Year 8 Science · Unit 3 · Lesson 27
Challenge Worksheet
Learning Goals
Read the graph
Study the bar graph showing estimated Australian resource export revenue for 2023, then answer the three questions below.
Data: Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Australia 2023 Resources and Energy Quarterly
(a) Calculate the total combined export revenue for all five resources shown in the graph. Show your working.
(b) Global decarbonisation means countries are reducing their use of coal and gas. Predict the impact of this trend on (i) coal exports and (ii) LNG exports over the next 20 years. Explain your reasoning.
(c) Which resources in this graph are most likely to grow in value as the world transitions to clean energy? Justify your answer using knowledge from the lesson.
Evaluate the claim
Someone claims...
"Mining is always destructive to the environment and should be completely replaced by recycling metals and materials we already have. There's no need to dig up any more of Earth's resources."
(a) What part of this claim is supported by science? Use specific evidence from the lesson (e.g. recycling energy savings, land and water impacts of mining).
(b) What is misleading or missing from this claim? Consider future demand for critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt needed for clean energy technology.
(c) Write a balanced evaluation: can responsible mining and recycling work together? Use evidence on economic role, environmental rehabilitation, and recycling limitations.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?