Lesson 4: Earth’s Lithospheric Resources

Geologic resources of the earth such as minerals, rocks and soil that
make the environment rich.
soil rocks
minérals
Chemical Composition of
Earth’s Crust

Over 95% of the earth’s crust is

made up of these elements only.
CARBONATES
Aragonite (calc
carbonate)

Dolomite
(calcium magnesium carbonate)

Malachite
Copper carbonate hydroxide)

Calcite
Siderite (calcium carbonate)
iron carbonate
 OXIDES
Magnetite
(Iron Oxide)

Hematite
(iron oxide)
 OXIDES

Ruby Sapphire
Aluminum oxide) Aluminum oxide)
SULPHIDES
Pyrite
sulfur+iron

Cinnabar
Sulfur+mercury)
Galena
(sulfur+ lead)
Halides
Fluorite Halite
(Calcium
Sodium
Fluoride)
chloride)
Cryolite
(Sodium
Aluminum
Fluoride)
 Native Elements

Gold

Platinum
 Native Elements

Diamond
Graphite

Lead
Diamond and Graphite
Igneous Rocks
Formed from molten rock
(magma/lava) that has cooled;
Literally means “fire formed”

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Extrusive igneous rock is formed from
lava (on earth’s surface) and tends to
solidify quickly. (Volcanic Rocks)
(andesite, basalt, obsidian, pumice, rhyolite)
Intrusive igneous rock is formed from
magma (inside the earth) and tends to take
a long time to solidify into rock.
(Plutonic Rocks)
(diorite, gabbro, granite and pegmatite)

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 basalt
pumice

gabbro
granite

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Sedimentary Rocks
There are type of rocks which
originate from sediments (tiny
bits of fragments of all rocks)
that eventually underwent
compaction and cementation –
lithification.
Weathering
is the breaking down or
dissolving of rocks and minerals
on Earths surface.
 Mechanical weathering, also called
physical weathering, causes rocks to
crumble because of wind, water activity,
plant roots, animal burrowing,
temperature changes.

The Arch, Utah, USA

Garden of the Gods, Colorado, USA
Clastic Sedimentary Rocks are
formed from mechanical weathering
debris (breccia, conglomerate,
sandstone and shale)

sandstone
shale
Carlsbad Cavern National Park, USA

Chemical weathering occurs due to

chemical reactions such as carbon dioxide
from the air or soil combining with water.
producing a weak acid, called carbonic acid,
that can dissolve rock.
Limestone Sand

Grotto, Boracay Island

Hinatuan Enchanted River
Surigao, PH
Chemical sedimentary Rocks
form when dissolved materials
precipitate from solution (limestones)

Puerto Princesa Underground River

Bioclastic rocks form from the
accumulation of plant or animal
debris. (coal,coquina)

Coal

Coquina
Metamorphic Rocks
These rocks have been created by
tremendous heat, pressure and chemical
process usually while rocks are buried
deep below Earth's surface.
Exposure to these extreme conditions has altered
the mineralogy, texture and chemical composition
of the rocks.
These rocks are the hardest and most
resistant to weathering.
Foliated Metamorphic Rocks
have a layered or banded appearance that
is produced by exposure to heat and
directed pressure (schist,gneiss and
slate)
Gneiss

Schist
Slate
Nonfoliated Metamorphic Rocks
do not have a layered or banded
appearance (marble, quartzite)

Quartzite
'House of Marble’
SAND SOIL
Biggest particles.
It is granular and gritty like
sugar
Very much aerated but drains
water more than needed.
 SAND is among the most
common soil that is used in
reclamation projects.
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
SILT SOIL
Looks like dark sand.
Common in rivers and streets.
Smaller particle than sand
but has more nutrients and
also offers better water
drainage.
CLAY SOIL
Consists of very fine grained
material with very less air
spaces.
Poor aeration and drainage.
Becomes very heavy when wet.
LOAM SOIL
 The “perfect soil” -consists of
right amount of sand, silt and
clay.
 The texture is gritty, retains
water very easily. Aeration and
drainage is well – most ideal for
cultivation
Partially decomposed organic
matter; the organic
component of soil usually
brown or black in appearance.
PEAT SOIL
Formed by the accumulation of
dead and decayed organic matter;
Acidic, less nutrients .
Formed in wet climate - marshy
areas, fish ponds
Prone to water logging.
CHALK SOIL
Consists of many stones;
Alkaline.
Prone to dryness.
Nutritional elements for the
plants are hardly absorbed by
the plants.
How do Human Activities Impact
the earth’s Lithosphere?
Bingham Canyon Mine
(4.5km) across and (1.2km) deep.
World’s Deepest and Largest
Open-pit Mine
World’s Largest Diamond Mine
Mirny Mine (Russia)

