Geological Resources In Hong Kong Environmental Sciences Essay

Hong Kong is a little grouchy administrative part located at the southern portion of China. Within a little artless, it has a re aloney luxuriant geologic multifariousness ( Yeung, 2010 ) . The geologic diverseness bay window be valued in assorted facets, depending on which parties tush be benefited. Some of the determine shadow be regarded as resources, which can be utilise to make good to human existences. The geological resources profit our animateness in disparate ways, much(prenominal) as in our frugal governance, orderliness and the environment. In this essay, it is traveling to dilute how distinguishable geological resources benefit Hong Kong state in inside informations.When speaking approximately geological resources, nigh population would trust of exploitral ore. There atomic number 18 divergent exploitrals ores distributed across Hong Kong, both metallic and non-metallic one, such as the lead mine in Lin Ma Hang and the tungsten mine in Needle H ill, but all of them be closed due to no net income ( Sewell, Tang, &038 A Shaw, 2009 ) . Although the economic scheme of Hong Kong is no longer based with elementary perseverance now, thither was a boom excavation industrial bodily function in the yesteryear. This was the Fe ore located in Ma On Shan which was the lone industrial mine running in a wide-ranging graduated table of all while in the annals of Hong Kong ( Ruan, 2009 ) . The formation of the Fe ore is due to the endogenous procedures, which is described as the fol refuses ( Wu, 2003 ) .The volcanic activities in Ma On Shan country 1000000s old yearss agone causes magma invasion. Before the volcanic activity, the reference of gem treasures in Ma On Shan was chiefly sedimentary rock music. The invasion along faults causes chemical substance reply between the gem and the magma, known as contact metamorphism. High temperature and force per whole atomic number 18a modifies the chemical science of the abn ormal sedimentary pocks, and go metamorphous stone ( Skarn ) . As the sedimentary stone is more permeable, H2O infiltrates. Magma heats up the H2O. As longing H2O has higher solubility, it solutes the minerals in the magma and brings to the lower temperature topographical points harmonizing to the jurisprudence of geothermic gradient. The gas is known as geothermofluid. Minerals in the geothermofluid deposition when the H2O temperature drops, as the solubility of minerals reduces. The imperishable procedure causes en completement of minerals and forms the Fe ore.The environing country of the mine has developed quickly with schools, markets and church service established, to b chip in the mineworkers and their households. However, the Fe mine has been abandoned in 1976, go forthing a few mineworkers remain at that place with empty schools and church ( Ho, 2009 ) . The geological resources in Ma On Shan witnessed the rise and autumn of a topographic point and the state. The topographic point now becomes a localise for tourers to boost, to hold sport and to reoceanrch the excavation narration.Non-metallic mineral withal minerals that can be sell for net income, rock exploit and sea gritrock excavation can non be unheeded because they ar indispensable for the development of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has inscrutable diffuse of volcanic stones with 50 % and 35 % of flinty stone ( Geopark, 2009 ) . They are helpful for edifice. There are three preies, managed by CEDD, located in consort Tei, Anderson thoroughfare and Shek O, which are in truth of here and now in supply edifice stuffs for the building undertakings ( CEDD, 2009 ) .Furthermore, the stone stuffs are to a fault utilize for reclamination in developing the new towns every daub good as for the Victoria Harbour. The after part and stone minerals in the borrow country in Tai Tong eastern were extracted for the building of Tin Shui Wai New Town. Some of the stones in the preies and the sea sand from the sea were used for the reclamination undertakings along the Victoria Harbour. Without these resources to increase the add of level land, it is non easy to happen fit infinites to busy a big stub of population in Hong Kong. escape from quarrying has a really long news report in Hong Kong which can be traced keystone to the yesteryear when the Hong Kong had non yet opened by the British people. During that clip, Hakka people settled in different topographic points in Hong Kong, believe on rock quarrying for life. hotshot of the celebrated sites is the Four Hills in the eastbound Kowloon, which are Ngau Tau Kok, Sai Tso Wan, Cha Kwo Ling and Lei Yue Mun, tin foring the generator of rock quarrying recital by Hakka people in Hong Kong ( Yu, 2009 ) .The Hakka people stomach use the topical anesthetic stuffs to constrain their houses and the stuffs are granite ( Wordie, 2007 ) . The Hakka people besides realise their life through pull childs play the gr anite by manus and sold it. Their stones permit become the building stuffs of or so of consequence edifices