EARTH & LIFE SCIENCE

L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

Earth Systems Heat drives the different

systems necessary to support
Comparison of the features of
life.
Venus, Earth, and Mars
1. Internal heating of earth
Venus, Earth, and Mars are part of
2. External heating from the
the inner terrestrial or "rocky"
sun
planets.
Earth system is essentially a closed
Venus is considered to be the Earth's
system
twin planet.
The size and mass of Venus and
Earth are very similar. Mars is about The earth system has four major
half the Earth's size. parts:
The three planets have a spheroidal  Biosphere - life
shape.  Hydrosphere - water
 Geosphere – land/rock
 Orbital period and velocity
 Atmosphere – air
are related to the planet's
distance from the sun. Atmosphere
 Rotational speed of Earth
 The mixture of gases that
and Mars are very similar.
surrounds and protects the
 Rotational speed of Venus is
earth.
extremely slow.
Composition:
The blue coloration of the Earth is
very apparent due to the presence of  Nitrogen (78%)
water.  Oxygen (21%)
 Carbon dioxide
The Earth is a habitable planet.
 Water vapor
Unique characteristics of earth  Other gases
that allow the existence of life
Studied with:
 Abundance of liquid water
 Weather ballons
on Earth.
 Planes
 The Earth is a habitable
 Satellites
planet.
System – an organized group of parts
Factors that make a Planet Habitable
that work together to form a whole
 Liquid water
 Available heat source
 Existence of an atmosphere
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L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

Hydrosphere  All features on the earth’s

surface (crust) along with the
 Made up of all the water on
mantle, inner and outer
the earth (oceans, lakes,
cores.
glaciers, rivers,
underground) Studied with:
Water covers ¾ of the earth’s  Satellite images
surface  Sound waves
 Computer modeling
 Only 3% is fresh water
 Nearly 70% is in glaciers Matter moves from the geosphere to
and polar ice caps the atmosphere when volcanoes
explode
Studied with:
 Deap -sea vehicles
 Buoys Atmosphere and Hydrosphere –
 Satellite images Not even the hardest stone can
 Diving suits withstand the forces of wind and
water. Over millions of years rain,
Affects the atmosphere when
wind, and moving water carved the
warm/cold ocean currents interact
grand canyon.
with wind

Geosphere: Landmasses pushing

Biosphere
together have set off earthquakes and
 Includes all life on earth (in formed volcanoes and mountain
the air, water, and on land) ranges like the Andes around the
world
Studied with:
 Satellite photos track yearly
changes in plant and animal Biosphere: Plants, animals and
life humans have also changed the earth.
 Special equipment allows Walking or riding a bike over open
scientists to study places land changes the surface of the
without harming them planet.

When trees exchange gases the

biosphere interacts with the
atmosphere
Biogeochemical cycles are pathways
by which chemical substances move
Geosphere
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L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

through both biotic and abiotic

components of earth.
 Allows the circulation of
chemical nutrients
 Maintains the balance of
substances

WATER CYCLE

CARBON CYCLE
Carbon can be stored in the
 biosphere (within plants),
 atmosphere (as carbon
dioxide),
 hydrosphere (dissolved as
CO2 in the oceans and
 geosphere (as coal and oil
deposits)

EARTH MATERIALS AND

RESOURCES
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L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

Minerals  These are the basic building

 The term “mineral” is used blocks of rocks
in health sciences as a
Examples of mineral use in our daily
substance that is beneficial lives:
to the body. In the mining
industry, it is any substance 1. halite (salt) for cooking
that has been extracted from 2. graphite (pencil) for writing
a mine. However, for 3. diamond and gold as jewelry.
geologists, a mineral is a
naturally occurring  Water is not a mineral since
it is not solid and crystalline.
substance that is usually
 Tube ice is not because it is
solid, crystalline, stable at
not naturally occurring.
room temperature, and
 Snow flake meets all
inorganic requirements in defining a
What is a Mineral? mineral.
 Naturally-formed solid
substance with a crystal Physical Properties of Minerals
structure (can be used to identify the
Common in minerals: mineral)

All: Color

 Are formed by natural  Can be misleading

processes.  Can vary with the type of
 Are NOT alive and NEVER impurities
were alive Luster
 Have a definite volume and
shape  Surface reflection
 Are elements or compounds  Metallic = shiny like metal
with a unique chemical  Non-metallic = dull
makeup Non-shiny surface
 Are made up of particles that  Pyrite has a metallic luster
are arranged in a pattern  Calcite has a non-metallic
that is repeated over and luster
over(called a CRYSTAL)
Mineral
 Naturally occurring,
inorganic solid with orderly
crystalline structure and a Streak
definite chemical
composition.
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L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

 The color of the powdered - Fracture – minerals that

form of the mineral break at random with rough
 The color of the streak can or jagged edges
be different than the mineral
Other properties:
 Minerals must be softer
than the streak plate - Specific gravity (excellent
clue to mineral’s identity)
- Attraction to magnets
- Bending of light
- Reaction with hydrochloric
acid
- Smell & taste

