Raw Materials, Energy Sources, and Global Industry Overview
Raw Materials
Definition: Resources used in production, categorized as:
Vegetable and Animal: From farming (linen, cotton, etc.), livestock (fat, fur, etc.), and forestry (wood).
Mineral: Found in deposits. Metallic minerals (iron, lead, copper, etc.) are located in Hercynian formations and used in primary industries. Non-metallic minerals (feldspar, salt, quartz, etc.) are found in Paleozoic areas and used in construction and chemistry.
Energy Sources
Definition: Resources providing energy for industrial and consumer applications, classified as:
Renewable: Sources that regenerate naturally (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.). They produce small energy quantities due to high research costs and face multinational interests hindering their development.
Non-Renewable: Finite sources needing long regeneration times (coal, oil, natural gas, etc.). They cause significant pollution.
Energy Sources Details
Coal: Formed from plant debris over millennia; quality depends on age. It was crucial during the 2nd industrial revolution. Highly polluting due to sulfur content. Used in electricity production and steel industry.
Oil: Formed from organisms over millennia, concentrated in sedimentary layers. Spain’s energy consumption is 56% oil-based. Prices are set by OPEC. Used in transport and industry (requires refining). Natural Gas: A gaseous hydrocarbon mixture found in underground reservoirs or with oil deposits. Transported as a liquid at low temperatures. Advantages include low pollution, high calorific value, and reasonable price. Used for industrial and domestic purposes. Nuclear Energy: Produced by uranium fission. Significant in Spain, but production decreased due to environmental concerns about obsolete plants. Used for electricity generation. Hydropower: Obtained from water reservoirs, converting mechanical energy into electricity. Clean and renewable, but creates water use conflicts and is affected by droughts.
Renewable Energy Sources
Types:
- Hydroelectric
- Wind
- Biomass
- Solar Energy
- Geothermal Energy
- Tidal
Heavy Industry
Heavy Industry: Uses large factories with substantial raw materials and energy. Transforms raw materials into intermediate products.
- Steelmakers: Transform iron into steel.
- Metallurgical: Works with non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminum, etc.
- Chemical Base: Produces acids, fertilizers, explosives, paints, etc.
Equipment Industry
Equipment Industry prepares infrastructure and economic assets for various sectors. Two major sectors are construction industry and metallurgical processing.
Construction Industries
Develops and implements infrastructure for civil works, private use, services, communications, pipelines, buildings, hydraulic works, power plants, roads, bridges, seaports, airports, railways, etc. Also produces materials like cement, bricks, and glass.
Metallurgy Processing
Develops and produces basic economic goods in the metallurgical industry: industrial tools, heavy transport materials, shipbuilding, rail and road vehicles, aircraft, and agricultural machinery. Also produces steel and electrical equipment.
Light Industry
Manufactures products directly for consumers from raw and semi-processed materials.
EU Industry: In the nineteenth century, it was the world’s most industrialized area. Currently features industrial diversity, skilled labor, technology, and infrastructure.
Construction: The art or technique of making buildings and infrastructure. It involves various methods and combinations for creating structures. Modern construction integrates design, standardized patterns, and reduces errors, leading to large and complex structures like cities, industries, shopping centers, and campuses.
Industrial World: Industry distribution shows contrasts between developed and underdeveloped countries.
1. United States: Industrial power due to abundant raw materials, global finance center, and advanced technology. Key areas: Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific Coast.
2. Japan: Resource-poor but powerful due to abundant skilled labor, high technology, and aggressive trade policy.
3. EU: Industrial areas include Rotterdam-Milan, Germany, Britain, Paris-Le Havre, and major cities like Berlin, Bordeaux, Madrid, and Barcelona.
4. Southeast Asia: Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore have abundant and cheap labor with tax benefits.
5. Other Areas: Shanghai, Calcutta, Rio de la Plata, and major Australian cities.