CSULA - Geology 357: Natural Resources

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Topic #9 - Natural Resources
Geol 357: Urban Geology

I. The Standard Of Living Equation

SL = (R x E x I)/ (P x W)
SL = standard of living
R = useful consumption of resources (minerals, oil, water, air, etc.)
E = useful consumption of energy
I = ingenuity
P = population
W = waste

II. The E Factor

A. The Energy Available is Vast
- 1. Solar
- 2. Geothermal
- 3. Nuclear fission or fusion
B. Fossil Fuels
- 1. The fuels we are most dependent upon, oil and gas, are declining
- 2. The use of fossil fuels is a transitory event which has had profound effects on human history
C. All Energy Sources Will Become More Expensive

III. The P Factor

A. The Equation Indicates Big Trouble for Rapidly Growing Populations
- 1. Countries like Mexico (GR = 2.4%) are growing 3 times as fast as DC's like the U.S. (GR = 0.6%)
B. Rapidly Growing Populations often want a Materialistic Life
- 1. This hope may be impossible to satisfy

IV. The W Factor

A. Half the Energy Used in the U.S. may be wasted
- 1. The U.S. is the most wasteful of the 18 industrial nations
B. Practice Conservation to Improve S. L.
- 1. Recycle metals, glass, and paper
- 2. Purchase for durability
- 3. Avoid fad purchases

V. The R Factor

V. The R Factor
A. The Natural Occurrence of Minerals
- 1. Each ore body has finite limits
  - a. Continued extraction means increased cost
- 2. Ores are <<1% of the crust
  - a. Ores are geological oddities
- 3. Not all mineral deposits are ores
  - a. Adequate concentration
  - b. Demand
  - c. Transportation to market
B. Minerals are Used in Every Aspect of Modern Life
Mineral resources images
The annual per capita consumption of nonmetallic and metallic mineral resources for the United States is nearly 10,000 kilograms (11 tons)! About 94 percent of the materials used are nonmetallic. (FROM: EARTH: An Introduction to Physical Geology 7th ed / Tarbuck & Lutgens fig 21.2; After U.S. Bureau of Mines)
C. Doubling Rate of Mineral Consumption
- 1. The demand for minerals doubles in about 30 years
  - a. Population and demand per capita increases greatly in this time
- 2. Sheet of paper example (1/254 inch thick)
  - a. Double the thickness of that paper 35 times and it will stretch from LA to New York
  - b. 42 times and it reaches the moon
  - c. 50 times and it reaches the sun
D. Demand for Minerals
- 1. Population versus consumption curve
  - a. Demand for all minerals is increasing faster than the population
- 2. Demand is derived from the chemical and manufacturing industries plus agriculture
  - a. The consumer is the ultimate source of demand
- 3. Future demand is a function of culture and population
  - a. 2 factors which will strain mineral resources for the next 100 years
    - 1) Small increases in demand per capita in rapidly growing populations
    - 2) Large increases in per capita demand in static populations
E. Wars for Minerals
- 1. Affluence has been localized in space and time
  - a. Uneven distribution of minerals and energy has led to wars
    - 1) Syrians and Arabs fought the first war for hydrocarbons in 312 B.C.
    - 2) Germany invades Austria, France and Poland for coal
    - 3) Japan invades SE Asia for oil and China for coal and minerals
    - 4) Iraq invades Kuwait August 2, 1990
F. Geography of Mineral Production
- 1. Of all the developed countries, only Russia has adequate resources for current demands
- 2. The most accessible, high grade deposits are the first to be mined
  - a. These are already gone from the US, Britain, and Europe
    - 1) These countries must import R & E from other countries
- 3. Many valuable ores are in politically unstable or communist countries
  - a. Chromium - South Africa, Russia
  - b. Mn - South Africa, Zaire
  - c. Al - tropical countries
- 4. The country which controls R & E is usually the world's most powerful
  - a. U.K. during the 19th century was the foremost producer of Pb, Cu, Sn, Fe, & coal
    - 1) They were the wealthiest and most powerful nation

VI. The I Factor

A. With Regard to Energy
- 1. No vast energy sources are foreseen that will make mining any cheaper
- 2. Energy will remain expensive
B. With Regard to Extraction Costs
- 1. Widespread belief that technology is continually lowering unit costs while allowing us to work ever lower grade deposits is false
  - a. Mining technology is barely keeping pace
C. Synthetics
- 1. Synthetics will relieve very little stress on ore deposits
  - a. Most metals and such things as He, Hg, U, and Th can't be synthesized
D. Technology for Extracting Metals from common Rock is Far Off
- 1. Enormous, unusable waste
- 2. Energy intensive

VII. The Equation For The U.S

.A. R & E
- 1. Imports are maintaining R & E at a high level
- 2. Recycling and alternate energy sources must be developed
B. I
- 1. I is enormous for the U.S.
  - a. Space shuttle, computers, communications, agriculture, recombinant DNA
- 2. This may be the biggest factor in maintaining SL in the future
C. P & W
- 1. P is stabilizing and W is declining

VIII. The Equation And UDC'S

A. R & E
- 1. R & E are being exported to DC's
  - a. This temporarily increases SL
  - b. R & E are "quick assets" and their loss will ultimately reduce SL
    - (1) Enormous resentment will arise
B. P is Growing Rapidly in UDC's
- 1. Greatly reduces SL
- 2. Year 2000 population
  UDC 4.9 billion
  DC 1.3 billion
C. World Wealth
- 1. The equation demands that the disparity of world wealth increase
D. Types of Countries
- 1. Developed countries
- 2. Developing countries with R & E
- 3. Under developed countries with R & E
- 4. UDC's with no R & E

IX. The Future Of Our Resources

A. R
- 1. 3 types of future sources of ore
  - a. Presently noncommercial deposits
    - (1) Technical innovation
    - (2) Affordable transportation
    - (3) Price increase
  - b. Newly discovered deposits
    - (1) Becomes more and more difficult
  - c. Urban ore - recycling
B. E
- 1. New energy sources must be developed to make mineral extraction possible
C. I
- 1. We must recognize that the inevitable loss of nonrenewable resources will end the industrial age
  - a. The new solar age will be very different from the industrial age
    - (1) Reduced consumption
    - (2) Declining population
  - b. We must ease the transition by preparing now
- 2. Ores must be recovered from:
  - a. Remote areas
  - b. Seafloor
  - c. Outer space
- 3. Technical innovation and new discoveries must develop our reserves at an exponential rate until:
  - a. Population stabilizes
  - b. Constant or decreasing demand per capita is achieved
- 4. Exploration, applying advanced technology, must be employed
- 5. Extraction techniques must be improved so as to recover ores from ever lower grade deposits
D. W
- 1. W must be reduced by recycling and conservation in production and use
E. Imports will continue to provide a large part of the US needs

I. The Standard Of Living Equation

II. The E Factor

III. The P Factor

IV. The W Factor

V. The R Factor

VI. The I Factor

VII. The Equation For The U.S

VIII. The Equation And UDC'S

IX. The Future Of Our Resources

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