Assignment 8_Resources
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School
Utah Valley University *
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Course
1010
Subject
Geology
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by MinisterJellyfish19486
Name: Chandler Yen
Geology 1010
Assignment 8
Resources
Instructions:
1)
Answer the nine
questions divided into two
parts below about the resources. 2)
Don’t be scared of numbers, I will provide any equations you will need to solve the problems. 3)
Hints will be provided in green italicized
text.
4)
Take your time and have fun!
Goals:
1)
Calculate the profitability of mining.
2)
Understand the current energy uses in Utah.
3)
Plan for the expansion of renewable energy sources in Utah.
Background Information:
In Part 1,
we will be looking at the how profits worth with mining. Mining is a large part of the Utah. When mining, companies operate processes to extract or take away from the surrounding rock the minerals that they want to commercialize. A rock that contains a commercially profitable quantity of one or more minerals (or metals in particular) is called an ore.
Once mineral deposits are found, mining
companies do some geological work on them to expand the knowledge about the mineral prospect and try to raise capital (investment money) to actually set up a mine. This can cost billions of dollars just to set up a mine. Once they start mining, the ore is concentrated, and refined into metals like copper, zinc, or gold and sold on the open market. To be profitable, the company must have a higher return from selling the minerals than their total expenditures by at least 10-20% (actual amounts vary company by company). Assume one day you will get into the mining industry, the following activity can help you to determine if you are able to make a profit out of the business.
In Part 2
, we will be looking at how Utah handles its energy resources. Utah has a variety of energy resources, including crude oil, natural gas, coal, non-conventional fossil fuels, and several forms of renewable energy. An arid state with abundant sunshine, Utah is among the states with the largest solar
resources. Wind, hydropower, and geothermal resources are also major contributors to the state's electricity generation from renewables (EIA). According to projections, Utah's rapid growth is expected to continue over the next few decades, and by 2065, the state will nearly double its current population size. Unsurprisingly, there will be higher demand for energy and electricity in Utah over time. Therefore, it is time to think about the energy sources we have and how to use energy smartly. The following website will help you to gain more knowledge about energy use in Utah. https://www.eia.gov/state/?
sid=UT
Questions start on next page:
Questions:
Part 1: Mining Profits
Imagine copper sells for $4/lb. An average ore of copper might contain 0.6% copper (1 pound of ore contains 0.006 pounds of copper, and one ton = 2,000 lb). Note: the questions in this activity is building on top of each other.
1)
How much copper is in one ton of ore?
2000 lbs
2)
What is the value of this copper in one ton of ore?
$ 8,000
3)
If it costs $15/ton to mine the ore, 15/ton to transport the ore, and 15/ton to process the ore, how much profit would be made from each ton of ore?
$ 7,955
4)
If it costs $100,000,000 to start a mining operation (pay for construction of roads, ore-processing facilities, buildings, etc.), how many tons of ore would have to be mined and sold to pay for the startup costs?
12,571 tons
5)
If one truck can carry 200 tons of ore, how many truck loads must be mined and sold to pay for the startup costs?
64 trucks
Part 2: Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy
6)
Is there a need to move away from fossil fuels? If yes, why; if no, why.
Yes, I think we need to find a better and more renewable form of energy, or at least enough renewable energy to decrease our footprint
7)
What are the types of non-traditional fossil fuel sources? What are the potential problems to explore those resources?
Tar sands, oil shale, shale gas and deepwater oil. They are all in difficult to reach places and would require too much processing.
8) a)
Describe the differences in Electricity Generation by Source between 2008 and 2018 for the state of Utah, and which kind of trend did you observe? Less coal and some new sources as well.
b)
How do you view the relationship among energy use, population growth and air pollution in Utah? Air pollution is bad, but it seems like the more people in Utah, the more possibility for use of products causing bad air pollution.
c)
How do you view the possible changes in Utah electricity generation portfolio in the future?
I can see coal dropping as new ways are developed to either strengthen the renewable energy sources we have available, or by coming up with new methods to produce electricity cleanly.
9)
Below is a map that shows the potential development zones for solar, geothermal, and wind in Utah. a)
In your opinion which of these renewable energy sources are the most viable for Utah? Explain why
. Geothermal and solar for sure, geothermal has spots spread all around the state while solar has some larger chunks of the state over on the west side.
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b)
Based on the map, where will be the best location to develop renewable energy sources in Utah (consider the cost, feasibility to build a wind farm, geothermal plant, solar farm, proximity to existing transmission lines, etc)
Wind Farm – Beaver and San Juan counties
Geothermal Plant – Duchesne, Millard, Beaver, and Iron counties
Solar Farm – Tooele, Juab, Millard, an Iron counties