Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Despite the notable chemical exergy on Earth, only about 0.01% is currently
usable by human civilisation because technological limitations make it practically
impossible to fully obtain the chemical exergy of dispersed substances. In fact, only
those minerals that are concentrated, can be exploited and thus truly considered
resources. Hence, scarcity, real or perceived, is founded on those problems asso-
ciated with the limited concentration of mineral deposits. This is why recycling,
reusing and especially, the search for a dematerialised society becomes an essential
philosophy or lifestyle choice, in line with the doctrine of sustainability.
In this chapter the authors have emphasised the fact that despite its rigorousness,
exergy fails to provide a “fair” value to non-fuel minerals. The resources of the most
important ones have a total exergy content which is insignificant compared to that of
conventional fossil fuels. This leads to the search for other physical indicators which
are closer to the value that Man assigns to non-fuel minerals. Given the importance
of this matter, in the following chapter mineral resources are re-assessed through
the exergy replacement cost.
 
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