Chapter 8

Earth Systems

Friedland and Relyea Environmental Science for AP^®, second edition ©2015 W.H. Freeman and Company/BFW

AP^® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board^®, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

Module 24 �Mineral Resources and Geology�

After reading this module you should be able to

• describe the formation of Earth and the distribution of critical elements on Earth.
• define the theory of plate tectonics and discuss its relevance to the study of the environment.
• describe the rock cycle and discuss its importance in environmental science.

 �The availability of Earth's resources was determined when the planet was formed�

• The distribution of chemicals, minerals, and ores around the world is in part a function of the processes that occurred during the formation of Earth.

​

The Formation and Structure of Earth�

Formation of Earth and the solar system.

The processes that formed Earth 4.6 billion years ago determined the distribution and abundance of elements and minerals today.

The Formation and Structure of Earth�

• Earth is characterized by distinct vertical zonation.
• Core The innermost zone of Earth’s interior, composed mostly of iron and nickel. It includes a liquid outer layer and a solid inner layer.
• Mantle The layer of Earth above the core, containing magma.
• Lithosphere The outermost layer of Earth, including the mantle and crust.
• Crust In geology, the chemically distinct outermost layer of the lithosphere.
• Asthenosphere The layer of Earth located in the outer part of the mantle, composed of semi-molten rock.
• Magma Molten rock.

​

The Formation and Structure of Earth

Earth’s layers. (a) Earth is composed of concentric layers. (b) If we were to slice a wedge from Earth, it would cover the width of the United States.

After 24 years of digging, and several branches in the hole, the deepest branch of the Kola Superdeep Borehole stopped in 1994 at 12,262 meters (about 7.5 miles). It's only nine inches in diameter at the bottom. and the process of drilling was incredibly difficult.

Worlds deepest mine

• Mponeng is a gold mine in South Africa. It extends over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) below the surface
• The trip from the surface to the bottom of the mine takes over an hour
• The temperature of the rock reaches 66 °C (151 °F)

​

Hot Spots

geothermal heating meets the heating and hot water requirements of around 87% of Iceland’s housing. 

The theory of plate tectonics describes the movement of the lithosphere�

• Plate tectonics The theory that the lithosphere of Earth is divided into plates, most of which are in constant motion.
• Tectonic cycle The sum of the processes that build up and break down the lithosphere.
• The theory of plate tectonics is a unifying theory in geology and earth sciences because it relates to so many aspects of the earth sciences.

Plate Movement

Tectonic plates. Earth is covered with tectonic plates, most of which are in constant

motion. The arrows indicate the direction of plate movement. New lithosphere is added at spreading zones and older lithosphere is recycled into the mantle at subduction zones.

Plate Movement�

Convection and plate movement. Convection in the mantle causes oceanic plates to spread apart as new rock rises to the surface at spreading zones. Where oceanic and continental plate margins come together, older oceanic crust is subducted.

 �Consequences of Plate Movement�

• Subduction The process of one crustal plate passing under another.
• Volcano A vent in the surface of Earth that emits ash, gases, or molten lava.

Consequences of Plate Movement

Plate movement over a hot

spot. The Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanic eruptions as the Pacific Plate traveled over a geologic hot spot. The chain of inactive volcanoes to the northwest of Hawaii shows that those locations used to be over the hot spot. Numbers indicate how long ago each area was located over the hot spot (in millions of years).

Types of Plate Contact�

• Divergent plate boundary An area beneath the ocean where tectonic plates move away from each other.
• Seafloor spreading The formation of new ocean crust as a result of magma pushing upward and outward from Earth’s mantle to the surface.
• Convergent plate boundary An area where plates move toward one another and collide.
• Transform fault boundary An area where tectonic plates move sideways past each other.

Types of Plate Contact

Types of plate boundaries.

(a) At divergent plate boundaries, plates move apart. (b) At convergent plate boundaries, plates collide.

