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Natural Resources Essay, Research Paper

A natural resource is defined as a natural material found on earth that is useful

for humans in some way. It is often processed of manufactured in order for it to

meet the needs of a society. Resources then differ spatially, as different people

have different needs and therefore require different resources, and temporally

as a society grows and advances their needs will change and so to their

resources. Natural resources range from minerals and metals to people (their

labor and skills). (Kleeman 1997, Pashley 1996, Plant 1998)

In this response 2 major sample studies will be used, these are, water and

energy (in the form of uranium) on a variety of scales.

Reference List

Internet

The Uranium Information Centre.

http://www.uic.com.au/

Sydney water

http://www.sydneywater.com.au/

Sydney Catchment Authority

http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/

http://www.urg.org.au/waste/pangea.htm

http://www.mirrar.net/

Book

KLEEMAN (1997) Global Interactions: A Senior Geography Rigby Heinemann,

Australia

PLANT (1998) Get Smart Study Guide Science Press, Australia

PASHLEY (1996) Excel HSC Pascal Press, Australia

Natural resources are natural materials found on earth that is useful for

humans in some way (Kleeman 1997) They can be divided into categories.

Diagram 1 shows the 4 types of natural resources and an example of each.

From the above we can see that coal is an example of an exhaustible resource,

this means there exists a finite stocks. These resources are non renewable in the

ascertainable future. Renewable resources, have the potential to be renewed.

Forests will be replenished over time after they have been harvested for human

needs either naturally if left alone to do so, or with human help in the form of

plantations in an alternate area. Renewability is then often dependent on proper

management over time. Recyclable resources are also renewable but can

recycled indefinitely through reprocessing. These resources will not always come

back in the same form after undergoing recycling. Glass bottles can be recycled

into furniture, windows, ornaments, etc. Continuous resources are continually

renewable. Solar energy will always exist and can be harnessed and used without

concern for recycling or replenishment time. It can be said that it will never be

finite and the supply will always be greater than the demand.

Question 3

Natural Resource: Uranium

A variety issues arise when uranium is found, extracted, processed, consumed,

and disposed of. Management strategies are in place to combat these issues.

Environmental Issues

The use of uranium produces waste has an impact on the environment. Waste

produced is radioactive and therefore hazardous, depending on the waste’s

level of radioactivity and half life it will remain hazardous for a long period of

time. The environmental issue effecting uranium is waste disposal. The view

below is from Pangia Resources, a US company that seeks to dispose of

nuclear waste in outback Australia.

“nuclear waste is a problem that won’t go away, that the best

known way of dealing with it is putting it somewhere in stable

rocks, that these rocks must be away from population centres”

(Campaign for a Nuclear Free Future – Update 17 Dec 98)

Table 1 shows radioactive waste scales and their individual disposal method.

The burial of waste, in the short term has been a suitable method but in the

long term proves to be uncertain. There are always risks of the radioactive

waste leeching out into the soil and impact on the biophysical environment.

Diagram 2 shows the spread of radioactive contamination via abiotic

processes to the biota.

Source: http://www1.octa4.net.au/ecnt/Jabiluka.htm URANIUM ISSUES

Unless a proven long term method of waste disposal is developed, uranium will

loose resource value as demand decreases due to environmental and

concerns.

Social Issues

The Mirrar of the Northern Territory are concerned about the Jabaluka uranium

development, and any development that impacts on their cultural sacred sites

and traditional way of life.

They are traditional owners of land. They claimed much of ‘their land’ back under

the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976.

They claim to have sacred sites in the uranium mine area. These sites are directly

and severely impacted upon by the Jabiluka uranium mine.

The Mirrar believe that culturally significant sites will be damaged by the

construction of the Jabiluka uranium mine. Damage to these spiritual sites

destroys living tradition.

The indigenous population, with support and backing from a very much diversified

global community struggled against adversity in the fight to stop the Jabaluka

uranium mine and were successful in doing so. As of September 1999, all work at

Jabaluka ceased indefinitely which has effected resource by reducing supply.

Question 4

Natural Resource: Water

Water is the most plentiful, vital, non-substitutional resource on the planet. Life

exists and is sustained because of and by water. Though there is abundant water

in the world and available for use, attainable potable water for human

consumption remains scarce. Map shows the global inequitable distribution of

water on a global scale.

Water is

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