The Challenge of Resource Depletion - Thanatia: The Destiny of the Earth's Mineral Resources - page 451

Chapter15
The Challenge of Resource Depletion
15.1 Introduction
In this chapter, the authors discuss their reflections as to why minerals are thought
of as scarce and subsequently why resources are not being managed e ciently.
It strives to answer the question of what should be done to improve the current
situation. There are three considerations that need to be taken into account in any
transition towards an increasingly sustainable society. These are: 1) a paradigm
shift away from the economics of Man to the economics of Nature; 2) an analysis of
the existing interdependencies between various resources and 3) global remediation
and maintenance. The chapter ends by emphasising the building blocks of a truly
durable society.
15.2 Geological scarcity or commercial shortage?
If there are elements, especially should their recycling be not only complex but more
energy intensive than their natural extraction, industry is obligated to obtain them,
almost exclusively, from the mining sector. And from here the following question is
raised: To what extent can society expect to extract into the future?
In answering that question one must first know the facts surrounding mineral
extraction. From 1950-2000 global mineral production multiplied fivefold and in
only the first decade of the 21st century, production increased by around 20% for
the precious metals, by 35% in the mass consumables and some 50% in doping
agents (Kooroshy et al., 2009). The trends show that worldwide demand continues
to escalate. In that respect, the OECD expects production to double in the next
25 years. The highest rates of growth will come from emerging economies that
are increasingly competing for access to reserves. China, perhaps provides the best
example with its annual demand of Al;Cu and Zn climbing to 17% and representing
70% of the total current global demand. If this rhythm continues to follow its current
exponential pattern, the overall annual growth rate will equate to 2.8%, meaning
that the total amount of minerals extracted in the next 25 years would equal that
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