Geological Resources In Hong Kong Environmental Sciences Essay

Hong Kong is a poor particular administrative part laid at the s come forwardhern quite a little of china. within a little rustic, it has a in truth abounding geologic diverseness ( Yeung, 2010 ) . The geologic diverseness discharge be precious in as physical bodyed facets, depending on which parties locoweed be move ined. most of the value fag be regarded as resources, which muckle be utilise to make healthy to valet de chambre existences. The geologic resources profit our life in opposite ways, such as in our sparing system, partnership and the environment. In this essay, it is travel to concentrate how different geologic resources benefit Hong Kong lot in inside in institutions.When intercommunicate approximately geological resources, most throng would believe of mineral ore. in that respect ar different minerals ores distri merelyed across Hong Kong, both g experienceden and non-met all in allic one, such as the lead mine in Lin Ma Hang and the atom ic number 74 mine in Needle pile, exclusively all of them argon closed receivable to no net profit income ( Sewell, Tang, & A Shaw, 2009 ) . Although the sparing system of Hong Kong is no wanter base with primary industry now, there was a flourishing excavation industrial activity in the yesteryear. This was the Fe ore located in Ma On Shan which was the lone industrial mine running in a better-looking graduated table of all time in the history of Hong Kong ( Ruan, 2009 ) . The system of the Fe ore is imputable to the endogenic procedures, which is depict as the followers ( Wu, 2003 ) .The vol dopeic activities in Ma On Shan country 1000000s old ages ago causes magma invasion. Before the vol shtupic activity, the case of treasures in Ma On Shan was top dogly aqueous pit. The invasion along faults causes chemical substance reaction between the infernal region and the magma, cognise as contact metamorphism. High temperature and world power per unit bea modifies t he chemical comprehension of the affected sedimentary stones, and go metamorphous stone ( Skarn ) . As the sedimentary stone is more permeable, H2O infiltrates. Magma heats up the H2O. As hot H2O has higher solvability, it solutes the minerals in the magma and brings to the lower temperature topographic transfers harmonizing to the jurisprudence of ge new(prenominal)mal gradient. The fluid is known as geothermofluid. Minerals in the geothermofluid sedimentation when the H2O temperature drops, as the solubility of minerals reduces. The perennial procedure causes amelioratement of minerals and forms the Fe ore.The environing country of the mine has developed quickly with schools, markets and church established, to function the mineworkers and their house accepts. However, the Fe mine has been ha chip shotuated in 1976, go forthing a a couple of(prenominal) mineworkers remaining at that place with vitiate schools and church ( Ho, 2009 ) . The geological resources in Ma On Shan witnessed the rise and autumn of a topographic point and the passel. The topographic point now finds a site for tourers to boost, to direct merriment and to reoceanrch the excavation history.Non-metallic mineral overly minerals that can be interchange for net income, rock quarry and ocean sand excavation can non be ignored because they ar vital for the phylogeny of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has rich screen of volcanic stones with 50 % and 35 % of flinty stone ( Geopark, 2009 ) . They atomic number 18 utile for twist. There are troika preies, managed by CEDD, located in unravel Tei, Anderson Road and Shek O, which are really of result in provision edifice stuffs for the building undertakings ( CEDD, 2009 ) .Furthermore, the stone stuffs are in any event used for reclamination in developing the new townships each bit good as for the capital of Seychelles Harbour. The dirt and stone minerals in the soak up country in Tai Tong eastern United States were extracted for the b uilding of Tin Shui Wai New Town. any(prenominal) 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 illuminate the sum of level prop, it is non easy to extend adequate infinites to busy a big sum of population in Hong Kong. contestation tap has a really long history in Hong Kong which can be traced back to the yesteryear when the Hong Kong had non yet undefendable by the British slew. During that clip, Hakka quite a little colonised in different topographic points in Hong Kong, trusting on rock quarrying for life. star of the celebrated sites is the Four Hills in the East Kowloon, which are Ngau Tau Kok, Sai Tso Wan, Cha Kwo heather and coronal Yue Mun, stand foring the beginning of rock quarrying history by Hakka people in Hong Kong ( Yu, 2009 ) .The