Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Lecture 2 Summary and Notes

Some important concepts for the day...

I. The central themes of the course (continued from Monday) are:

1a. Geologic resources (materials of strategic interest (MSI)) form (or are concentrated) through natural geologic processes

1b. understanding these processes is essential to understanding their limitations, geospatial distribution, etc..

2. Geologic resources (MSI) are everywhere -not just where most people think about them

3a. Extraction, trade, & consumption (E/T/C) of MSI affects everything

3b. We are largely insulated from the complex web that drives and facilitates the E/T/C of MSI and provides us with energy and stuff

4. There is a need for balance between economic prosperity & sustainability
social responsibility
environmental responsibility
finite resources (consumptive use)

II. There is a strong correlation between human development (as measure by the HDI) and per capita energy consumption. You should be able to describe the apparent relationship between these to factors and how to identify nations that are using their energy more effectively vs. those that are squandering their energy use.

III. The Earth is made up of concentric layers that are com positionally distinct from one another. You should be able to describe the four compositional layers of the Earth in terms of their elemental, mineral, and lithologic (rock composition) composition. You should also be able to briefly describe the utility of exploiting potential MSI like Al, Fe, and Ni from each layer.

IV. There are three basic rock types (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary); the classification between these rocks is genetic (based on how they formed).

We will discuss HW Assignment One, continue with the rock cycle, and move into a discussion of plate tectonics on Friday.

There are, as this is being written, two spots left in the Blood Diamond group.

Slides that were shown in lecture today and on Monday are now available on Sakai in .pdfs in the "resources" section.

There is no new reading assigned for Friday's lecture.

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