Will the human race ever fall short of resources like coal, iron and other metals due to excessive mining?
The question poped in my mind when I heard that 40 tonnes of geological material is processed to make 1 oz of gold.
I am sure that one day we will be able to get resources from other planets.
But how long can we sustain that need?
2007-01-29 06:46:40 · 5 answers · asked by CableCut 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Resources that are not renewable will eventually run out. We, being smart humans, will have to find other substances to fill those roles.....like we are doing right now with petrochemicals.
2007-01-29 06:52:51 · answer #1 · answered by michelle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends, mostly on technology. Think and trees and the ditgal age as an example. It take 10-12 years to harvest trees. If all the information that is exchanged digitally was exchange with paper we would have no paper right now, we'd still be waiting on trees to mature to make more paper.
If technology fails to make nonrenewable obselete, then yes they will run out
If technology doesn't find ways to reuse nonrenewable resources, then yes they will run out...
It all depends.... on man and his ability to adapt (since the start of time we have been the best at adapting but you never know)
2007-01-29 18:40:59 · answer #2 · answered by pjack160 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes eveutally we will run out of metals. You will see the evidence everywhere around you. especially with cars and the things we use everyday. cars before about 1990 used iron bumpers, now however plastics make up up 5% more of the whole car. gasoline prices also go up the more oil is used up. newer homes usually use PVC(poly vinyl carbonate) to distribute water throughout the home, instead of copper. At the present time, the new precious metals are aluminum, copper, brass, mercury, and nickel.
2007-01-29 15:35:54 · answer #3 · answered by pdavidsonkc 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Eventually, yes, probably so...Not for a long time though...
HOWEVER..
With time, our ability to mine minerals from deeper sources
also increases which opens up additional sources of material..
2007-01-29 14:52:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, the earth one day will be depleted from the resources. Sooner than we think, I'm afraid.
2007-01-29 14:51:20 · answer #5 · answered by krumenager 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