such as the Legislative Council grammatical construction ( Sing Tao Daily, 2007 ) . Some of the stones are sold to Guangzhou to construct the Sacred Heart duomo in 1861 ( Wordie, 2007 ) . With such rich in resources, people get richer and the Hakka minor towns started to turn. Their rock-mining communicatory can be reflected in the Hakka general people vocal every kidnapping good ( Li, 2010 ) . Therefore, the geological resources helped to put raft the foundation of their Hakka civilization in East Kowloon. In add-on, it besides reflects the character of gumptious of Hakka people and their part to the society development.The chemical weathering of felspar in granite leads to the formation of china remains ( Waugh, 2005 ) . Therefore, kaolin mine can be found in Cha Kwo Ling in East Kowloon every bit good. other celebrated site utilizing china form as the start fo r doing China is in a Hakka small town in Wun Yiu in Tai Po. In fact, the get a line of the topographic point reflects its economic activity V doing China. Wun Yiu has established since the in-between age of Ming Dynasty ( Chen, 2007 ) . The Hakka built a temple to kudos the Saint of Potter V buffer Xian ( OA?P ) . Every year, the Hakka people in the small town observe its birthday which is a alone civilization in that topographic point ( Chan, 2008 ) . However, due to abbreviated downing militias of china clay, the china-making activities was stopped in 1930s and the villagers changed to farming to gain a life ( Chan, 2008 ) . The jubilation still continues. The geological resources non merely profit the economic system in at that place, but besides of import to their civilization and the societal coherence.agribusinessBesides direct stuffs extraction, human sorts so indirectly extract the minerals in damn through agribusiness. Soil is besides an of import geological resour ce to people. Fertile bullshits are normally weathered from fiery stones because pyrogenous stones are form in the beginning of the stone rhythm ( Troeh &038 A Thompson, 2005 ) In the beginning of stone rhythm, the stone signifiers from dispirit of lava or magma which keeps most of the minerals. By the procedures of permit and eroding, the igneous stone will be broken in pieces and transported to other topographic points through erosional agents. During the procedure of transit, the minerals in the pyrogenic stone will be muzzy to the environment such as issue in H2O. As a consequence, the minerals in the sedimentary stones are few, comparing with pyrogenic stone, so the dirt derived from sedimentary stones is sterile.In Hong Kong, pyrogenic stone has the largest surface screen for approximately 85 % ( Geopark, 2009 ) , so most of the land is suited for the flora growing. Generally, the plain lands are found on or shut to the pyrogenic stone, particularly the volcanic ston es. For illustration, the dirts and the minerals on the mountains in Lam Tusen, which the type of the stone on the mountains is volcanic stone, are carried to the low land to enrich the dirt. Therefore, artless activities are active along the Lam Tusen Valley. Without the volcanic stones, the life of the people in there will be really rough as turning nutritious on an sterile land is hard. For that ground, geological resources, in this instance, are indispensable for the survival of the fittest of human existences.TourismThe weather-beaten and intoxicatek stones are besides geological resources which are of import for the development of touristry. In Hong Kong, there are different landscapes characteristics are associated with different geological procedures. Due to strong predominating pass around current from the E, it is easy to happen erosional coastal characteristics in the eastern portion of Hong Kong, by the action of moving ridges ( Sewell, Tang, &038 A Shaw, 2009 ) . In Tung Ping Chau, sea stack, sea cave and wave-cut program can be found ( Ng &038 A Chan, 2008 ) . These characteristics turn in beautiful sceneries for the tourers to astonish and appreciate.Besides costal eroding, weathering is besides of import in find the stone characteristics. For illustration in Po Toi, there are a group of interesting and typical stone characteristics on the island, such as the Buddhist monastic and the Tortoise Traveling up the Hill ( Ng &038 A Chan, 2008 ) . These geological resources are unskilled musca volitanss for people to bask during vacations. such(prenominal) characteristics have attracted a batch of tourers from topical anaesthetic and abroad, which can assist to advance the local touristry in Hong Kong.Hong Kong has a salient geodiveristy and has a possible to set up a Geopark. With the aid of the Chinese giving medication, the Geopark is formally opened on 3 November 2009 ( Government News, 2009 ) . The geopark is divided into two c hief parts, which are the sedimentary stone parts in the Northeast New Territories and the volcanic stone parts in Sai Kung, with a resume of eight scenery sites ( HKSAR, 2010 ) . In the beginning of six months since the park established, it has attracted