World’s Largest Diamond Mine

Deadliest Mine
Berkeley Pit. The Berkeley Pit had become one
of the deadliest places on earth. The iron-rich
water near the surface is reddish, yielding to a
vibrant lime-green hue not far below the surface,
where copper concentrations are higher. If you
were to drink large amounts of this water it would
kill you by corroding your body from inside.

Deadliest Mine
 World’s Top 5 Mining Countries
1.South Africa is the world’s biggest
producer of platinum.
2.Russia accounts for 20 percent of the
world’s nickel and cobalt production and 5 to 7
percent of the world’s coal and iron ore
production.
3. Australia holds approximately 35% of global
nickel reserves
4. Ukraine is also rich in iron ore, the country
has $510 billion worth of deposits.
5.Guinea is home to one of the world’s largest
bauxite reserves, and is estimated to contain 24
Philippines’
Mineral
Resources
Despite its small area, the Philippines is one of the world's richly
endowed countries in terms of mineral resources.
The Philippines is endowed with rich mineral resources due
to its strategic location along the Pacific Rim of Fire.
According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB),
about 30 percent (or 9 million hectares) of the
Philippines’ total land area of 30 million hectares, is
identified as having high mineral potential.
In January 2019, 2.34 percent or 702.7 thousand hectares
of the total land area was covered by mining tenements.
Among the minerals found in the country are nickel, copper,
gold, chromite, iron, lead and manganese. In 2018, a total of
forty-eight (48) operating metallic mines were recorded. Out
of these forty-eight (48), thirty (30) were nickel operating
mines
Mt.Diwata, Diwalwal, Monkayo,
Compostela Valley
Mt.Diwata, Diwalwal, Monkayo,
Compostela Valley
Mt. Diwalwal is said to hold the Philippines' largest gold
deposit, perhaps one of the largest in the world, according to the
Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources. With
the new-found wealth, however, has come the problem of peace and
order.  Because the area was largely unregulated by government,
anybody -- among them criminals from all over the country -- could
just come and blend in with the population. Soon, miners were
beginning to guard their respective territories and since they could
only do this by having arms, they turned to the military and the
police. Miners would rent their firearms: an M16 rifle could be rented
for P30,000 a month while a .45-caliber automatic pistol could be
had for P15,000 a month. The cops and the soldiers needn't have to
mine gold themselves. Soon, Diwalwal became the murder capital of
the Philippines, with bodies turning up dead practically every day.
People also would go missing -- and nobody seemed to care
image showing the aftermath of
the Naga City landslide. Image
collected on 21st September
2018.
Authorities put the death toll at
29, with rescuers still digging
for possibly more than 50
people believed to have been
buried alive.
“It could also happen in other
quarries all over the country,”
Cimatu said during a media
briefing in Naga City. “I
ordered the review and
assessment of all quarry
operations all over the country
to determine the safety of the
quarry operations.”
Mines and Geosciences Bureau
(MGB), the state regulator for
mining and quarrying
industries, was ordered to
conduct the safety assessments
specifically in seven regions
where large quarry operations
Environmental Issues (Land Use)
Read this article: Understanding the reclamation projects in Manila Bay
From
https://www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2023/04/understanding-reclamation-projects-in.
html

Do the following:
Answer the following questions:
A. What are the benefits and threats of land-use in the case of reclamation
projects? Provide 3 benefits and threats implied in the article.
B. Land Development has a key role to economic progress. Should there be
a limit? What should be the limit?
C. How should the government balance development and environmental
conservation? Suggest 3 specfic government actions.
End of Session
Grand Task: Urban Environmental
Issues

Task. Degradation of Land is one of the identified problem areas in Land Development. Its
effects are all life-threatening. Its causes are clearly evident in the modern society. For instance,
there is an ongoing mining ang quarrying activities in your area of responsibility. Suppose you
are already the chief of police in your municipality, what specific “local participation” activity will
you implement? Write a slogan also for the activity (e.g. Sagip Dagat, Sagip Buhay!)