Natural Resources

Environmental Science

Sustainability- what is it?!

“meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

(epa.gov)

Resource How are our resources used?

Barite Used in oil drilling to weigh down the oil and prevent gushers (high specific gravity), filler in paint, glass, toothpaste.

Chert Used to make stone tools. (hardness, fracture patterns). Used as fill to provide a stable base for roads (insolubility)

Clay Used to make pottery and bricks. Used for pet litter (ability to absorb water)

Chalcopyrite (copper) Copper is used to make electrical wiring (electrical conductivity). Used in alloys - bronze and brass (low melting point, beauty, resistance to oxidation) Used as an ingredient in pigments (blue and green)

Coal Used as a fuel (flammable). The oils and tars produced processing coal are processed into a variety of organic solvents and compounds such as plastics, motor fuel, photo developer, perfume, medicine, and sugar substitute.

Resource How are our resources used?

Galena (lead)

The largest use of lead is in automotive batteries. It is also used as weights (high specific gravity). Used as an ingredient in solder (soft, low melting point.). Until recently it was also used as an ingredient in paint and as an additive in gasoline to make engines run more smoothly.

GypsumGypsum is primarily used to make wallboard. It is also an ingredient in cement.

Ilmenite (titanium)

Titanium is used in alloys to make strong light-weight materials - space ships, bicycles Used to make white paint - non-toxic replacement for lead, which used to be used for this purpose. (low reactivity)

Iron Iron is used for tools, for appliances, for building supports. It is also used as a pigment (red and ochre)

LimestoneLimestone is used as building stone, for ornamental stone for surfaces and sculpture, to make cement and mortar, as crushed stone for fill

Resource How are our resources used?

Mussel Shells

Mussel shells were used as ceremonial objects. European Americans have used shells as ornaments - buttons and pearls for jewelry.

Oil/Natural GasOil and natural gas are used as fuels and ingredients in the chemical industry to produce petroleum based products notably plastics.

PhosphatePhosphate is used as a fertilizer and to make phosphoric acid which is a major ingredient in food products such as soda.

Saltpeter

Saltpeter was used as a fertilizer (source of nitrogen) and as an ingredient in gunpowder. It has now been replaced by the related compound ammonium nitrate which can be manufactured in the laboratory.

Sand & GravelSand and gravel are used as fill to provide a stable foundation for buildings and roads.

Sandstone Sandstone is used as a building material.

Sphalerite (zinc)Zinc is used as an ingredient in brass (w/copper). It is used to coat (galvanize) iron implements to protect them from rusting. It is used as a pigment (white)