SW 241 - Gold, Oil, Gems & Soil

Institution:

DePaul University

Subject:

Description:

From the oil, coal, and nuclear materials that supply us energy to the metallic minerals and soils that make available building materials, electronics, jewelry and food, modern civilization is dependent on an assortment of non-renewable resources. This course will introduce you to the geologic processes that generate society s principal mineral and energy resources including oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear materials, gold, industrial metals, gems, and soils. We will investigate how geological circumstances result in the geographic distribution and scarcity of mineral and energy resources, the historic interdependence to and competition of societies for these resources, and the geopolitical and economic consequences of resource depletion due to population growth and global industrialization. Topics investigated will include: oil formation and peak oil; coal/natural gas formation and cap and trade policies; nuclear fuels and enviro-statism; gold formation, gold as money, and gold as a cultural artifact; gem formation, crystallography and gem use in jewelry; metallic mineral formation, industrial use, and scarcity trends; soil formation, farming and soil depletion; and the global outlook on mineral and energy resources. Competences: S1B, S2C, S3C, S4. Faculty: Kevin Downing

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.depaul.edu

Phone Number:

(312) 362-8000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Quarter

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