ESS101 Environmental Geology (Part 2) PDF

ESS 101. Introduction to Environmental and Sustainability Sciences Environmental Geology (Part 2) Alen Amirkhanian Akian College of Science and Engineering American University of Armenia Zhangye Danxia Landform in China Rocks, ores,...

ESS 101. Introduction to Environmental and Sustainability Sciences Environmental Geology (Part 2) Alen Amirkhanian Akian College of Science and Engineering American University of Armenia Zhangye Danxia Landform in China Rocks, ores, and minerals A rock is a solid non-living matter that is an aggregate of one or more minerals. In rocks, some mineral species and groups are much more abundant than others; these are termed the rock- forming minerals. Rocks could also have biological content. Limestone could have marine life such as dead shellfish, etc. Mineral s Minerals are naturally occurring substances formed by geological processes. Minerals have an orderly internal structure and characteristic chemical composition, crystal form, and physical properties. As of September 2022, about 5,835 species of minerals were approved by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA). A mineral is sometimes made up of just one chemical element but more often it is a compound (mixture) of two or more. For example: ‾ Diamond is made up of just carbon ‾ Gold is made of only gold ‾ Copper is made of only copper ‾ Graphite is made up only carbon ‾ Fluorite is made up of a compound of calcium and fluorine ‾ Gypsum is a compound of 5 elements ‾ Quartz is made of 2 elements, silicon and oxygen Ores Under some special circumstances rocks host important mineral deposits (ores). For example: Tungsten, tin, and uranium are commonly associated with rocks granites and diorites. Ores of chromium and platinum are commonly associated with the gabbros rocks.  Copper in ores There are 10 ores that used to extract copper from. The picture on the right shows deposits of minerals that has copper in it. When these deposits are removed they become copper ore. There is still a lot of process that needs to be done to get to copper.  Coal is a rock 4 types of coal: Lignite, pressure and heat Sub-bituminous, under Anthracite, very high Bituminous, even greater turn peat into lignite, brown- greater pressure some concentration of stored pressure creates this. black in color lignite change into energy Coal is organic, so it is not a mineral, nor is it made of minerals. Coal results from dead plant material turning into rock underground over millions of years. It is biogenic. Minerals are by definition not biogenic.  Types of Rock All the rocks in the world can be divided into 3 types: Igneous rock Sedimentary rock Metamorphic rock Let’s watch a very short movie on the rock cycle https://youtu.be/pm6cCg_Do6k  The Rock Cycle The rock cycle is usually beginning with a hot molten liquid rock called magma or lava. Magma forms under the Earth’s surface in the crust or mantle and erupts on Earth’s surface as lava. When magma or lava cools, it solidifies by crystallization in which minerals grow within the magma or lava. The Rock Cycle Key processes in the rock cycle Melting – melting or deformation of rock from high temperatures in the earth’s mantle Intrusion – of magma into pores underground Extrusion – of magma, which is called lava when on the surface of the planet Cooling – of lava exposed to the atmosphere; extrusive igneous rock is formed Weathering and Erosion – Breakdown of rock from rain, sun, wind Transfer and deposition – Wind, rain, water streams, gravity taking eroded rock (i.e, sediments) to be placed in lake or ocean beds. Sedimentation – is the process of settling down on the eroded rocks and other debris Compaction – as a result of pressure Lithification – process where sediments under pressure and cementation become solid rock  Weathering and Erosion Water can work its way into cracks in rock, where it can Growing plant roots can force rock sections apart. wash away loose material. When the water freezes and expands, it can widen the cracks. Erosion This erosion created the following formations in the Badlands of South Dakota, it occurs naturally as a result of the effects of water, glaciers, or wind. The Badlands are the result of the erosion of softer sedimentary rock types, such as shales and clays. Harder rocks, including many types of metamorphic and igneous rocks, are more resistant to erosion. Igneous rock = fire (from Latin word ignis) This rock is formed from the cooling of magma or lava The upper section of the Earth's crust is made up of around 95% igneous rock. Over 700 types of igneous rocks have been described.  Examples of igneous rock Granite is a common rock that contains at least 25% quartz and is sometimes used in construction because of its strength. Basalt is dark colored, fine grained igneous rock. Tufa is an igneous rock that forms from the debris of an explosive volcanic eruption. Obsidian is a volcanic glass that forms quickly without crystal growth, it can have very sharp edges making it useful as a cutting tool or arrowhead. Pumice is an unusual, lightweight rock formed when molten rock is rapidly blown out of a volcano, forming bubbles as it quickly loses pressure and cools at the same time. Devils Tower Rock Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming is an example of an igneous rock. BY KOUMLHN Sedimentary rocks are formed by the accumulation of sediments, usually as layers at the bottom of lakes and oceans. Sedimentary rocks continue to form underwater. Examples of sedimentary The ones we have at the surface were at some rock: point underwater or under great land masses. This sediment can include minerals, small pieces Limestone of plants and other organic matter. Sandstone Shale The sediment is compressed over a long period of Iron ore time before consolidating into solid layers of rock. Chalk Coal (organic) Sedimentary rocks forms layers called strata that And more can often be seen in exposed cliffs By ALAMY STOCK Layers of sandstone, a sedimentary rock Sedimentary rocks are believed to cover about 73% of the current land on the surface of the earth.  