more than half million visitants ( Huang, 2010 ) . These tourers spend money on booking boats, engaging a usher, basking the seafood on the outlying islands and purchasing traditional seafood from the villagers. In add-on to the outgos passing outside the park, the receipts generated from touristry due to the geopark, is expected around 200 million dollars a twelvemonth ( Ming Pao, 2010 ) . With the use of the geological resources, it contributes to our economic system development and translates occupations chances for the local people. It can enkindle the image and repute of touristry industry of Hong Kong every bit good ( Huang &038 A Weng, 2009 ) .Education and scientific inquiryFurthermore, these sites have guidance an d scientific values to people. For instruction intents, these geological landforms provide a platform for people and particularly the childs to understand the endogenic procedures and exogenetic procedures in determining the background surface. It is amaze to cognize the power of the Nature. The characteristics will non be formed in the flair the fables told us, such as the housemaid Rock was formed because the God turns the adult female and the baby into stone ( Cai, 2009 ) . In fact, the formation of the Amah Rock is due to different sorts of abiding procedures acted on granite. Another illustration is Ma Shi Chau Special Area where is a high hat topographic point for geographics lesson, as sedimentary stones, coastal landforms, turn uping and blaming can be found on this small island ( Wong, 2009 ) . Therefore, the geological resources help us to kick upstairs our physical geographics cognition.For scientific values, the research workers and experts can understand the deve lopment of the Earth history through reading the stone samples. By understanding our yesteryear, the geological history of Hong Kong can be reviewed and so it can be used to foretell the hereafter. The environmental alteration can be place as good, such as low-lying rise and clime alteration. They are serviceable for environmental modeling for scientific research. other geological history, the human sort history can be studied, as the dirt under the surface keeps the artefacts for the archeologists in early to delve them up.In add-ons, geodiversity supports biodiversity, through supplying nutrients for workss and home grounds for animate beings ( Ng, 2006 ) . By understanding of the maps of stones and their relationship, it can increase the prevalent consciousness that hold dearing stones is a manner to protect the natural ecosystems. Therefore, the geological resources are important in assisting instruction and scientific research.Burial thingsThe geological resources can len d the society through supplying topographic points to bury our refuse. In Hong Kong, happening a topographic point to bury our dread(a) refuse produced every twenty-four hours is hard. Presently, the society has a hot argument on the issue of spread outing the landfill site in Tseung Kwan O, doing the authorities in a hard state of affairs ( Guo, 2010 ) . otherwise than burying refuse, burying dead radical structures is another job that the authorities has to tail with. The deficit of infinites for hive awaying ashes is limited. Some lands are converted into ash Fieldss by nearly private developers to gain net income, level(p) though some of them have non current permission from the authorities ( Cheung &038 A Wong, 2010 ) . In order to work out the jobs, the direction of the geological resources V land, has to be certain to avoid farther complications.Legends and civilizationFinally, some of the typical stone characteristics has become a fable or being praised for its spi ritual power. For fable, the Amah Rock is an illustration. One of the illustrations is the Lovers Rock in Bowen Road in the Mid-level. During the Chinese Valentine Day, a figure of people would see Lovers Rock to wish a invariable relationship or hold a boy- or girlfriend ( Lu &038 A Mai, 2003 ) . For Lion Rock, it gives a sense of properties and a contemplation to the character of Hong Kong people. The geological resources provide a platform for people s imaginativeness and creativeness. It besides gives faith to people who are confused or without confident. Therefore, it contributes to our mental science.DecisionTo reason, the geological resources are rich in this small metropolis. There are metallic and non-metallic minerals which support the local civilization, frugal development and the infrastructural buildings. The typical landforms encourage touristries and so provide occupation chances. The geological characteristics can ease the instruction and scientific research. Las t, the legendised stone characteristics give some cultural values to Hong Kong. These resources are indispensable to our day-to-day life as we depends it for money, nutrient, lodging and besides the mental demands. Therefore, the geological resources should be treasured as they belong to each of us in Hong Kong. We have to collaborate together to protect them before it is excessively late.