1. Luster – it is the quality and

intensity of reflected light
Hardness exhibited by the mineral
 How easily a mineral a. Metallic – generally opaque
scratches materials and exhibit a resplendent
 Mohs Hardness Scale shine similar to a polished
- Scale from 1 (softest) to 10 metal
(hardest) b. Non-metallic – vitreous
- Test by seeing if the mineral (glassy), adamantine
can scratch different objects (brilliant/diamond-like),
(like human fingernail, resinous, silky, pearly, dull
copper, penny, glass, steel (earthy), greasy, etc.
file) 2. Hardness – it is a measure of the
resistance of a mineral (not
specifically surface) to abrasion.
3. Color maybe a unique identifying
property of certain minerals (e.g.
malachite – green, azurite – blue)
4. Streak is the color of a mineral in
powdered form
Cleavage & Fracture
5. Crystal Form/Habit –The
- The way the breaks external shape of a crystal or groups
- Cleavage – minerals break of crystals is displayed / observed as
along smooth, flat surfaces these crystals grow in open spaces.
and every fragment has the
- prismatic, tabular, bladed,
same general shape
platy, reniform and equant
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L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

6. Cleavage – It is the property of

some minerals to break along parallel
repetitive planes of weakness to form
smooth, flat surfaces
7. Fracture – Some minerals may
not have cleavages but exhibit
broken surfaces that are irregular and
non-planar
8. Specific Gravity – It is the ratio
of the weight of a mineral to the
weight of an equal volume of water.
Specific gravity = mass of
mineral/mass of equal volume of
water
- Magnetism (magnetite)
- Taste (halite taste like salt)
- Acid reaction (calcite will
react to HCl
- Feel (talc feel soapy/greasy)
- Presence of
striations(pyriteclosely
spaced fine grooves
Mineral is naturally occurring
crystalline solid with a definite
composition. There are almost 5,000
minerals described so far. Trying to
familiarize ourselves with all of them
would be a hopeless task. Luckily,
this is not necessary if our goal is to
understand how our home planet
works and what is it made of.

ROCK FORMING MINERALS

A more stable and less ambiguous How do minerals form?
basis for classification of minerals is 1. Cooling of magma (hot,
by liquid rock and minerals
inside the earth from the
chemical composition. mantle)
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L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

- Fast cooling = No crystals

(mineraloids)
- Medium cooling = SMALL
crystals
- Slow cooling = LARGE
crystals

2. Elements dissolved in
liquids (usually water) will
reform into crystals as the
water evaporates and the
dissolved elements
recrystallize.
Gem
- A mineral OR rock that has
value
- Rare!
- Sometimes polishing or
cutting will add value

Diamond Sapphire
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L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

Opal Ruby

Tiger’s Eye Emerald

Processes
- Melting
- Crystallization
- Weathering, erosion,
transportation
- Deposition and lithification
- Metamorphism
Products
- Magma
- Igneous rock
- Sediments
- Sedimentary rock
- Metamorphic rock

Three Main Categories of Rocks Mineral Exploration

Project Design
- (This involves review of all
available data (geologic
reports, mining history,
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L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

maps), government Flotation

requirements in acquiring the - (physical and chemical
project, review of social, properties may either sink)
environmental, political and Cyanide heap leaching
economic acceptability of - This method used for low-
the project, and budget and grade gold ore where the
organization proposals. crushed rock is placed on a
“leach pile” where cyanide
Field Exploration
solution is sprayed or
- (identify targets or
dripped on top of the pile. As
interesting mineralized zones
the leach solution percolates
and to assess market
down through the rocks, the
profitability, engineering
gold is dissolved into the
drilling and metallurgical
solution. The solution is
testing)
processed further to extract
Pre-production Feasibility Study the gold.
- (determines and validates the Environmental Impacts
accuracy of all data and - Enumerate the possible
information collected) environmental impacts of
Underground Mining irresponsible mining.
- (extract ore minerals from - Discuss measures to prevent
the orebody is that is deep or mitigate the harmful
under the Earth’s surface) effects of irresponsible
mining.
Surface (Open pit) - Highlight the role of the
- (extract ore minerals that are government (environmental
close to Earth’s surface) laws) and other
Strip Mining organizations in the
Placer implementation of
- (being mined by a floating environmental programs.
dredge) - Improper mining can cause
The Milling Process flooding, erosion,
Heavy media separation subsidence, water and air
- (crushed rocks are pollution, damage to wildlife
submerged in liquid where and habitat.
the heavier/denser minerals - Topsoil replacement using
sink thus are separated from uncontaminated soil;
the lighter minerals) reintroduction of flora and
Magnetic separation fauna; neutralizing acidic
- (the crushed ore is separated waters; backfilling and
from the waste materials sealing of abandoned
using a powerful magnet) underground mines;
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L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

stabilizing the slope of

impacted area to reduce
erosion
- Mines and Geosciences Fossil Fuel Generation
Bureau (MGB),
Environmental Management
Bureau (EMB), Philippine
Mine Safety and
Environment Association
(PMSEA)

