Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
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If issues such as nonrenewable energy resources, waste disposal,
and pollution seem simply too far removed or too complex to
be fully appreciated, consider for a moment just how depen-
dent we are on geology in our daily routines (
What Would You Do
Because of budget shortfalls and in an effort to save money,
your local school board is considering eliminating the required
geology course that all students must pass to graduate from high
school. As a concerned parent and citizen, you have rallied
community support to keep geology in the curriculum, and
you will be making your presentation to the school board next
week. What will be your arguments to keep geology as part of
the basic body of knowledge that all students should have when
they graduate from high school? Why should students have a
working knowledge of geology? What arguments would you
expect from the school board in favor of eliminating geology
from the curriculum and how will you counter their reasons?
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Figure 1.3).
Much of the electricity for our appliances comes from
the burning of coal, oil, natural gas, or uranium consumed in
nuclear-generating plants. It is geologists who locate the coal,
petroleum (oil and natural gas), and uranium. The copper or
other metal wires through which electricity travels are manu-
factured from materials found as the result of mineral explo-
ration. The concrete foundation (concrete is a mixture of clay,
sand, or gravel, and limestone), drywall (made largely from the
mineral gypsum), and windows (the mineral quartz is the prin-
cipal ingredient in the manufacture of glass) of the buildings we
live and work in owe their very existence to geologic resources.
When we go to work, the car or public transportation we
use is powered and lubricated by some type of petroleum by-
product and is constructed of metal alloys and plastics. And
the roads or rails we ride over come from geologic materials,
such as gravel, asphalt, concrete, or steel. All of these items are
the result of processing geologic resources.
As individuals and societies, we enjoy a standard of living
that is obviously directly dependent on the consumption of geo-
logic materials. We therefore need to be aware of how our use
and misuse of geologic resources may affect the environment,
and develop policies that not only encourage management of
our natural resources, but also allow for continuing economic
but equally signifi cant, are the connections between geology
and economic, social, and political issues. Whereas most
readers of this topic will not become professional geologists,
everyone should have a basic understanding of the geologic
processes that ultimately affect all of us.
Destructive events such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
landslides, tsunami, floods, and droughts make headlines
and affect many people in obvious ways. Although we can-
not prevent most of these natural disasters from happening,
the more we learn about what causes them, the better we will
be able to predict and mitigate the severity of their impact.
9203 kg
Clays
348 kg
Zinc
311,034 l
Petroleum
Equally important, but not always as well understood or ap-
preciated, is the connection between geology and economic
and political power. Mineral and energy resources are not
equally distributed and no country is self-suffi cient in all of
them. Throughout history, people have fought wars to se-
cure these resources. The United States was involved in the
1990-1991 Gulf War largely because it needed to protect its
oil interests in that region. Many foreign policies and trea-
ties develop from the need to acquire and maintain adequate
supplies of mineral and energy resources.
774,000 kg
Stone, sand,
and gravel
14,359 kg
Salt
159,880 m
3
Natural gas
33,771 kg
Cement
30,615 kg
Other minerals
and metals
14,694 kg
Iron ore
410 kg
Lead
You may become involved in geologic decisions in various
ways—for instance, as a member of a planning board or as a
property owner with mineral rights. In such cases, you must
have a basic knowledge of geology to make informed deci-
sions. Many professionals must also deal with geologic issues
as part of their jobs. Lawyers, for example, are becoming
more involved in issues ranging from ownership of natural
resources to how development activities affect the environ-
ment. As government plays a greater role in environmental
issues and regulations, members of Congress have increased
the number of staff devoted to studying issues related to the
environment and geology.
2438 kg
Bauxite
(Aluminum)
260,530 kg
Coal
8301 kg
Phosphate rock
44 g
Gold
629 kg
Copper
◗
Figure 1.3
Lifetime Mineral Usage According to the Mineral
Information Institute in Golden, Colorado, the average American
born in 2006 has a life expectancy of 77.8 years and will need
1,672,393 kg of minerals, metals, and fuels to sustain his or her
standard of living over a lifetime. That is an average of 21,496 kg
of mineral and energy resources per year for every man, woman,
and child in the United States.
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