Earth's Natural Resources and Mineral Industry

Conservation of natural resources by technical and managerial practices for the purpose of man’s utilitarian needs under prevailing socio-economic conditions.

A massive and unsustainable gap between global supply and demand for natural resources.

Citizens are consumers of goods and services, and they can stimulate the transition to sustainability by becoming conscientious consumers.

<p>Education can improve environmental conditions and is essential for implementing environmental protection goals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Participation by governments, businesses, and individuals is required to build a sustainable society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Individual support and actions are crucial, as the goals of sustainable development cannot be met without them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The increasing population and individual consumption demands.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>More than 2000 minerals have been identified, and they are formed by various combinations of the 8 elements that make up 98.5% of the Earth's crust.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Industry depends on about 80 minerals, and they can be classified into metals (e.g. iron, copper, and aluminum) and non-metals (e.g. salt, gypsum, clay, sand, phosphates).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A mineral deposit is a concentration of naturally occurring solid, liquid, or gaseous material that can be extracted and converted into useful materials or items, making it profitable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To ensure that the exploitation of minerals is guided by long-term national goals and perspectives, and to manage the finite and non-renewable resources sustainably.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The use of minerals varies greatly between countries, with the greatest use occurring in developed countries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>nutrients, water, a home, and a structural growing medium</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>from the Earth's surface and soil, originating from precipitation from the atmosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>30-50% below their saturation level</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>heating the atmosphere, evaporating and transpiring water, and enabling photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>through water as a medium</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Plants or producers</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Breaking down dead organic materials and releasing simple inorganic and organic substances</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Secondary consumer or primary carnivore</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Quaternary consumer or fourth-order consumer</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Secondary consumers</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Releasing simple inorganic and organic substances back to the environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Producers make their own organic material from simple inorganic substances, while consumers obtain molecules by eating or digesting other organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Unidirectional</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Energy flow and mineral cycling</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Not specified in the text</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The biomass produced by photosynthetic plants and algae</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To eat protein-containing amino acids</p> Signup and view all the answers