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Mineral Resource Use & Impact

This document discusses the importance of mineral resources for civilization and some of the environmental harms caused by their extraction and use. It notes that while basic human sustenance requires air, water, plants and animals, civilization additionally relies on minerals and fossil fuels to enable tools, technology, infrastructure, manufacturing and more. All aspects of modern life from homes and transportation to clothing and electronics depend on various mineral resources. However, extracting and using these non-renewable resources in unsustainable ways causes various forms of direct environmental degradation including habitat destruction, pollution, and disruption of water and land. Addressing this growing threat will require civilizations to fundamentally rethink their relationship with natural resources.

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AngelinaGupta
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14 views2 pages

Mineral Resource Use & Impact

This document discusses the importance of mineral resources for civilization and some of the environmental harms caused by their extraction and use. It notes that while basic human sustenance requires air, water, plants and animals, civilization additionally relies on minerals and fossil fuels to enable tools, technology, infrastructure, manufacturing and more. All aspects of modern life from homes and transportation to clothing and electronics depend on various mineral resources. However, extracting and using these non-renewable resources in unsustainable ways causes various forms of direct environmental degradation including habitat destruction, pollution, and disruption of water and land. Addressing this growing threat will require civilizations to fundamentally rethink their relationship with natural resources.

Uploaded by

AngelinaGupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MINERAL RESOURCE AVAILABILITY

INTRODUCTION

BASIC HUMAN SUSTENANCE: Air, Water, Useful Plants, Useful Animals

SUSTENANCE OF CIVILIZATION: The above, plus minerals and fossil fuels.

Tools: Stone>> Bronze>> Iron >>Machines (Alloys)>> Semi-conductors (Exotics)

ALL are mineral resources: without them we are hunter gatherers using
wooden sticks.

Fossil Energy is the basic enabler:
(wood) > Charcoal -> Coal -> Oil -> Nat. Gas -> Nuclear >??
<------e l e c t r i c i t y------

WHERE ARE MINERAL RESOURCES USED??

Home: Steel (nails, rebar), Copper (wiring, plumbing), Plastics, Concrete (slab)
Roads: Concrete, Steel, petroleum (black-top), sand and gravel
Cars: Steel, Copper, Fossil Fuels, Plastic, Lead, Sulfuric Acid, etc.
Clothes: (Natural Fibre), Fossil Fuels (Fibre and Manuf), Steel etc (manuf),
IT: REE, Copper, Lithium, Germanium, Cesium, etc., etc.

John Berry Assoc.
Slide 1 of 54
Grimes Graves Nic McPhee: 433 shafts, 96 ac.
MANIFESTO

ALL non-renewable resource extraction and use is harmful to the planet

Direct harm: Holes in the ground (Athabasca tar Sands)
Waste tips (Aberfan disaster, Wales)
Air pollution (Nkana smelter)
Water/groundwater disturbance and pollution
Destructive use of water cant be returned.

Indirect Harm: Massive transport arteries (Land destruction)
Litter, junk, wastage (land & water destruction)
Megacities (land, esp. agric. land, destruction)
Air pollution, CO
2
and Methane.
Climate Change (probably)


Dont blame ONLY the extraction companies:
we are ALL responsible: DEMAND is the driver.

We do not know where lie the thresholds of permanent, irreversible,
runaway harm to Earth.


Thus, sooner or later, we have to completely REVAMP our CIVILIZATION to survive.
MINERAL RESOURCE AVAILABILITY

John Berry Assoc.
Slide 1 of 54
350-ton Truck
Athabasca Tar Sands, Ft.McMurray, Canada

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