Environmental Impact of Mining, Fossil Fuels, Renewable Energy, and Industrialization

1. Minerals and Mining

A mineral is an organic natural substance with a specific chemical composition. There are different types of mining: surface mining, underground mining, underwater mining, and drilling mining. However, mining has negative impacts such as landscape destruction and water and soil pollution. It also depletes deposits and exhausts the land.

2. Fossil Fuels

Oil is a non-renewable fossil fuel formed by the decomposition of living organisms in the ocean over millions of years. It causes major environmental problems. Uranium, on the other hand, originates from a process called fission, which involves the disintegration of uranium atoms.

3. Renewable Energy

There are various forms of renewable energy:

• Hydroelectric Power (HP): Uses the force of falling water to generate electricity.
• Wind Power (WP): Uses the forces of the wind. However, it has drawbacks such as landscape impact and bird mortality.
• Solar Energy (SE): Uses the energy from the sun by trapping its heat and light. It includes solar thermal energy and photovoltaic.
• Biomass Energy (BE): Produced by transforming organic materials, such as forestry, agricultural, and urban waste.
• Geothermal Energy (GE): Uses the heat from the Earth.
• Tidal Energy (TE): Uses the energy of tides, waves, and sea currents.

4. Industrialization

Industrialization is the transformation of raw materials into manufactured goods. It began in England in the late 18th century and was based on technical innovations, division of labor, large-scale production, and the industrial revolution. The second phase, known as mass production, emerged in the USA at the end of the 19th century, particularly with the Fordist model.

5. Industrial Goods and Consumer Products

Industrial goods take raw materials from nature and convert them into semi-finished products, such as iron and steel, metalworking, and cement. Consumer goods are products directly purchased by individuals from shops, including food, textiles, and cars.