(c) At transform fault boundaries, plates slide past each other.

Types of Plate Contact�

• Fault A fracture in rock caused by a movement of Earth’s crust.
• Seismic activity The frequency and intensity of earthquakes experienced over time.
• Fault zone A large expanse of rock where a fault has occurred.

Faults, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes�

• Earthquake The sudden movement of Earth’s crust caused by a release of potential energy along a geologic fault and usually causing a vibration or trembling at Earth’s surface.
• Epicenter The exact point on the surface of Earth directly above the location where rock ruptures during an earthquake.
• Richter scale A scale that measures the largest ground movement that occurs during an earthquake.
• The Richter scale increases by a factor of 10, so an earthquake of 7 is 10 times greater than an earthquake of 6.

​

Faults, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwVNkfCov1k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwVNkfCov1k

The rock cycle recycles scarce minerals and elements�

• Rock cycle The geologic cycle governing the constant formation, alteration, and destruction of rock material that results from tectonics, weathering, and erosion, among other processes.
• The rock cycle is the slowest of all Earth's cycles.

​

The Rock Cycle�

There are three major ways in which rocks at Earth's surface can form. This leads to three types of rock: 

• Directly from molten magma (igneous) 
• Compression of sediments (sedimentary)
• Exposure to high temperatures and pressures (metamorphic)

​

​

The Rock Cycle

Igneous Rocks�

• Igneous rock Rock formed directly from magma.
• Intrusive igneous rock Igneous rock that forms when magma rises up and cools in a place underground.
• Extrusive igneous rock Rock that forms when magma cools above the surface of Earth.
• Fracture In geology, a crack that occurs in rock as it cools.

​

Sedimentary Rock�

• Sedimentary rock Rock that forms when sediments such as muds, sands, or gravels are compressed by overlying sediments.
• Sedimentary rocks hold the fossil record that provides a window into our past.

​

Metamorphic Rocks�

• Metamorphic rock Rock that forms when sedimentary rock, igneous rock, or other metamorphic rock is subjected to high temperature and pressure.
• Metamorphic rock has been important as a building material throughout human history because it is structurally strong and visually attractive.

​

Module 25 �Weathering and Soil Science�

After reading this module, you should be able to

• understand how weathering and erosion occur and how they contribute to element cycling and soil formation.
• explain how soil forms and describe its characteristics.
• describe how humans extract elements and minerals and the social and environmental consequences of these activities.

The processes of weathering and erosion contribute to the recycling of the elements�

When rock is exposed at Earth's surface, it begins to break down through the processes of weathering and erosion.

​

Weathering�

• Physical weathering The mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals.
• Chemical weathering The breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions, the dissolving of chemical elements from rocks, or both.
• Acid precipitation Precipitation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid from reactions between water vapor and sulfur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. Also known as Acid rain.

Weathering�

Physical weathering. (a) Water can work its way into cracks in rock, where it can wash

away loose material. When the water freezes and expands, it can widen the cracks. (b) Growing plant roots can force rock sections apart.

Erosion�

• Erosion The physical removal of rock fragments from a landscape or ecosystem.

Erosion is usually the result of two processes:

• Wind, water and ice move materials downslope.
• Living organisms burrow under the soil.

​

​

Soil links the rock cycle and the biosphere�

Soil serves many functions:

• A medium for plant growth
• A filter for water
• A habitat for living organisms
• A filter for pollutants

​

Soil links the rock cycle and the biosphere

Ecosystem services provided by soil.

Soil serves as a medium for plant growth, as a habitat for other organisms, and as a recycling system for organic wastes. Soil also helps to filter and purify water.

The Formation of Soil

Soil formation. Soil is a mixture of organic and inorganic matter. The breakdown of rock and primary minerals from the parent material provides the inorganic matter. The organic matter comes from organisms and their wastes.

The Formation of Soil�

​

Five factors determine the properties of soil:

• Parent material  The rock material from which the inorganic components of a soil are derived.
• Climate
• Topography
• Organisms
• Time

​

• Soil degradation  The loss of some or all of a soil’s ability to support plant growth.

​

Soil Horizons�

• Horizon A horizontal layer in a soil defined by distinctive physical features such as texture and color.

Soil Horizons

There are five soil horizons:

• O horizon The organic horizon at the surface of many soils, composed of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition.
• A horizon Frequently the top layer of soil, a zone of organic material and minerals that have been mixed together. Also known as Topsoil.
• E horizon A zone of leaching, or eluviation, found in some acidic soils under the O horizon or, less often, the A horizon.
• B horizon A soil horizon composed primarily of mineral material with very little organic matter.
• C horizon The least-weathered soil horizon, which always occurs beneath the B horizon and is similar to the parent material.

Soil Horizons

Soil horizons. All soils have horizons, or layers, which vary depending on soil-forming factors such as climate, organisms, and parent material. Most soils have either an O or A horizon and usually not both. Some soils that have an O horizon also have an E horizon.

Properties of Soil� �

There are three properties of soil: 

• Physical
• Chemical
• Biological

​

Properties of Soil�

• The physical properties of soil refer to physical characteristics such as size and weight.
• The texture of a soil is determined by its percentage of sand, silt, and clay.
• Soil permeability depends on its texture.

​

Properties of Soil�

Soil properties. (a) Soils consist of a mixture of clay, silt, and sand. The relative proportions of these particles determine the texture of the soil.

(b) The relative sizes of sand, silt, and clay.

Properties of Soil

Soil permeability. The permeability of soil depends on its texture. Sand, with its large, loosely packed particles, drains quickly. Clay drains much more slowly.

Properties of Soil�

• The chemical properties of soil help determine how a soil functions.
• Cation exchange capacity (CEC) The ability of a particular soil to absorb and release cations.
• Base saturation The proportion of soil bases to soil acids, expressed as a percentage.

Properties of Soil�

• The biological properties of soil refer to the activities of the many organisms living in soil. 

Three groups of organisms account for most of the biological activity in soil: 

• Fungi
• Bacteria
• Protozoans

​

Properties of Soil

Soil organisms. Bacteria, fungi, and protozoans account for 80 to 90 percent of soil organisms. Also present are snails, slugs, insects, earthworms, and rodents.

The distribution of minerals on Earth has social and environmental consequences�

• Rock and minerals are finite resources. 
• Some resources are abundant but others are rare.

​

Abundance of Ores and Metals�

• Crustal abundance The average concentration of an element in Earth’s crust.
• Ore A concentrated accumulation of minerals from which economically valuable materials can be extracted.
• Metal An element with properties that allow it to conduct electricity and heat energy, and to perform other important functions.
• Reserve In resource management, the known quantity of a resource that can be economically recovered.

Abundance of Ores and Metals�

Elemental composition of Earth’s crust. Oxygen is the most abundant element in the crust. Silicon, aluminum, and iron are the next three most abundant elements.

Abundance of Ores and Metals�

Mining Techniques� �

• Mining can be on the surface or below the surface.

Surface mining includes: 

• Strip mining
• Open-pit mining
• Mountaintop removal
• Placer mining

​

Surface Mining Techniques�

• Strip mining The removal of strips of soil and rock to expose ore.
• Mining spoils Unwanted waste material created during mining. Also known as Tailings.
• Open-pit mining A mining technique that uses a large visible pit or hole in the ground.
• Mountaintop removal A mining technique in which the entire top of a mountain is removed with explosives.
• Placer mining The process of looking for minerals, metals, and precious stones in river sediments.

Subsurface Mining Techniques�

• Subsurface mining Mining techniques used when the desired resource is more than 100 m (328 feet) below the surface of Earth.
• Coal, diamonds, and gold are some of the materials extracted by subsurface mining.

​

The Environment and Safety