Final answer:
The statement about the mining of ancient marine phosphate deposits for use as fertilizers is correct. Phosphate ions are essential for biological processes and contribute to plant growth when used as fertilizer, but overuse can lead to eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence, "Ancient marine phosphate deposits that have been uplifted onto land are extensively mined because they are valuable as fertilizers," is indeed accurate. Phosphorus, which occurs in nature as the phosphate ion (PO4³-), plays a crucial role in various biological processes and forms the backbone of the ATP molecule, which is essential for energy transfer within cells. The marine phosphate sediments that originate from the bodies of ocean organisms and their excretions, after being uplifted onto land over geological time, become valuable phosphorous deposits. These deposits are mined and used as fertilizers because they contribute essential nutrients to soil, helping plants grow. However, excess use of phosphorus as fertilizer can lead to environmental problems like eutrophication, which is the over-enrichment of water bodies with nutrients, resulting in excessive algal growth and depletion of oxygen.