How do you know if a semi prcious crystal is toxic or friable?
Here is an excellent site that seems to cover everything, an excerpt and the site:
Mineral Field Tests - or Tests on the Go
© Bert Ellison Trouble identifying that precious piece that you tapped out of the quarry or dump? Don't despair, if you'll settle for a rough field estimate, but you'll have to resort to more sophisticated tests if you want to be precise. So these are field tests only: # # Habit - is it flat and scaly like mica or in a crystal form? Crystals of unusual size and shape are rare - they are in museums! Since there are some thirty variations of the crystal systems, few of us are qualified to judge. A poor field use, though some forms are useful e.g. quartz. # Colour - useful in some cases but not reliable. Beware of oxidation or tarnish which hides the true colour. Also many minerals come in many hues e.g. quartz, calcite. # Lustre - the way light is reflected from a mineral. Of very little field use. # Opacity - or transparency. Metallic minerals are opaque. Some transparent ones may be potential gemstones. Beyond sorting out the metallics, this property is of limited use but don't toss away any emerald, topaz, ruby or sapphire! # Specific Gravity - or SG is of some use. Most metallics run about SG 3 to 4. "Stony" minerals are about 2 to 3. If it comes in over 6, stake a claim! Most dumps don't offer specimens large enough to "heft" for us to judge. Use at least a good "thumbnail" size. # Streak - press a piece across unglazed tile & note colour of powder. Very useful! Cuts through tarnish. # Hardness - or H. Get to know Mohs scale! This is a very useful quality and usually the first test one makes. Keep that knife handy! While many minerals may be similar, this test is great for sorting out the two great stoney groups - calcite/limestone etc. and quartz. Hardness alone may at least put you on the right track. Good for metallics too - try pyrite vs. gold (6.5 vs. 2.5). Excellent first test but some minerals are harder in certain directions. E.g. kyanite; 4-5 lengthwise, 6-7 across the crystal. # Cleavage - not the burlesque type but the way a piece breaks. Shell-like (conchoidal) yields sharp shards (as flint). Some yield smooth flat breaks (as micas) and some are partly smooth & rough in different directions (as feldspars). The quartz group - chert, flint, amethyst etc. - have very rough breaks. So do garnets. Of modest use but good for feldspars, quartz, micas, calcite, galena and halite for examples. # Acid - use 10% HCl (hydrochloric or "plumbers" acid) in squeeze bottle. Excellent to verify the carbonates from almost anything else, especially the quartz family. Great for limestone vs. dolomite. Fizzes slowly on cold rock. Warm it up first. # Oddballs - Taste - don't lick everything - there is lots of arsenic around! Great for halite and potash salts if you suspect them. # Oddballs - Magnetic - very useful for picking out magnetite, ground-up pyrrhotite (an iron sulfide). Use a horseshoe magnet suspended on a string. Oddballs - Fluorescence - of some use (in the dark) for fluorite, some calcite, scheelite and sphalerite .. Oh yes! And diamonds too! * http://www.rocksforkids.com/RFK/ellison.html#Tests
All you do is click on trash when it appears, then walk around and look for a trash can the click and drag the trash to either the recycle can, or trash can.
How does recycling old buttons help the environment?
# It does not get lodged into animals mouths or throats causing pain and most of the time result of choking to death. # It prevents the occurance of polluting and digging for more plastic matierials to melt down and make into toys or other plastic items. # If the button is metal it provents the gas and money from being spent to dig up more metal. # If the button is metal recycling it helps prevent rust and pollution occurances with liquid rust. # It prevents the pollutions caused by the gas it takes to run the machines to dig up the materials to make the buttons.
What are five ways you conserve water?
you can...
yahoo:)*-*
How does music evolve and how does it affect human life?
Music evolves, along with humans. As we understand more and more about sound and patterns(math) the music becomes more and more complex. Complexity is a sign of intelligence. The more aspects of sound we can control, the more complex the music can be. You can also gauge parts of someones intelligence by their ability to understand complex music, or recognize patterns in music. Music is math, and computers are the best tool we have for math.
Music has no real value for human evolution, but our brains are meant to recognize patterns, so when we hear patterns in sound we pay attention. Adding poetry (lyrics) to music makes it more humanistic and easier for people to relate to, which is why most people only listen to music with lyrics.
How do you remove car window handles?
