Exam 14: Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

The gold necessary for two wedding rings produces enough mining waste to weigh the same as three mid-sized cars.

Identified resources from which the mineral can be extracted profitably at current prices are called ____________________.

Of the 20 key nonrenewable mineral resources it needs, what percentage does the U.S.import?

Surface mining is used to extract 60% of the coal used in the United States.

Use the Figure above to answer the following question(s). -Choose the process in which sediment is placed in a river or lake.

A common form of extracting gold from rock used in Australia and North America is

Rocks can be converted from one type to another.

Soil that forms from the weathering of volcanic lava is not very fertile.

Which of the following is not a type of metallic mineral?

Recycling aluminum beverage cans and scrap aluminum produces ____ percent less air pollution than mining and processing aluminum ore.

In the United States, the mining industry releases almost ____________________ of all toxic emissions.

Use the Figure above to answer the following question(s). -What does the letter B represent?

Which of the following is not a long-term harm to the environment caused by mining?

Some analysts suggest we can increase supplies of some minerals by extracting lower grades of ore. Which of the following is not a factor that limits the mining of lower- grade ores?

Mining companies have not been successful in pressuring the U.S.Congress to continue the current mining law, or in keeping the royalties at the current levels.

Instead of asking how we can increase the supplies of nonrenewable minerals, we should be asking how can we decrease our use and waste of such resources?

Choose one of the following (A or B) to answer. Should the government of the United States continue to subsidize the mining industry, keeping the price of minerals artificially low, or allow the market to set the price and possibly encourage more environmentally friendly practices? (B) Should the 1872 mining act be revised and updated to include covering the actual costs of cleanup and restoration of the land after mining ceases, and a reasonable leasing cost?

Limestone, when exposed to heat and pressure, becomes

Depletion time is the time it takes to use up approximately ____% of the mineral reserves at a given rate of use.

Experts are particularly concerned about four strategic metal resources that are important for the U.S.economy and military strength, and that must be imported. Which of the following is not one of those metal resources?