Sources of Energy
Republic Act 9513 - Renewable Act
of 2008

Non-Renewable Sources
1. Coal
2. Oil
3. Natural Gas
4. Nuclear
Renewable Energy Sources
1. Solar
2. Wind
3. Hydroelectric
4. Biomass
5. Geothermal The following are considered priority
solutions advocated by international
communities, led by the United
States of America, that are addressed
in these international treaties (Kyoto
Protocol)
1. Curbing Global Warming
2. Creating the Clean Energy
Future
3. Reviving the World's Oceans
4. Defending Endangered
Wildlife and Wild Places
5. Protecting Our Health By
Preventing Pollution
6. Ensuring Safe and Sufficient
Water
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7. Fostering Sustainable - Desertification can be

Communities characterized by the
DOE's Energy Reform Agenda droughts and arid conditions
(ERA) the landscape endures as a
1. Power Sector Development result of human exploitation
2. Fuelling Sustainable of fragile ecosystems.
Transport Program
Causes:
3. Indigenous Energy
1. Urbanization
Development Program
2. Climate Change
4. National Renewable Energy
3. Deforestation
Plan
4. Natural Disasters
5. Energy Efficiency and
Effects:
Conservation Program
1. Hunger
6. Natural Gas Master plan
2. Flooding
Soil Resources 3. Poor water quality
Importance of Soil 4. Loss of Soil Nutrients
- Arable land for agriculture IV. Intensive Agriculture
- Regulating water and Negative effects
filtering potential pollutants 1. The chemicals used harm the
- Nutrient cycling environment and poisoning
- Foundation and support soil and water
- Mineral deposits 2. Some pesticides may also
Human activities degrade soil end up in peoples’ tables
quality through the food that is
I. Soil erotion harvested
Ways to prevent: Prevention
1. Vegetation 1. Used Organic Farming
2. Mulch/Feltilizer V. Urbanization
3. Retaining Walls - Refers to the increasing
II. Soil Compaction number of people that live in
- It is the compression of soil urban areas.
particles into a small - Increasing population has led
volume, which reduces the to the conversion of land to
size of pore space available urban centers which are
for air and water. generally characterized by
EFFECTS: concrete structures, roads
1. Restricts root growth and pavements.
2. Reduces infiltration of
Effects
water
1. Poor air water quality
III. Desertification
2. Pollution
3. Waste-Disposal Problems
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Conservation of soil resource Water Resources

- Increasing soil organic - About 71% of the Earth’s
matter surface is covered with water
- Keeping the soil covered and How much water and air sustains
vegetative the Earth?
- Avoiding excessive tillage - 1.408 billion km3 of H2O
- Managing pest and nutrient Distribution of Water on Earth
efficiency
- Promoting crop rotation
- Reducing erosion and
preventing soil compaction
TYPE OF SOLID WASTE
National Solid Waste Management
Commission
- generates 0.7kg of solid
waste (Manila resident)
higher than the global
average of 0.3kg per person
- Just 2.5% of the Earth’s
per day
water is freshwater, and most
- Municipal waste
is frozen in glaciers and ice
- Agricultural waste
sheets.
- Industrial solid waste
- About 96% of all liquid
- Mining waste
freshwater can be found
Methods of waste disposal
underground.
- Landfill - The remaining small fraction
- Incineration is on the surface or in the air.
- Mulch and compost
- Source reduction
- Recycling
Solid waste can have many health
effects. It can release harmful
chemicals into the air, contaminate
water supplies, and create hazardous
waste sites. Handling of solid waste
improperly can also cause injuries.
The health effects of solid waste
management depend on the type of
waste and how it is handled.
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L Flores, Hannah Yori M.

Activities Affecting the quality of Mining

water - Mining certain metals causes
- Population growth water to be more acidic
- Movement of large number which discharge acid mine
of people from the drainage.
countryside to towns and Improper waste disposals
cities - This contribute to damages
- Demands for greater food in aquatic ecosystems,
security and higher living impairs water quality and
standards hinders water transport in
- Increase competition large bodies of water.
between different uses of - Domestic waste
water resources - Industrial waste
- Pollution from factories, - Agricultural waste
cities and farmlands Wastes produced may cause acid rain
1. Population growth, and euthrophication.
particularly in water-short Water resource management and
regions. conservation
2. Movement of large number - PD # 427 of 1974
of people from the - PD # 1067 of 1976
countryside to towns and - EO # 222 of 1995
cities. - RA # 8041 or The Natural
3. Demands for greater food water Crisis Act of 1995
security and higher living - The Philippine Clean water
standards. Act of 2004 – address the
4. Increased competition country’s water problems
between uses of water through an integrated water
resources. management program and
5. Pollution form factories, development of new water
cities and farmlands. resources and conservation
Degradation of Ecosystems of watersheds.
- This causes changes in Ways to conserve and protect
landscapes, deforestation, water resources.
conversion of natural - Use less water
landscapes, urban growth, - Keep harmful substances out
road building, and surface of the water
mining. These lead to deliver - Keep pipes and appliances in
too much soil and sediments good condition.
to streams and process - Use water-efficient
sedimentation. appliances.
- Use water efficiently
outdoors.
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- Drive less.