There is a small wire clip shaped like an "ohm" sign or the "omega" symbol. picture a horse shoe w/ hips... anyway take something flat like a butter knife or somthing similar and pry gently between the window crank and the door panel and try to see it w/ a flashlight. once you see it you can determine wich way to push it off, one side @ a time. Or you could go to the parts store , in the help section and get the inexpensive tool made for this task. while there you may go ahead and get some spare clips, because sometimes they come off quickly and are difficult to locate afterward. plus it helps to know what they look like. Most window handles are held on in this manner although some fords simply have a screw in the middle under some sort of cover or moulding. .
Another tool you may already have is a paint can opener, the kind you buy or they give away at the big-box home improvement stores. It looks like a bottle opener at one end and a hook at the other. Generally, the horseshoe clip has the opening facing toward the crank. So, if you have the window crank pointing to the ground, then the part you want to grab should be at the top (usually). It's snugged up against the crank itself. Pry open a space between the door panel and the crank. Then, with the hook facing towards you, go fishing. I find that it's easier to locate if I use a small mirror.
What are the effects of throwing garbage into canals?
well if you throw garbage into the canal you will kill your plants when you water nd kill you trees when you water if i see you litter i will rape you
What is the difference between a point source pollution and a non point source pollution?
Nonpoint source pollution is pollution that is caused by diffuse sources and can negatively affect waterways such as rivers, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries. Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is the leading cause of water quality problems and is occurs when rainfall or snowmelt picks up pollutants as it moves over land or through the ground and then deposits then in water sources. Nonpoint source pollution can occur in an urban or a rural setting and each area presents its own unique circumstances. A mitigation plan for nonpoint source pollution would need to address the specifics in each setting.
Unlike point source pollution, the direct cause of nonpoint source pollution cannot be identified in terms of the pollution coming from one distinct source. The diffuse sources, depending on location, may include pollutants such as excess herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers, sediment, salt, bacteria and nutrients, oil, grease, and toxic chemicals. The result of these pollutants being deposited into various water sources can be beach closures, the destruction of habitat, fish kills, and unsafe drinking water, among other things. The most common pollutants in terms of nonpoint source pollution are sediment and nutrients (EPA, 2009).
Because NPS pollution is the leading cause of water quality problems, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has conducted extensive studies to quantify the NPS problem. Approximately 40% of the surveyed estuaries, lakes, and streams were determined to be not fit to meet even the most basic of uses such as fishing and swimming. Of the surveyed estuaries, urban runoff was determined to be the largest source of water quality problems. Urban runoff often includes oils, grease, and toxic chemicals that are washed from impervious surfaces such as roads into the waterways and on to the receiving waterbodies. Agricultural runoff is determined to be the cause of pollution in 60% of the surveyed river miles that are classified as impaired and in 50% of the impaired lake acreage. In addition to the fertilizers and chemicals that are applied to agricultural lands, soil erosion also contributes to the pollution problem because of the increase in sediment load (EPA, 2009).
Residential areas present their own form of problems with NPS pollution. Septic tanks that are not properly functioning can contribute to the addition of bacteria and nutrients. Also, fertilizers and pesticides that are not applied in the proper manner can result in excess product reaching receiving waterbodies as well. In addition, the improper use, storage, and disposal of household chemicals can contribute to water pollution. One of the major challenges with addressing NPS pollution is determining what potential sources are contributing to the problem (EPA, 2009).
NPS pollution is a problem that can be addressed on many levels. On the federal level, programs such as the Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program are meant to address the NPS pollution problem. This act was established in 1987 by the Clean Water Act Amendments. The Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program was established in 1990 by the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorizing Amendments. Other ways the federal government can take responsibility for NPS pollution is to ensure that federal lands are managed for soil erosion, logging, and pesticide application (EPA, 2009).
States can take responsibility for NPS pollution by enacting legislation that enforces the use of best management practices in industries such as mining and logging to reduce the impact of those industries on the water resources. Locally, ordinances can be passed for zoning as well as erosion control. Individuals can also be responsible for their part in NPS pollution by practicing conservation and by changing some habits regarding landscaping and the use of household chemicals.
On the east coast of the United States, an estimated 285 million pounds of nitrogen reach the Chesapeake Bay each year. Excess nitrogen can lead to problems such as algal blooms. When algae decompose, they deplete the water body of oxygen and can result in 'dead zones' that disrupt the aquatic food web. In 2002, the states that contribute to Chesapeake Bay sought federal support to reduce the amount of nitrogen that was reaching this important estuary. The states asked for $20 million to test four new farm practices that could reduce the runoff from agricultural lands by 50%. The anticipated reduction in nitrogen loading would be about 6 million pounds per year. One of the programs suggested by the states was to pay farmers to use fewer nutrients on their crops and to plant cover crops to reduce soil erosion (Blankenship, 2002).
