MINERAL RESOURCES

The Standard Of Living Equation SL = standard of living R = useful consumption of resources (minerals, oil, water, air, etc.) E = useful consumption of energy I = ingenuity P = population W = waste

The E Factor The Energy Available is Vast –Solar –Geothermal –Nuclear fission or fusion

The E Factor Fossil Fuels –The fuels we are most dependent upon, oil and gas, are declining –All Energy Sources Will Become More Expensive

The P Factor The equation indicates big trouble for rapidly growing populations Rapidly growing populations often want a materialistic life –This hope may be impossible to satisfy

The W Factor Half the energy used in the U.S. may be wasted –The U.S. Is the most wasteful of the 18 industrial nations

The W Factor Practice conservation to improve S. L. –Recycle metals, glass, and paper –Purchase for durability –Avoid fad purchases

The R Factor The Natural Occurrence of Minerals –Each ore body has finite limits Ores are <<1% of the crust Ores are geological oddities –Not all mineral deposits are ores Adequate concentration Demand Transportation to market

The R Factor Minerals are Used in Every Aspect of Modern Life

The R Factor Doubling Rate of Mineral Consumption –The demand for minerals doubles in about 30 years –Sheet of paper example (1/254 inch thick) Double the thickness of that paper 35 times and it will stretch from LA to New York 42 times and it reaches the moon 50 times and it reaches the sun

The R Factor Demand for Minerals –Demand for all minerals is increasing faster than the population –Demand is derived from the chemical and manufacturing industries plus agriculture

The R Factor –Future demand is a function of culture and population 2 factors which will strain mineral resources for the next 100 years –Small increases in demand per capita in rapidly growing populations –Large increases in per capita demand in static populations

The R Factor Wars for Minerals –Affluence has been localized in space and time –Uneven distribution of minerals and energy has led to wars Syrians and Arabs fought the first war for hydrocarbons in 312 B.C. WWI & WWII: Germany invades Austria, France and Poland for coal WWII: Japan invades SE Asia for oil and China for coal and minerals Iraq invades Kuwait August 2, 1990

The R Factor Geography of Mineral Production –Of all the developed countries, only Russia has adequate resources for current demands –The most accessible, high grade deposits are the first to be mined These are already gone from the US, Britain, and Europe These countries must import R & E from other countries

The R Factor –Many valuable ores are in politically unstable or communist countries Chromium - South Africa, Russia Mn - South Africa, Zaire Al - tropical countries

The R Factor –The country which controls R & E is usually the world's most powerful U.K. during the 19th century was the foremost producer of Pb, Cu, Sn, Fe, & coal They were the wealthiest and most powerful nation

The I Factor With Regard to Energy... –No vast energy sources are foreseen that will make mining any cheaper –Energy will remain expensive

The I Factor With Regard to Extraction Costs... –Widespread belief that technology is continually lowering unit costs while allowing us to work ever lower grade deposits is false Mining technology is barely keeping pace

The I Factor Synthetics –Synthetics will relieve very little stress on ore deposits Most metals and such things as He, Hg, U, and Th can't be synthesized

The I Factor Technology for extracting metals from common rock is far off –Enormous, unusable waste –Energy intensive

The Equation For The U.S. R & E –Imports are maintaining R & E at a high level –Recycling and alternate energy sources must be developed

The Equation For The U.S. I –I is enormous for the U.S. Space shuttle, computers, communications, agriculture, recombinant DNA –This may be the biggest factor in maintaining SL in the future

The Equation For The U.S. P & W –P is stabilizing and W is declining

The Equation And UDC's R & E –R & E are being exported to DC's This temporarily increases SL R & E are “quick assets” and their loss will ultimately reduce SL Enormous resentment will arise

The Equation And UDC's P is growing rapidly in UDC's –Greatly reduces SL –Year 2000 population UDC4.9 billion DC1.3 billion World Wealth –The equation demands that the disparity of world wealth increase

The Equation And UDC's Types of Countries –Developed countries –Developing countries with R & E –Under developed countries with R & E –UDC's with no R & E

The Future Of Our Resources R –3 types of future sources of ore Presently noncommercial deposits Technical innovation Affordable transportation Price increase –Newly discovered deposits –Urban ore – recycling

The Future Of Our Resources E –New energy sources must be developed to make mineral extraction possible

The Future Of Our Resources I –We must recognize that the inevitable loss of nonrenewable resources will end the industrial age The new solar age will be very different from the industrial age –Reduced consumption –Declining population We must ease the transition by preparing now

The Future Of Our Resources I (continued) –Ores must be recovered from: Remote areas Seafloor Outer space

The Future Of Our Resources I (continued) –Technical innovation and new discoveries must develop our reserves at an exponential rate until: Population stabilizes Constant or decreasing demand per capita is achieved

The Future Of Our Resources I (continued) –Exploration, applying advanced technology, must be employed –Extraction techniques must be improved so as to recover ores from ever lower grade deposits

The Future Of Our Resources W –W must be reduced by recycling and conservation in production and use

The Future Of Our Resources Imports will continue to provide a large part of the US needs