After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• Describe how mineral resources are mined and utilized and how these processes impact air quality, land, and water quality.
• Explain what a fossil fuel is and how fossil fuel deposits are classified on the basis of how concentrated they are and whether they are a conventional or unconventional deposit.
• Explain the "peak oil" concept and how future declines in oil production and supply could impact our economy and way of life.
• Explain the major challenges associated with a continued reliance on coal as an energy source and assess whether carbon capture and storage (CCS) techniques are a legitimate solution to these problems.
• Describe the arguments for and against the expanded development and use of unconventional shale gas deposits, including the environmental, economic, and social aspects of this issue.
• Explain the major ecological impacts of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and how researchers are making use of the scientific method to distinguish between impacts caused by the spill and those caused by other factors.
Pre-Test
1. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that adults are at greater risk from exposure to lead than children.
a. True
b. False
2. Shale gas is a conventional natural gas deposit.
a. True
b. False
3. Oil companies are showing increasing interest in extracting oil from other hydrocarbon resources such as tar sands and shale oil.
a. True
b. False
4. Geologic carbon sequestration involves separating out carbon dioxide that is created when coal is converted to energy and transporting it to storage sites.
a. True
b. False
5. Hydraulic fracturing might pose a threat to the drinking water supply.
a. True
b. False
6. What does it mean that the death multiplier for cetaceans in the Gulf oil spill is said to be around 50?
a. The number of cetaceans dead from the oil spill is around 50.
b. The number of cetaceans found dead multiplied by 50 gives an estimate of the number of actual deaths.
c. The number of cetaceans eventually dying from effects of the oil spill will continue for around 50 years.
d. The recovery rate of cetaceans injured by the oil spill is about 50 animals per every one found dead.