Question 14 Marks
We all appreciate the strong dependence of industry and agriculture upon mineral deposits and the substances manufactured from them. The total volume of workable mineral deposits is an insignificant fraction i.e. one per cent of the earth's crust. We are rapidly consuming mineral resources that required millions of years to be created and concentrated. The geological processes of mineral formation are so slow that the rates of replenishment are infinitely small in comparison to the present rates of consumption. Mineral resources are, therefore, finite and non-renewable. Rich mineral deposits are our country's extremely valuable but short-lived possessions. Continued extraction of ores leads to increasing costs as mineral extraction comes from greater depths along with decrease in quality. A concerted effort has to be made in order to use our mineral resources in a planned and sustainable manner. Improved technologies need to be constantly evolved to allow use of low grade ores at low costs. Recycling of metals, using scrap metals and other substitutes are steps in conserving our mineral resources for the future.
i. What term describes resources that are rapidly depleting and cannot be naturally replaced?
ii. Explain why mineral resources are considered short-lived possessions for a country despite their high value.
iii. Discuss two strategies for conserving mineral resources for the future.
i. What term describes resources that are rapidly depleting and cannot be naturally replaced?
ii. Explain why mineral resources are considered short-lived possessions for a country despite their high value.
iii. Discuss two strategies for conserving mineral resources for the future.
Answer
View full question & answer→i. Non-renewable resources.
ii. Mineral resources are considered short-lived because their formation is extremely slow compared to the rate of consumption. While they are valuable, their extraction leads to increasing costs as ores are mined from greater depths and with decreasing quality.
iii. Two strategies for conserving mineral resources for the future are:
- Recycling of metals: Reusing metals from scrap materials reduces the need for new mineral extraction.
- Use of substitutes: Identifying and using alternative materials in place of minerals helps conserve resources.
ii. Mineral resources are considered short-lived because their formation is extremely slow compared to the rate of consumption. While they are valuable, their extraction leads to increasing costs as ores are mined from greater depths and with decreasing quality.
iii. Two strategies for conserving mineral resources for the future are:
- Recycling of metals: Reusing metals from scrap materials reduces the need for new mineral extraction.
- Use of substitutes: Identifying and using alternative materials in place of minerals helps conserve resources.