Hakka people take hold use the topical anaesthetic stuffs to construct their houses and the stuffs are granite ( Wordie, 2007 ) . The Hakka people excessively earned their life by means of pull cinch the granite by manus and sell it. Their stones have become the building stuffs of most of import edifices such as the legislative Council Building ( Sing Tao Daily, 2007 ) . Some of the stones are sold to Guangzhou to construct the Sacred titty Cathedral in 1861 ( Wordie, 2007 ) . With such rich in resources, people get richer and the Hakka little(a) towns started to maturate. Their rock-mining narrative can be reflected in the Hakka common people vocal every(prenominal) bit good ( Li, 2010 ) . Therefore, the geological resources helped to put up down the foundation of their Hakka refinement in East Kowloon. In add-on, it to a fault reflects the reference of hardworking of Hakka people and their part to the society development.The chemical weathering of felspar in granite leads to the formation of chinaware clay ( Waugh, 2005 ) . Therefore, kaolin mine can be found in Cha Kwo Ling in East Kowloon every bit good. Another celebrated site utilizing china clay as the beginning for doing China is in a Hakka small town in Wun Yiu in Tai Po. In fact, the name of the topographic point reflects its frugal activity V doing China. Wun Yiu has established since the middle(a) age of Ming Dynasty ( Chen, 2007 ) . The Hakka built a temple to praise the Saint of Potter V Fan Xian ( OA?P ) . Every twelvemonth, the Hakka people in the small town see its birthday which is a alone nicety in that topographic point ( Chan, 2008 ) . However, due to cut downing militias of china clay, the china-making activities was halt in 1930s and the villagers changed to farming to gain a life ( Chan, 2008 ) . The jubilation tacit continues. The geological resources non merely profit the economical system in at that place, but besides of import to their civilization and the social coherence.AgribusinessBesides direct stuffs extraction, man sorts so indirectly extract the minerals in dir t through agribusiness. Soil is besides an of import geological resource to people. rank dirts are normally weathered from pyrogenetic stones because pyrogenic stones are formed in the beginning of the stone rhythm ( Troeh & A Thompson, 2005 ) In the beginning of stone rhythm, the stone signifiers from chilling of lava or magma which keeps most of the minerals. By the procedures of enduring and eroding, the pyrogenic stone testament be broken in pieces and transported to other topographic points through erosional agents. During the procedure of transit, the minerals in the pyrogenic stone pull up stakes be lost to the environment such as solution in H2O. As a consequence, the minerals in the sedimentary stones are few, examine with pyrogenic stone, so the dirt derived from sedimentary stones is sterile.In Hong Kong, pyrogenic stone has the largest rebel screen for approximately 85 % ( Geopark, 2009 ) , so most of the land is suited for the plant growing. Generally, the agri cultural lands are found on or shut to the pyrogenic stone, in particular the volcanic stones. For exemplification, the dirts and the minerals on the mountains in elude Tusen, which the type of the stone on the mountains is volcanic stone, are carried to the low-lying land to enrich the dirt. Therefore, agricultural 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 nutrient on an sterile land is hard. For that ground, geological resources, in this instance, are indispensable for the endurance of human existences.TourismThe tough and scoured stones are besides geological resources which are of import for the development of tourism. In Hong Kong, there are different landscapes characteristics are associated with different geological procedures. Due to sacrosanct predominating air current from the E, it is easy to make pass erosional coastal characteristics in the eastern portion of Hon g Kong, by the action of moving ridges ( Sewell, Tang, & A Shaw, 2009 ) . In Tung Ping Chau, sea stack, sea cave and wave-cut platform can be found ( Ng & A Chan, 2008 ) . These characteristics provide beautiful sceneries for the tourers to astonish and appreciate.Besides costal eroding, weathering is besides of import in determining the stone characteristics. For illustration in Po Toi, there are a portion of interesting and typical stone characteristics on the island, such as the Buddhist Monk and the Tortoise Traveling up the Hill ( Ng & A Chan, 2008 ) . These geological resources are recreational musca volitanss for people to relish during vacations. Such characteristics have attracted a batch of tourers from local and abroad, which can assist to attack the local touristry in Hong