Natural Resources

definition

classification

renewable

non-renewable

formation of fossil fuels & why are non-renewable

classification

non-metallic

metallic

air

water

materials

land

abiotic (non-renewable)

biotic (renewable)

oil and gas

coal

dead organisms at the bottom of the sea

microfossils, mostly zooplankton and algae

plants in swamps

anoxic conditions = no decomposition; burial by sediments; heat+pressure+time

reservoir rock

porosity --- holes in the rock

permeability --- how connected the holes are

cap rock --- impermeable rock

trap --- fold or fault; changes in rock type or permeability

metal ores---ore minerals are processed to extracted pure forms of the mental

industrial minerals---the mineral itself, in its natural state with little processing

usually very low abundance

very few metals are found as the native element

often magmatic / metamorphic processes

must be extracted and refined

metal ores

hydrothermal (hot water) activity

erosion and concentration by sedimentary processes

crystal settling in intrusions

chemical precipitates

form intrusive igneous rocks; dense, and settle to the bottom

contact metamorphism

veins

black smokers