In 2008, Virginia and Maryland introduced another program aimed at reducing runoff from agricultural land. This came as a result of a study that estimated that 42% of the nitrogen, 46% of the phosphorus, and 72% of the sediment that was reaching Chesapeake Bay came from agricultural lands. Virginia proposed spending $20 million to implement best management practices aimed at improving water quality. The main components of the plan included building buffers around agricultural fields, keeping cattle out of creeks and rivers, and coming up with improved methods of fertilizer storage. In Maryland, state officials proposed the Cover Crop Program to reduce sediment loading from soil erosion as one of their strategies. Chicken farms are a large business in Maryland and presents unique problems. A manure management plan was proposed as well, but the enforcement of manure management remains a problem (Kelleher, 2008).
In Florida where the water table tends to be high and canals and ditches are common, nonpoint source pollution is a serious problem for the state's waterways. In an effort to reduce the standing water that serves as a habitat for mosquitoes and to provide more land for development, areas in Florida have been ditched to drain the water quickly from inland areas. While this serves its purpose to prevent flooding and reduce the mosquito population, it also serves as a conduit for nonpoint source pollution to reach important estuaries and other waterways. The EPA originally set a deadline of 2004 for Florida to establish limits on the amount of nutrients that reach these waterways. Florida essentially disregarded the order, though many local governments have enacted their own local ordinances to combat the nutrient problem (Earthjustice, 2009).
Fertilizer ordinances such as those in Sarasota County, Florida are designed to prevent excess nutrients from residential application of fertilizer from reaching the coastal waters. To do this, residents are not allowed to apply fertilizer to their lawns from June 1st to September 30th. This is Florida's rainy season when almost daily rainfall would wash many of the nutrients out to receiving water bodies. Fertilizer-free zones were established within 10 feet of water bodies. For those who violate the ordinance, the first offense is a warning followed by a $500 penalty for repeat offenders. The ordinance also established a voluntary 'low-maintenance' zone within 6 feet of water bodies and it recommended the use of slow-release fertilizers (Whittle, 2007). The state has looked at statewide legislation similar to Sarasota County's ordinance, but has been met with some resistance from fertilizer companies. The phosphate industry is a large component of the Florida economy and there is concern that restrictions on fertilizer use would impact this market.
The high water table in Florida also presents problems with the use of septic tanks. When properly installed and maintained, septic tanks provide residential waste water treatment. When they malfunction or are installed in a place that does not allow them to function as they should, they can contribute nutrients and bacteria to the NPS pollution problem. Communities across the state are taking actions to replace septic tanks with central sewer in areas where the septic tanks are thought to be contributing to the nutrient loading that causes algal blooms and bacteria that can result in beach closings. Marco Island is one place that has taken steps to increase their central sewer system to reduce the nutrient loading (SFWMD, 2008). The problem with this course of action is that it is often cost prohibitive. There is a cost to the utility for extending the sewer lines and often a cost to homeowners to hook up to the system. In addition, some homeowners are resistant to the idea of paying for central sewer when with septic tank they had no monthly charges. Local ordinances requiring central sewer are one solution to voluntary hook ups that may not have the same participation rate.
The mitigation strategy for NPS pollution would have to have many layers. Beginning at the local level, ordinances could be passed to address the problem. Among the possible local strategies are: requiring new development to have a higher percentage of pervious surfaces to reduce runoff volume; enact fertilizer ordinances to reduce the amount of available nutrients in runoff; require new developments to hook up to central sewer and start septic tank replacement programs; institute public education on the use, storage, and disposal of household chemicals; and, improve stormwater management systems that would lengthen retention time of stormwater runoff and allow removal of some components of NPS pollution.
At the state level, a mitigation plan would include: legislation regarding the use of fertilizers; requirements for buffer zones around agricultural areas; legislation for the storage and disposal of animal waste; grants for homeowners who replace their septic tanks with central sewer connections; and, to provide funding to support local initiatives to reduce urban runoff. At the federal level, support would come in the form of funding to investigate which strategies would work best in certain areas, develop new best management practices, and to provide subsidies for farmers who implement the best management practices.
As with any strategy, the problem with legislation at the local or state level is enforcement. Enacting laws to restrict the use of fertilizers is only the first step to addressing the problem. Finding and penalizing those who ignore the law presents a greater challenge, especially in communities where funds are sometimes in short supply. The benefits of this multi-layered mitigation strategy is the reduction of nonpoint source pollution reaching and harming our water bodies. This protects habitat, areas used for drinking water supply and recreation, and improves the quality of life. Challenges to the plan would come from industries who may be impacted by the reduction of sales in certain products, though the strategy may encourage them to develop products that are more environmentally friendly. The other challenges may come from homeowners who are impacted financially if they are required to replace their septic tanks with central sewer and from homeowners who are resistant to the idea of a government entity telling them when and how much fertilizer they can apply to their lawns.
