Natural resources are of great importance to society. They act as a key source of material production. Some sectors, primarily agriculture, are directly dependent on natural resources. Their specific property is the ability to be spent. The environment contains renewable and non-renewable resources. Let's take a closer look at them.
General characteristics
Man uses both renewable and non-renewable natural resources in his activities. The former have the ability to recover. For example, solar energy is constantly coming from space, fresh water is formed due to the circulation of substances. Some objects have the ability to self-heal. Non-renewable resources include, for example, mineral elements. Some of them, of course, can be restored. However, the duration of geological cycles is determined by millions of years. This duration is incommensurable with the speedspending and stages of social development. This is the key property that distinguishes renewable and non-renewable natural resources.
The bowels of the earth
Currently, a variety of non-renewable resources are mined. Mineral reserves are formed and changed over millions of years. Mining sector enterprises conduct special studies, analyzes, during which deposits of mineral elements are identified. After extraction, the raw material is sent for processing. After that, the product goes to manufacturing plants. The extraction of minerals located at a shallow depth is carried out by a surface method. For this, open pits are created, dredging machines are involved. If the minerals are located deep underground, they drill wells, create mines.
Negative effects of mining
Extracting non-renewable resources in a superficial way, a person causes significant damage to the soil cover. Because of its actions, soil erosion begins, water and air pollution occurs, and the natural cycle in the ecosystem is disrupted. Underground mining is more expensive. However, it does less harm to the environment. During underground mining, water pollution can occur due to acidic mine drainage. In most cases, the area where mining is carried out in this way can be restored.
Stocks
Determining the amount of actually available minerals in the earth is quite difficult. This processrequires significant financial investment. In addition, it is almost impossible to establish the amount of minerals with great accuracy. All reserves are divided into undetected and identified. Each of these categories, in turn, is subdivided into:
- Reserves. This group includes those non-renewable resources that can be extracted with income at current prices and applied extraction technologies.
- Other resources. This group includes discovered and undiscovered minerals, as well as those that cannot be extracted profitably at present value and with conventional technology applied.
Exhaustible
When 80% of the estimated or reserve mineral has been extracted and used, the resource is considered to be selected. This is due to the fact that, as a rule, the remaining 20% does not bring profit. The volume of extracted minerals and the period of exhaustion can be increased. To this end, various activities are being undertaken. For example, estimated reserves increase if high prices force the search for new deposits, the development of innovative technologies, and an increase in the share of recycling. In some cases, consumption can be reduced, secondary use of non-renewable natural resources is introduced. The latter, in particular, is actively promoted by environmentalists.
Greens are urging industrial powers to move away from disposable fossil fuels that generate large amounts of waste to more sustainable ones. This approachwill require, in addition to the recycling and re-introduction of raw materials into production, the attraction of economic instruments, certain actions of society and governments, changes in the lifestyle and behavior of people on the planet as a whole.
Energy
The main factors determining the level of use of any energy source are:
- Estimated reserves.
- Clean useful output.
- Potentially negative impact on the environment.
- Cost.
- Social and national security impacts.
Currently, the following non-renewable energy resources are most actively mined:
- Oil.
- Coal.
- Gas.
Oil
It can be used raw. It is easy to transport. Crude oil is considered a relatively cheap and fairly common type of fuel. It has a high rate of useful energy received. According to experts, the existing oil reserves can be exhausted in 40-80 years. In the process of burning raw materials, a huge amount of CO2 is released into the atmosphere. This is fraught with global climate change on the planet. "Heavy" oil (the rest of conventional), as well as raw materials extracted from oil sands and shale, can increase existing reserves. However, these materials are considered quite expensive. Besides,"heavy" oil has a low rate of net energy output, has a more negative impact on nature. It requires a lot of water to process.
Gas
It provides more thermal energy than other fuels. Natural gas is considered a relatively inexpensive resource. It has a high net energy yield. However, gas reserves may be exhausted in 40-100 years. In the process of combustion, as well as from oil, CO is formed2.
Coal
This type of resource is considered the most common. Coal has a high useful energy yield from high temperature heat generation and electricity generation. This material is quite cheap. However, it causes serious harm to nature. Firstly, its very production is dangerous. Secondly, when it is burned, it also emits CO2, unless special pollution control devices are used.
Geothermal energy
It is converted into non-renewable underground dry and water vapor, hot water in different parts of the Earth. Such deposits are located at a shallow depth, they can be developed. The resulting heat is used in power generation and for space heating. Such deposits can ensure the vital activity of nearby areas for 100-200 years. Geothermal energy does not emit carbon dioxide when used, but its production is extremely difficult and negatively affects the environment.
Promising source
They consider the reaction of nuclear fission. The main advantage of this source is the absence of carbon dioxide and other harmful compounds during use. In addition, during the operation of reactors, water and soil pollution is within acceptable limits if the operation cycle runs smoothly. Among the shortcomings of nuclear energy, experts note the high cost of maintenance, high risk of accidents, and low useful energy yield. In addition, safe storage facilities for radioactive waste have not been developed. These shortcomings are responsible for the low prevalence of nuclear power sources today.
Use of non-renewable resources: problems
Currently, the question of the exhaustibility of existing sources is acute. The needs of mankind are increasing at a rapid pace. This increases the intensity of field development. However, as noted above, many active fossil pools today are on the verge of depletion. In this regard, there is an active search for new deposits, the development of innovative technologies. One of the key areas in the economic sphere of any developed country is the rational use of natural energy sources and raw materials.
The situation in the world today is not yet catastrophic, but this does not mean that humanity should not take any measures. Each advanced country has its own department of natural resources. This body leadswork to control the extraction and distribution of raw materials and energy among consumers. Within a particular state, certain standards, rules, procedures, and prices for extracted materials are established. The Department of Natural Resources resolves issues related to the safety of mining and processing enterprises. Special programs are being developed to improve the situation in the future. They provide for the rational use of natural sources of raw materials and energy. They also involve reducing production capacity, improving technology, recycling materials.