Metamorphic rocks These rocks have been modified by heat, pressure and chemical process usually while buried deep below Earth's surface. Exposure to these extreme conditions has altered the mineralogy, texture and chemical composition of the rocks. Мetamorphic rocks: Marble Slate BY JAMES L. AMOS Quartzite Metamorphic rock  Extractive Industries Oil, Gas, Mining, and Quarrying  Extractive Industries Oil, Gas, Mining, and Quarrying The extraction of raw materials from the earth, such as: Oil Gas Coal Metals (copper, gold, molybdenum, iron, zinc, uranium, etc.) Non-metallic minerals (phosphates, boron, sand, gypsum, silicon, diamond, etc.) Stones (granites, marbles, quartzes, shales, etc.) Aggregates (sand and gravel) The extracted materials are then sent for processing, with the aim of use in industry, construction, agriculture, households, etc.  Extractive Industries Oil, Gas, Mining, and Quarrying A great deal of our civilization has come about using materials and energy sources extracted from the earth. Mining is critical to the global economy. But a key issue is how do we do mining while properly managing negative environmental impacts.  Extracting metals from ore: Example of Copper Getting copper from ore deposits requires a series of - Chemical, - Physical, and - Electrochemical processes. Methods have evolved and vary with country depending on the ore source, local environmental regulations, and other factors. As in all mining operations, the ore must usually be beneficiated (concentrated). Then the ore is crushed. Then it must be roasted to convert sulfides to oxides, which are smelted to produce matte. Finally, it undergoes various refining processes, the final one being electrolysis. Copper Extraction  Copper Extraction MINING BENEFICIATION SMELTING REFINING 25 % 98 % < 1.0 % COPPER COMPOSITION + 99.9 % 1 gram (g) = 0.035 ounces (oz.) 28.35 grams (g) = 1 ounce (oz.) 1lb = 16 oz. = 453.5 g Surface and subsurface (underground) mining or Underground Surface mining methods include: Strip Open pit Mountaintop removal Placer mining  Stages of Mining Discovery Feasibility Mine planning Mine Mine closing through Study and exploitation and land prospecting permitting & tailings reclamation and Understanding EIA reports management In many exploration costs and presented and Needs oversight countries this benefits approved by to ensure that is highly Leads to including government harmful regulated estimation of environmental Roads and chemicals are not quantities and and social ones infrastructure released into the quality built environment and And much that workers are more safe  Environment and Mining Fugitive dust DUST, SULFUR DIOXIDE AIR SURFACE WATER Waste Waste disposal Waste LAND disposal disposal Waste Water Treatme nt Ground water Leachin seepage, aquifer g UNDER- GROUND WATER Environmental Impact Copper Extraction LAND Environmental Effects of Mining Land is often radically altered, both surface and deeper. - Surface alteration includes the land itself and the flora and fauna inhabiting it (the ecosystem) - An estimated 30 billion metric tons of nonfuel minerals and overburden (the land that is removed from top of mineral deposits) - Some mines can go very deep. The Kennecott Copper Mine in Utah is around 970 meters deep; Teghut is around 400-500 meters deep - Aside from the excavated land, there is also land taken up for depositing of the overburden and the tailings  LAND The Mir or Mirny mine, is a former open pit diamond mine, now inactive, located in Mirny, Eastern Siberia, Russia. The mine is 525 meters deep (4th in the world) and has a diameter of 1,200 meters. LAND END  Հանք․ արտադրանքի ծավալն, ըստ 2 Ընդհանուրի 26% մարզերի (2010-2021) Historically, the Syunik Marz has 3 been the region with the highest Ընդհանուրի 6% share of mining activity in the country 1 Until 2015, it housed almost 90% of all mining activity (in value of production) in RA. Ընդհանուրի 65% Starting in 2015, with the start of production of Teghut, the share dropped to about 65%. In 2018, Teghut stopped operation. As such, Syunik’s share is expected to increase in 2018. 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 TOTAL (in billion AMDs) 146 170 193 197 193 221 257 341 301 357 403 590 Syunik Marz 91.1% 89.4% 87.3% 86.3% 87.0% 66.3% 65.2% 69.5% 86.5% 79.5% 74.8% 78.6% Lory Marz 3.9% 4.2% 5.1% 4.4% 5.6% 24.9% 26.0% 23.2% 2.5% 10.0% 14.4% 15.7% Gegharkunuk Marz 1.8% 3.9% 4.6% 4.7% 4.3% 5.8% 5.8% 4.4% 6.3% 6.5% 6.6% 2.4% Yerevan city 1.0% 0.7% 1.1% 0.9% 1.1% 1.0% 1.1% 1.1% 2.1% 1.2% 1.4% 1.3%  Employment in the RA for 2019, in thousands (total of 1,077,400 employees) Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing 235.9 Wholesale, retail trade, and repairs 132.9 Manufacturing 113.5 Education 107.1 Construction 96.6 Public administration and defence 89.6 Тransportation and warehouse 54.4 Human health and social work 48.6 Accommodation and food services 33.9 Information and communication 31 Energy 22.9 Other service activities 22.5 Arts, entertainment and recreation 19.1 Professional, scientific and technical activities 17.4 Financial and insurance 16 Administrative and support services 10.7 Mining and quarrying 8.7 Private households as employers 5.3 Real estate 4 Water and waste 3.9  Structure of Armenia’s Economy, Growth, and Employment 32% Arts, entertainment and recreation 29% ~100k employees 2019թ. 26% Average annual growth (2013-2019) Share of GDP 3.3% 23% Share of employment