Name(s):
Depletion of mineral resources
Long-term shortage of mineral resources
Nature
Industrial development has placed increasing demand on the available mineral resources. These resources are non-renewable and methods of recycling tend to be inadequate.
Incidence
In particular, hydrocarbons and metalliferous ores are extracted without considering long range availability.
Claim
At present rates of consumption, minerals due to run out within 50 years are copper, lead, mercury, nickel, tin and zinc.