GEOS 205(F) Earth's Strategic Resources (Same as Environmental Studies 207)
At the dawn of the twenty-first century, there are more people building more houses, more roads, more cars, more plastic packaging-all with geologic materials. As demand soars in both established and growing economies, resource reserves dwindle. Conflicts arise over control of their pricing and distribution at the same time that controversy grows over the damage done to the environment by their extraction and processing. What a mess! Understanding resource management for now and the future requires insight into the geology that underlies the location and origin of strategic earth materials.
This class introduces the geologic processes that control formation, distribution, and extent of materials reserves: stone and gravel, base and precious metal ores, gemstones, petroleum, nuclear energy sources, and specialty materials for medical, technological, and military uses. We will also discuss some of the economics and environmental impacts of extraction, and international tensions centered on resource distribution and control.
Format: lecture, three hours per week. There will also be four afternoon field trips in the course of the semester, and a semester project culminating in a poster session. Grading will be based on one hour exam, a final exam, and the semester project.
Prerequisites: one 100-level Geosciences course or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limit: 20 (expected: 20. Preference to first- and second-year students, and Geoscience majors.
This course may not be taken pass-fail.
Hour: COX