Resources from the Earth

1.  Earth resources and society:  Population and economic growth, exploitation and consequences, resources versus reserves, economic cycles.

2.  Plate tectonics and resources:  rock cycle, plate tectonics overview, igneous and metamorphic processes, shallow subsurface processes, surface processes, marine processes.

3.  History of Earth resources:  early exploitation of resources, the colonial era, modern resource trends, history of resources in Canada.

4.  Environmental impacts related to Earth resources:  resource extraction, usage, and waste  disposal.

5.  Resources, their properties, occurrence and use:

a)  Energy:  Fossil fuels, nuclear energy, geothermal energy, other renewable energy resources.

b)  Metals and metaloids:  Iron, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, silicon, nickel, chromium, base metals, precious metals, exotic metals.

c)  Industrial minerals used in fertilizers, chemicals, building materials, others.

d)  Gemstones:  diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, others.

e)  Water and groundwater:  hydrologic cycle, occurrence, quality, production, conservation.

f)  Soil:  formation, properties, uses, conservation.

6.  Future of Earth resources.