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valz valz
 
December 22, 2008 02:22 AM

Could we cause the Earth to erupt from continuously removing layers of resources from under the crust?

A layer of groundwater is being removed globally faster than it can be replenished. A layer of oil is being depleted and running dry in more locations. Oil and water don't mix - have they been a protective layer to what is beneath and the surface of the Earth? What was the real purpose of all the oil and groundwater - other than as a product for exploitation by humans? Drilling for oil is getting deeper and more frequent in a pincushion effect perhaps weakening the Earth crust. Take a look at the extreme heat and pressures deep within the Earth. The Earth is also made up of tectonic plates that shift and move and natural geologic events can cause earthquakes, volcanos etc. What if we put everything together and one day the pressure is too much and it just all goes poof? Could it? Are you sure it could not? you armchair geologists out there...
Fyi, here is a resource that shows the structure of the Earth layers down to the core. "Journey to the Center of the Earth" to start you off:
http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~braile/edumod/journey/journey.htm

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spruiked spruiked
 
 December 22, 2008 03:56 AM
This is science fiction. Mining has been known to cause eruptions - just not the type you think:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidoarjo_mud_flow
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidoarjo_mud_flow

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• Although I found both answers helpful, I liked the fact that this answer was supported with a relevant source. I am not yet convinced that these are the only good answers possible, but I commend the both of you for stepping up to the plate and contributing. Well done, thank you!


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tracebooks tracebooks
 
December 22, 2008 03:42 AM
Doubtful. Whatever was holding the molten stuff back from leaking up into the groundwater and oil would still be there after it was removed. A more likely result would be collapsing sinkholes, which does in fact happen.

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tracebooks tracebooks
 
December 22, 2008 03:42 AM - New Source
Grew up in an old gas/oil boom area, where there were LOTS of sinkholes.

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