Renewable and non-renewable resources - rational use. Department of Natural Resources

Natural resources are of great importance for society. They act as a key source of material production. Some industries, primarily agriculture, directly depend on natural resources. A specific feature of them is the ability to be expended. Renewable and non-renewable resources are present in the environment. Let us consider them in more detail.

general characteristics

Man in its activities uses both renewable and non-renewable natural resources. The former have the ability to recover. For example, solar energy is constantly coming from space, fresh water is formed due to the cycle of substances. Some objects have the ability to self-repair. 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 rate of expenditure and the stages of social development. This is a key property that distinguishes renewable and non-renewable natural resources.

Bowels of the earth

A variety of non-renewable resources are being produced . Mineral reserves of mineral resources are formed and change over millions of years. The enterprises of the extractive sector carry out special studies, analyzes, during which mineral deposits are discovered. After extraction, the raw material is recycled. After that, the product enters the production facilities. The extraction of fossils located at shallow depths is carried out in a superficial manner. For this open quarries are created, dredging machines are involved. If minerals are located deep beneath the ground, holes are drilled, mines are created.

Negative consequences of prey

By extracting non-renewable resources in a superficial way, a person causes significant damage to the soil cover. Because of its actions, erosion of the land begins, water and air are polluted, the natural cycle in the ecosystem is disturbed. Underground mining is more expensive. However, it does less harm to the environment. During underground mining , water pollution can occur due to acid drainage in mines. In most cases, the locality, where the development of deposits is carried out in this way, can be restored.

Inventory

It is quite difficult to determine the amount of really available fossils in the earth. This process requires serious financial investments. In addition, to establish with great accuracy the amount of minerals is almost impossible. All stocks are divided into undetected and identified. Each of these categories, in turn, is divided into:

1. Reserves. This group includes those non-renewable resources that can be obtained with income at current prices and the technologies used for extraction.
2. Other resources. This group includes discovered and undiscovered fossils, as well as those that can not be extracted with profit at the existing cost and with the traditional technology used.

Exhaustiveness

When 80% of the estimated or reserve fossils are recovered and used, the resource is considered to be selected. This is due to the fact that, as a rule, the remaining 20% profit does not bring. The volume of extracted minerals and the period of depletion can be increased. Various measures are taken for this purpose. For example, the estimated reserves increase if high prices force them to search for new deposits, develop innovative technologies, and increase the share of recycling. In some cases, consumption can be reduced, secondary use of non-renewable natural resources introduced. The latter, in particular, is actively promoted by environmentalists.

Representatives of the "green" are urging the industrial powers to switch from a one-time use of fossils, which create large amounts of waste, to a more rational one. Such an approach will require, in addition to recycling and re-introduction of raw materials into production, attraction of economic instruments, certain actions of society and governments, changes in the way of life and behavior of people on the planet as a whole.

Power Engineering

The main factors determining the level of use of any energy source are:

1. Estimated reserves.
2. Clean useful output.
3. Potentially negative impact on the environment.
4. The cost.
5. Social consequences and impact on public security.

At the present time the following energy nonrenewable resources are most actively extracted:

1. Oil.
2. Coal.
3. Gas.

Oil

It can be used in raw form. It is easy to transport. Crude oil is considered a relatively cheap and fairly common type of fuel. It is distinguished by a high indicator of the useful energy received. According to experts, the existing oil reserves can be exhausted within 40-80 years. In the process of burning raw materials, an enormous amount of CO ₂ is released into the atmosphere. This is fraught with global climate change on the planet. "Heavy" oil (the rest of the usual), as well as raw materials extracted from oil sands and oil shale, can increase existing reserves. However, these materials are considered quite expensive. In addition, "heavy" oil has a low net energy yield, has a more negative impact on nature. A large volume of water is required for its processing.

Gas

It gives more heat energy than other types of fuel. Natural gas is considered a relatively inexpensive resource. It is characterized by a high rate of net energy yield. However, gas reserves can be exhausted within 40-100 years. In the process of combustion, as well as from oil, CO _{2 is formed} .

Coal

This type of resource is considered the most common. Coal is characterized by a high level of useful energy output in the course of producing high-temperature heat and producing electricity. This material is quite cheap. However, it causes serious damage to nature. First, its prey itself is dangerous. Secondly, when it is burned, CO _{2 is} also released, unless special pollution control devices are used.

Geothermal energy

It is transformed into a non-renewable underground dry and water vapor, hot water in different parts of the Earth. Such deposits are at a shallow depth, they can be developed. The received heat is used for energy production and for space heating. Such deposits can provide vital activity of nearby regions within 100-200 years. Geothermal energy does not emit carbon dioxide when used, but its extraction is extremely difficult and adversely affects the environment.

A promising source

They consider the reaction of nuclear fission. As the main advantage of this source is the absence of carbon dioxide and other harmful compounds when used. In addition, during operation of reactors, water and soil contamination is within acceptable limits if the cycle of work passes without failures. Among the shortcomings of nuclear energy specialists note the high cost of maintenance, the high risk of accidents, the low level of useful energy output. In addition, safe storage facilities for radioactive waste have not been developed . These shortcomings lead to a small prevalence of nuclear power sources today.

Use of non-renewable resources: problems

At present, the issue of the exhaustibility of existing sources is acute. The needs of mankind are increasing rapidly. This increases the intensity of field development. However, as it was said above, many operating fossil basins are now on the verge of exhaustion. In connection with this, new deposits are being actively searched for, the development of innovative technologies. One of the key directions in the sphere of managing any developed country is the rational use of natural sources of energy and raw materials.

The situation in the world today is not yet catastrophic, but this does not mean that mankind should not take any measures. In each advanced country operates its department of natural resources. This body is working to control the extraction and distribution of raw materials and energy among consumers. Within a particular state, certain standards, rules, procedures, prices for extracted materials are established. The Department of Natural Resources solves issues related to the safety of mining and processing enterprises. To improve the situation in the future, special programs are being developed. Within their framework, rational use of natural sources of raw materials and energy is envisaged. They also assume a decline in production capacity, improvement of technology, secondary processing of materials.