Whatever the approach, it is obvious that nonpoint source pollution is a serious problem in both rural and urban areas. The pollution can kill fish, destroy important habitat, impact fishing and recreational opportunities, and present a threat to human health. The reduction of runoff, both from urban areas and agricultural lands, will only improve the health of the world's water resources. The mitigation strategies are something that must be pursued in order to stop any further degradation from occurring and before the water resources reach a point where they are permanently impacted.
What is the oil fuel mixture 1999 Honda cr 125?
hi ther a 1999 cr 125 should be the mixture of it should be 32:1
What is the environmental impact of gasohol?
With the recent switch to Ethanol as a gasoline fuel oxygenate ("Gasohol") after MtBE became problematic to the groundwater systems across the United States, we are embarking into a new era. It has been theorized that Gasohol can: a) cause light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) to become more mobile; b) increase the solubility of BTEX in groundwater; c) create a significant
demand on oxygen and other electron acceptors to reduce natural attenuation abilities of the groundwater system and increase dissolved phase plumes; d) increase levels of methane in groundwater and soil as aerobic processes are changed to anaerobic; and e) reduce the hydrocarbon absorption ability of soil in the unsaturated zone. In addition, Ethanol put UST systems to the test with equipment compatibility, increased loose scale build up, increased loose
sediment, and water. Most issues were handled through research, cleaning, increased filter changes and water management practices. However, the alcohol can put a strain on weak portions of an UST system, resulting in a release.
What types of pollution exist in the Mississippi and Amazon?
Because both rivers are used by industry, they both suffer the effects of industrial pollution. Pollution comes in from many sources and accumulates as the river continues.
At the mouth of the Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico, there is a "Dead Zone" of about 5,000 square miles. This is where there is so little oxygen in the water that it cannot support aquatic life. This is caused by fertilizer runoff getting into the river and flowing out into the Gulf.
How long does it take for glass to decompose?
Glass doesnt decompose. It does take a long time to become a solid, but glass now will be glass in millions of years. Some types of glass can be made to decompose by adding chemicals similar to what etching does to glass. The term devitrication refers to the decompositition of glass but this is under forced chemical changes and not something that's going to happen in a natural state. Glass takes thousands of years to become a solid. Glass darkens as it ages as well. Lava glass or obsidian is glass found in nature and can be dated back to the beginning of the Earth, and is still glass.
Glass never decomposes. It is made from molten sand.
Is there an alternative fuel source besides oil?
yes there is it could be water or something else like that
Would there be pollution from fishing in antarctica?
No, because there is no commercial fishing allowed south of 60 degrees S, per the Antarctic Treaty.
Which Fruit will rot first the one in the plastic bag or without plastic bag?
in the plastic bag first
Do cargo ships pollute the earth?
Yes. Anything that is in the ocean unnaturally has an effect and 'pollutes' the earth. Some effects on the maritime population include accidental chemical or waste spills, trash dumping, and destroying algae or other plants (or animals) that live on the surface of the ocean. Also, they run off either steam or diesel. The use of steam effects the hydrologic cycle and the diesel pollutes the atmosphere.
What are the ethical issues surrounding the production of plastic bags in Ghana?
Some of the ethical issues surrounding the production of plastic bags in Ghana include environmental pollution and waste management challenges, as plastic bags can take hundreds of years to degrade. This contributes to harm to wildlife and ecosystems. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact on public health, as improper disposal of plastic bags can lead to clogged drainage systems and increased risk of diseases. Promoting more sustainable alternatives and implementing effective waste management practices are important steps to address these ethical concerns.
So..... yeah! that's all i can think of! soz if it does u no good!
-bluecow798!
How much water does it take to make 1 gallon of gasoline?
This question can be answered in three ways. It takes 1851 gallons of water to refine a barrel of crude oil. One barrel of crude oil produces 19 gallons of gasoline and 10 gallons of diesel fuel, in this respect it takes 97 gallons of water to produce a gallon of gasoline. If you combine gasoline and diesel, it takes 63 gallons of water to produce a gallon of "fuel." A total of 42 gallons of petroleum products are produced from a barrel of crude oil, in this respect it takes 44 gallons of water to produce each gallon.
How long does it take for plastic bag to disintegrate?
Plastic in general takes about 1,000 years.
just in case this helps: