MINERAL AND POWER RESOURCES OF USA B AB

MINERAL AND POWER RESOURCES OF USA B. A/B. Sc. IV Semester Paper Name: Regional Geography of Developed and Developing World (USA and China) Paper Code: GRB/GRA 401 Prepared and Compiled by, Dr. Sabina Bano Assistant Professor Department of Geography MMV, BHU

LESSON PLAN: 12 & 13 TIME DURATION: 02 Hours OBJECTIVES: • To discuss the importance of mineral and power resource in human life. • To develop an overview on the distribution and production of mineral and power resources. • To generate the consciousness towards judicious use of exhaustible/ non renewable resources. • To appreciate the value of flow resources of nature

Gandhi jee was very apt in voicing his concern about natural distribution of all kind of resources in these words: “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for any body’s greed”.

INTRODUCTION • United States of America is the most developed, industrial, urbanized and powerful nation of the world. • The United States of America is rich in important minerals and power resources. And as we know modern economic development depends mainly upon minerals resources and sources of power and its utilization. • It is a leading producer of mineral as iron ore, copper, zinc, lead, etc. • These mineral resources converted two dimensional world into three dimensional. •

MINERAL RESOURCES IN USA IRON ORE: Iron is an element found generally in nature in chemical combination with oxygen, sometimes with carbon, water and sulphur. Iron is extracted from the chemical compound of iron ore with the help of the most commonly used blast furnace process. There are four varieties of iron ore: (i) Magnetite Fe 3 O 4 (ii) Hematite Fe 2 O 3, (iii) Limonite 3 Fe 2 O 3. 3 H 2 O (iv) Siderite Fe. CO 3 1. 2. 3. 4. The USA produces nearly 50 million metric tonnes (2010), which is 2 percent of the world’s total output. It is obtained from four major areas as. . . Superior Lake Region: It is very important iron ore mining region of USA. Iron ore mined from six ranges as Mesabi (shares 50% of total output of this region), Menominee, Marquette, Cuyana, Vermillion, and Gogebic. This region contribute 60 % of the total production of the USA Alabama Region: This is the second most important producer of iron ore in Unites States of America. It contributes 5 – 10 percent of total production. Producing areas are Birmingham and Chattanooga. North Eastern region: In the north east the Adirondack region in New York, and the Cornwell are in Pennsylvania are included in this region. It has high grade magnetite. Western Margin: In the western parts of USA , the states of Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado mines are important. Produced iron ore are locally used.

MINERAL RESOURCES IN USA COPPER The USA is the one of the leading producer of copper. In 2010 it produced 1. 22 million metric tonnes of copper ore accounting for about 8 % of the world’s total production. Copper is mined mainly from Minnesota, Michigan, Tennessee, Utah (Bingham), Montana (Butte), , Arizona (centers are Miami, Globe , Ajo, Bisbee) New Mexico and Nevada (Ely). ZINC The USA produces nearly about 7% of the total world’s production of zinc. Major producers are as Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, New York , Oklahoma and Kansas etc. GOLD This precious metal is produced about 2420 quintal (15 % of the total production of the world) in 2010 and USA become third leading producer after China and Australia. Major producing areas are California, Colorado, Nevada and South Dakota. Homestate mine of the black hills of south Dakota is the largest Gold mine of USA and the next one is Bingham in Utah. SILVER • Silver just like gold is also a precious metal. Important mines are in Idaho, Utah, Montana, Texas, Colorado ad Arizona States. • Besides above other minerals produced by USA are Lead, Zinc, Phosphate, Sulpher, Molybdenum, Nickel, Manganese etc.

MINERAL RESOURCE IN USA

POWER RESOURCES IN USA The availability and utilization of power resources and development of country is positively co related. The sources of energy are conventional and non- conventional. The main conventional source of energy are coal, petroleum, natural gas, uranium, thorium etc where as tidal, wind, sun and geo thermal are common non conventional sources of energy. COAL Coal is a sedimentary deposit formed by the slow action of heat and pressure on forecasts buried for a long period of time. It is the most abundant fossil fuel found on the earth. It has great value not only in respect of heat but also in respect to the valuable products as gases, tar, oils, coke, ammonia, fertilizers, synthetic dyes and numerous drugs. Types of Coal Carbon Content (%) Uses Remarkable features Anthracite 86 -97 Used in industry Brittle texture & lustrous green Gives ample heat and smokeless Bituminous 45 -86 Coke manufacturing Use for Electricity and steel production Flame is medium & luminous. Little to medium smoke Lignite 25 -35 Stream raising and domestic heating Smoky and brown in colour Peat less carbon more impurities Locally used First stage of formation , burns like wood Much smoke, less heat, large amount of ash

COAL IN USA is the one of the richest countries of the world in respect to coal. It is the second leading producer of coal after China and produced 985 million metric tonnes (2010) i. e 15% of the total world’s production. Major coal fields of USA are as follows and shown in the map of the next slide: - A. B. C. D. E. Appalachian region Interior region Rocky mountain region The Gulf coastal region Pacific coastal region • Appalachian region extends from Alabama to Pennsylvania. This region produces about 50 % of the total production. The coal field of this region can be classified into two groups: as Northern Appalachian and Southern Appalachian coal fields. The Northern Appalachian Coal Fields are the most important areas for coal production in USA. The coal fields of western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Western Virginia and Kentucky states are important. The southern Appalachian region contributes 5% of the country’s total production and areas are Alabama and Tennessee.

