Seminar “The usa”

1. Physical geography of the usa: mountains and plains; major rivers and lakes of the usa. Natural resources and their sites. Weather and climate.

The United States is one of the richest countries in the world when it comes to natural resources. From vast forests and fertile fields to large-scale deposits of coal, oil, natural gas, and valuable minerals, the country's landscape is filled with materials that fuel its economy and global impact. These resources support major industries such as energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, and trillions of dollars contribute to the country's wealth. The U.S. also has abundant freshwater reserves and one of the largest supplies of rare earth elements in the world, which is important for clean energy and electronics. This incredible natural wealth has helped to shape the country's growth, energy freedom, and economic stability over the years. As the world transitions to new technologies and greenery solutions, the value of these resources is more important than ever. Understanding the depth and diversity of America's natural wealth provides insight into its power, flexibility, and capacity for future stability.

The United States of America (USA) is endowed with oil, natural gas, uranium ores, iron, titanium, vanadium, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten, beryllium, lithium, gold, silver, phosphorites, potash salts, boron, fluorite, sulfur, and barite.At the same time, the country has almost no domestic reserves of manganese and chromium ores, bauxite, nickel, cobalt, mercury, antimony, tin, tantalum, niobium, and asbestos. The reserves of copper, manganese, nickel, cobalt, and other minerals could be significantly expanded through the utilization of low‑grade ores and seafloor deposits.Out of 40 major types of mineral raw materials, the USA is self‑sufficient in only 18 at a level of 50 % or higher.The US economy relies on the import of 68 types of mineral resources, and this trend is expected to persist in the future.

Texas and the West are the most important mineral-producing areas. The US produces ¼ of the world’s coal and 1/7^th of its petroleum. About half of the nation’s electric power comes from coal-fired power stations. The main gas fields are found near the mail oil fields in Texas, Louisiana, Alaska. Nuclear power is also used in many places, using uranium which is mined in New Mexico and Wyoming.

Fossil fuel. The United States has large reserves of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), by January 1, 2024, the country had a total of about 469 billion small tonnes of coal, of which about 250 billion tonnes were recovered using current technology and methods. When it comes to oil and gas, the EIA said that by the end of 2023, the U.S. will have nearly 46.4 billion barrels of crude oil and about 603.6 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves. Both figures show a decline from the previous year. The part of the US Energy Department is responsible for collecting and sharing official data on the country's energy resources. Sites: 1. Coal in the USA

The U.S. has three primary coal-producing regions:

a. Appalachian Coal Region

States: West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Notable Areas:

Powell River Basin (VA/TN)

Central Appalachian Basin (WV, KY)

Northern Appalachian Basin (PA, OH)

Coal Type: Primarily high-quality bituminous coal.

Significance: Historically the largest coal-producing region; still significant, though production has declined.

b. Interior Coal Region

States: Illinois, Indiana, and parts of Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

Notable Basin: Illinois Basin (IL, IN, KY)

Coal Type: Mostly bituminitous, with some sub-bituminous.

Significance: Moderate production; Illinois is a top coal-producing state.

c. Western Coal Region

States: Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah, and North Dakota.

Notable Basins:

Powder River Basin (WY, MT) – the largest source of coal in the U.S.

Uinta Basin (UT, CO)

Coal Type: Primarily sub-bituminous (lower sulfur content).

Significance: Wyoming alone produces ~40% of U.S. coal, mostly from surface mines in the Powder River Basin.