Download Unit #3 * Natural Resources

UNIT #3 –
NATURAL RESOURCES
Project #3 is DUE May 12th
ROCKS vs. MINERALS
■ Mineral – element or inorganic compound that occurs naturally in the Earth’s
crust and is solid with a regular internal crystalline structure
– Some are single elements: Gold, silver, and diamonds (carbon)
– Most are combination of elements: Salt = NaCl = Sodium Chloride
■ Mineral resource – Can be extracted and used at an affordable cost
■ Identified Resource – Deposits with known location, quantity and quality
■ Reserves – Identified resources that can be extracted for a profit at current
prices
■ Rock – Solid combination of one or more minerals
■ Ore – A rock that contains a large concentration of a wanted mineral –
usually metal
How are they formed?
■ Igneous Rock – Forms below
the surface – molten rock –
magma
■ Sedimentary – Made of
sediments (tiny particles) of
dead plants and bits of
eroded preexisting rock
■ Metamorphic – Rock
exposed to High
Temperatures and Pressure
– change in the crystalline
structure
Rock Cycle
Rare Earth Elements (REEs)
1. What are Rare Earth Elements (REEs)?
Use these articles
to answer the 10
questions in your
notebook:
2. How many different Rare Earth Elements are there?
Rare Earth
Resources Link
3. What are some military uses for REEs?
Geology.com Link
4. How do you use REEs in your everyday life?
5. Are these elements really “RARE”?
6. Why do they call these elements “RARE”?
7. Why did demand for REEs skyrocket during the mid-1960s?
8. What country produces the most REEs used today? What Percentage?
9. Do we have a Rare Earth mine in the United States? What State?
10.What do think is the MOST useful REE? Why is it so useful?
Rare Earth Elements
Rare Earth Videos
■ Why we need Rare Earth Elements –
■ Rare Earth Elements
■ Neodymium – How magnets are made
■ China’s Monopoly –
■ China’s mining of Rare Earth Minerals
■ US, EU, and Japan bring case to UN
How to turn Iron Ore into Usable Steel
■ You have to add Carbon to Iron to create Steel
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l7JqonyoKA
■ Be sure you include the process for extracting/refining your natural resource that
you choose for your Project due Thursday May 12th .
Compare/Contrast Energy Sources
■ What are the Benefits and Advantages of the various Energy Sources used today?
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObvdSmPbdLg – wind/solar
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMOpMka6PJI – Energy Sources
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYfs-qYGzvs – Blue Energy
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x5qyaXX3Zc – Tesla Free Wireless Energy