COAL IN USA Interior region: This may classified into two groups as eastern and western interior. Illinois, Southern Indiana and western Kentucky constitutes eastern interior region of coal fields where as Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri states belongs to western interior part of the coal production. Rocky mountain region: In this region coal fields are small and scattered. The states of Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and Utah are major producing areas. The Gulf coastal region: States of Texas, Arkansas, Missippi and Louisiana are important for the coal production. Produced coals are low in quality and locally utilized. Pacific coastal region : The pacific coastal states like Washington, Oregon, Alaska and California contribute in the production of coal. It is used in shipping and small industries.

POWER RESOURCES IN USA

PETROLEUM IN USA PETROEUM: Literal meaning of petroleum is rock oil. It is a liquid having a complex composition, variable density and colour. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons. It has great economic value. It is a source of motor fuel and lubricants. Industries which supported by petroleum are as petro chemical industries, synthetic rubber, fibers, fungicides, solvents, fertilizers and almost endless varieties of plastic compounds. Oil mining activity was started first of all in the USA in 1857 in the state Pennsylvania, Where an oil well was dug at Titusville by Drake. It was a humble beginning. But later, oil mining became a well organized large scale commercial activity in various states of America. The USA produces nearly 10% of the world’s total. Petroleum production areas are: 1. Appalachian Oilfields 2. The Mid Continent Oil fields 3. The Gulf Coast Oilfields 4. The California Oilfields 5. The Rocky Mountain Oilfields

PETROLEUM IN USA • The Appalachian Oilfields: The Appalachian field extends from south western • The Mid Continent Oil fields: The region produces nearly 30 % of the New York through Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio and southward into Tennessee. The earliest production of oil was started in the Appalachian field. The quality of oil was very high. country’s total. Petroleum occurs here in three areas(i) Northern Texas (ii) Oklahoma- Kansas (iii) Southern Oklahoma • The Gulf Coast Oilfields: This region includes the area lying the Gulf coast of Texas, Louisiana, Southern Missippi and Alabama states. About 20 % of the country’s petroleum is obtained from this region. • The California Oilfields: This region contributes about 10 % of the total production of petroleum in USA. Petroleum explored from Huntington beach, Long Beach and Sant-a fe Spring. • The Rocky Mountain Oilfields: Important petroleum producing states stretches from Wyoming, Utah and Colorado to new Mexico in USA

POWER RESOURCES IN USA • Natural Gas: Natural gas is available and mined in a number of areas of the USA such as a) Texas and Gulf Coast b) Oklahoma and Kansa States c) California State d) Appalachian region and Rocky mountains e) Ohio and Indiana States These above regions together account for 90% of the country’s total. Natural gas is distributed through pipelines throughout the country. • Hydro Electricity: USA is the fourth largest producer (9% of the world’s production) of hydro electricity in the world. The Pacific coast and Rocky mountains states accounted 40% and 20% potential of it respectively. The Fall line of the Appalachians and part of the St. Lawrence River have more than 20 percent of the total country’s production. And remaining 10 percent generates from Central Plains.

POWER RESOURCES IN USA A. B. C. D. E. F. Principal areas for hydroelectricity productions are: New England Region (located between Buffalo and Niagara falls in the west and Hudson river in the east. ) Appalachian Region (situated between Pennsylvania to Alabama. Fall line situated on the eastern slope of the Appalachian has many power sites. Tennessee valley Authority is the most important. ) The Interior plains (Missouri river basin serves in this region ) North Western Region (Grand Coulee and the Bonneville projects along Columbia river) Colorado region (the Coolidge ans Roosevelt dams constructed on the tributaries of Colorado coming from the rocky mountains provide electivity. Hoover dam on the Colorado river is one of the largest multipurpose project in the world. ) California region (the small tributaries of San Joaquin river provide electricity) • Nuclear Energy: It is another important source of energy of the present day which is obtained from minerals like Uranium and Thorium. These are called as strategic minerals. Nuclear energy production is highly technical, expansive and sophiscated process which can be done by a few highly advanced countries. More than 24 % of the world's atomic energy is produce here. There are more than 100 nuclear reactors in the country. . The first Nuclear power plant was established in 1951 at Shipping Port near Pittsburg. Important producers are Ohio, Tennessee, Columbia, California, Washington, New Mexico, New York, Idaho and Nevada.

RECAPITUALTING MINERAL AND POWER RESOURCES OF USA

REFERENCES v Arreola D. D, Deal M. S, Peterson J. F. Sanders R. (2007) World Geography, Mc Dougal Little v Guha J. L. & Chattoraj (1998) A New Approach to Economic Geography, the world press private limited v Tikha, R. N. , Bali, P. K. and Sekhon M. S. (2009) World Regional Geography, New Academic Publishing Co. v Srivastava V. K. & Sriwatava K. R. (2009) Sayunktay rajya America ka bhogolik swaroop, basundhara prakashan v Srivastava H. (2002) Vishwa ke viksit aur vikasheel desh Bhugol, Basundhara Prakashan, Gorakhpur v Maurya S. D. (2018) World Regional Geography, Pravalika Publication, Allahabad

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