4 ms·
This neglects the cost of extraction. In particular, the most rare (and therefore precious) commodity in the solar system and indeed the universe is the 4 bill
by tejtm 2y ago
This neglects the cost of extraction.
In particular, the most rare (and therefore precious) commodity in the solar system and indeed the universe is the 4 billion year old bioreactor we refer to as "topsoil".
Getting all the other elemental material we need without screwing that up will be a win for our descendants.
- nradov 2y agoThe topsoil lost from mining is miniscule compared to other causes. Most mines aren't even located in places that could be used as productive farmland.
- solarengineer 2y agoPerhaps not productive farmland, but lots of forests have been cut down and have been proposed for deforestation to support mines
- ethbr1 2y agoFar more forests were cut down to produce iron and steel, post-mining. Thankfully, forests are self-renewing, and we no longer use charcoal as a carbon source. Mines are also generally pretty small compared to forests.
- solarengineer 2y agoSome points for you to consider: Charcoal is very much in use around the world, forests are now small enough that entire forests are marked to make way for mines, and forests are not-self renewing on time nor does a mine convert back into a forest.
- ethbr1 2y ago4,620,000 kg of raw wood to equip a standard Roman legion with iron/steel is a lot of wood. Charcoal is no longer used as a primary heating source in the way it was in antiquity, given the global trade in oil, gas, and coal. Furthermore, mines in civilized parts of the world generally do have reforestation requirements as part of their decommissioning. We can certainly gripe about the legacy of toxic tailing ponds et al., but tree cover is usually handled decently.
- solarengineer 2y agoWe are then talking about different parts of the world. I am biased by what I see in India.
- aaron695 2y ago[dead]