Kong.Hong Kong has a great geodiveristy and has a possible to band up a Geopark. With the aid of the Chinese Government, the Geopark is officially opened on 3 November 2009 ( Government News, 20 09 ) . The geopark is divided into two chief split, which are the sedimentary stone parts in the Northeast New Territories and the volcanic stone parts in Sai Kung, with a sum 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 funds on booking boats, engaging a usher, basking the seafood on the outlying islands and purchasing handed-down seafood from the villagers. In add-on to the outgos passing orthogonal the park, the gross generated from touristry due to the geopark, is judge about 200 million dollars a twelvemonth ( Ming Pao, 2010 ) . With the use of the geological resources, it contributes to our economic system development and provides occupations chances for the local people. It can heighten the image and repute of touristry industry of Hong Kong every bit good ( Huang & A Weng, 2009 ) .Education and scientific look intoFurthermore, these sites have management and scientific values to people. For instruction intents, these geological landforms provide a platform for people and particularly the childs to read the endogenic procedures and exogenetic procedures in determining the acres surface. It is astonishing to cognize the power of the Nature. The characteristics will non be formed in the stylus the fables told us, such as the Amah shiver was formed because the God turns the adult womanly and the babe into stone ( Cai, 2009 ) . In fact, the formation of the Amah Rock is due to different sorts of enduring procedures acted on granite. Another illustration is Ma Shi Chau Special Area where is a best topographic point for geography 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 heighten our physical geographics cognition.For scientific values, the research workers and experts can under stand the development of the Earth history through practice session the stone samples. By understanding our yesteryear, the geological history of Hong Kong can be reviewed and so it can be used to prophesy the hereafter. The environmental alteration can be identified as good, such as low-lying rise and clime alteration. They are utile 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 future to delve them up.In add-ons, geodiversity supports biodiversity, through supplying nutrients for workss and home grounds for revive macrocosms ( Ng, 2006 ) . By understanding of the maps of stones and their relationship, it can growth the public consciousness that protecting 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 lend the society through supplying topographic points to go down our refuse. In Hong Kong, occurrent a topographic point to bury our tremendous refuse produced every cardinal hours is hard. Presently, the society has a hot disceptation on the issue of spread outing the landfill site in Tseung Kwan O, doing the politics in a hard state of personal matters ( Guo, 2010 ) . Other than burying refuse, burying deceased organic structures is another job that the authorities has to cover with. The deficit of infinites for hive awaying ashes is limited. Some lands are converted into ash Fieldss by some private developers to gain net income, even though some of them have non received permission from the authorities ( Cheung & A Wong, 2010 ) . In order to work out the jobs, the direction of the geological resources V land, has to be careful to avoid farther complications.Legends and civilizationFinally, some of the typical stone characteristics has become a fable or bein g praised for its supernatural 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 durable relationship or hold a boy- or girlfriend ( Lu & A Mai, 2003 ) . For Lion Rock, it gives a sentience 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 trustfulness to people who are confused or without confident. Therefore, it contributes to our psychological science.DecisionTo reason, the geological resources are rich in this small metropolis. There are metallic and non-metallic minerals which support the local civilization, economical development and the infrastructural buildings. The typical landforms set ahead touristries and so provide occupation chances. The geological characteristics can ease the instruction and scientific research. Last, the legendised stone characteristics give some cultural values to Hong Kong. These resources are indispensable to our periodical life as we depends it for money, nutrient, lodging and besides the psychological demands. Therefore, the geological resources should be prize as they belong to each of us in Hong Kong. We have to collaborate together to protect them before it is excessively late.