War–Chinese Monopoly–California mine to reopen•Phosphorus (Fertilizer)–Morocco, China, South Africa, Jordan, U.S. = 90%14.6 Geological Hazards•Earthquakes can be very destructive–“Earthquakes Don’t Kill People, Buildings Kill People”•Volcanoes eject gas and ash, as well as lava–Lava is the Least Dangerous Product of Volcanoes•Landslides are examples of mass wastingProducts of EruptionsLava Flows Pyroclastic Debris •Bombs •Lapilli •Ash MudflowsLandslidesGases •Steam •Carbon Dioxide •H2S •SO2 •HCl •HFEnvironmental Hazards of Volcanoes Pollution •SO2, HCl in Water Lava Flows Falling Ejecta Ash Falls •Building Collapse •Crop Destruction Mudflows •Direct Damage (Colombia, 1985) •Floods (Several Types)Blast (Mt. St. Helens, 1980) Pyroclastic Flow (St. Pierre, 1902) Gas (Lake Nyos, Cameroon, 1986)Volcanic Explosivity IndexVEI Classification Description PlumeEjecta volumeFrequency Example0 Hawaiian non-explosive < 100 m < 104m³ daily Mauna Loa1HawaiianStromboliangentle 100-1000 m > 104 m³ daily Stromboli2StrombolianVulcanianexplosive 1-5 km > 106 m³ weekly Galeras 19933 Vulcanian /Pelean severe 3-15 km > 107 m³ yearly Lassen 19154 Pelean/Plinian cataclysmic 10-25 km > 0.1 km³ ≥ 10 yrsSoufrière Hills 19955 Plinian paroxysmal > 25 km > 1 km³ ≥ 50 yrs St. Helens 19806 Plinian/Ultra-Plinian colossal > 25 km > 10 km³ ≥ 100 yrs Pinatubo 19917 Plinian/Ultra-Plinian super-colossal > 25 km > 100 km³ ≥ 1000 yrs Tambora 18158 Ultra-Plinian mega-colossal > 25 km > 1,000 km³ ≥ 10,000 yrs Toba (73,000 BP)Major Hazards of Earthquakes•Building Collapse •Landslides •Fire •Tsunamis (Not Tidal Waves!)Safest & Most Dangerous Buildings•Small, Wood-frame House - Safest •Steel-Frame •Reinforced Concrete •Unreinforced Masonry •Adobe - Most Dangerous •Loose Concrete Blocks (Haiti, 2010)Not the Best Place to Build?Construction, TurkeyConstruction, TurkeyConstruction, TurkeyConstruction, BosniaTile Roof, Costa RicaTile Roof, Costa RicaAdobe Buttresses, TexasTypes of Mass Wasting•Creep•Slow Landslide•Slump•Earthflow, Mudflow, Debris Flow•AvalancheSoil CreepSlide Lake, Wyoming, 1925Vaiont Slide, Italy, 1962Rear of DamYungay, Peru, May 31, 1970Yungay, Peru, May 31, 1970Lituya Bay, Alaska, July 9, 1958Lituya Bay, Before and AfterThe Scour LineThe Highest Wave Ever RecordedDealing With Mass-Wasting•Proper Land Use – Stay out of Danger•Take warnings seriously•Structural Control–Retaining Structures–Drainage–Terraces•Warning System•Accept the Risk and Responsibility•Abolish Insurance