Chapter 14
Hitting the Hard Stuff: Geologic Resources and Hazards
IN THIS CHAPTER
Discovering how geologic resources are formed
Unearthing valuable minerals in rocks
Mining minerals above and below ground
Understanding fossil fuels
Recognizing geologic hazards
Despite being mostly covered by water, the surface of the Earth is a rocky place. These rocks hide many important and useful resources — in particular metals, minerals, and fossil fuels. Removing geologic resources that are valuable for industry (such as metals) or for energy (such as fossil fuels) can easily result in environmental damage and endanger human health. Environmental scientists seek sustainable ways to extract these resources while protecting the ecosystems and preserving the landscapes they’re hidden within.
In this chapter, I introduce a few basic concepts in geology, such as the rock cycle and plate tectonics. I explain how economically useful rocks and minerals are mined from the Earth, and I cover the environmental ...
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