Dwindling Mineral Resources

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Population Growth and Dwindling Mineral
Resources Dena, Debbie, Heather June 30, 2006
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Research Problem and Rationale

• Increasing population has lead to concerns of
  depleting mineral resources.
• US is dependent upon other countries for several
  of our minerals.
• Rationale As members of a growing population,
  this issue affects all of us.

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Objective

• By the conclusion of this presentation, you will
  be aware of the uses and our growing dependence
  on minerals and
• what we can do about it.

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Research Findings

• The debate over mineral resource depletion is
  nothing new to scientists.
• Arguments over whether or not we are heading
  toward depletion of key resources are still in
  the hot seat.
• We will be taking a look into resource inputs,
  evaluating depletion, and ways to develop a
  stronger recycle-based industrial society.

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Growth of Population
2006 7 billion 2025 7.9 billion
How will I afford my dentures in the year 2150 at
this rate?
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Common minerals we cant do without( or can we?
)

• Aluminum used as the active ingredient in
  underarm deodorant
• Malachite used as a color for making cosmetics
• Fluorite used in your favorite toothpaste
• Gold used in dentistry for the latest grill

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• Limestone used as an anti-acid
• Magnetite used to make steel, imagine life
  without this
• Lithium used in batteries
• Platinum used for automobiles, jewelry, and
  crowns bridges for that beautiful smile

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• Silica is used in computer chips and artificial
  sweetener (figure that one out)
• Trona used to make baking soda baking powder
• ( you eat this every time you eat sandwiches,
  cookies or a piece of cake ) yum yum .....
• Zeolites used in kitty litter for odor control

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Independence Day is coming !Did you
know..........

• The Interior Departments Bureau of Mines has
  revealed that each color in a fireworks display
  is produced by a specific mineral.
• Bright green barium
• Deep red strontium
• Blue copper
• Yellow sodium

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Kaboom !

• Even the sounds produced by fireworks are a
  result of minerals.
• Sulfur is used as an explosive
• Aluminum powder produces a
• loud flash

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How much does the average American use in their
lifetime?

• Lead 800 lbs
• Copper 1,500 lbs
• Aluminum 3,600 lbs
• Iron 32,000 lbs
• Clay 27,000 lbs
• Salt 28,000 lbs
• Stone, gravel, sand and cement 1,000,000 lbs

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What if resource depletion occurs?

• Future generations will suffer.
• The costs of resources will rise.
• Political turmoil may result in a lack of
  distribution of resources.
• Example Costs of platinum, gold and copper are
  rising.

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What can we do?

• Reduce
• International barriers
• Waste products
• Inefficient technologies
• Reuse
• Excess material and resources
• Internal components of manufactured items, i.e.
  refrigerators
• Recycle
• Unused material
• Discarded products

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Abstract

• Our team chose the topic of population growth
  and dwindling mineral resources. The minerals
  used in the production of fireworks alerted us to
  the extent that minerals are used all around us,
  and often in unexpected ways. We conducted
  further research on the minerals that are used in
  this and other common products. Each member
  researched a particular area one focused on
  mineral use, another focus was on population
  growth, and the third area was about possible
  solutions. We found that gold, platinum, and
  copper are becoming more rare, leading to
  dwindling supply and increasing cost. Our
  research of projected population growth revealed
  that this is a contributing factor to the
  possible depletion of our common mineral
  resources. Another factor is political
  instability and our dependence on other countries
  for certain minerals. There are things we can do
  as a society to help slow the threat of
  depletion. Recycling these resources is one way
  to replenish supply.

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Citations

• http//www.sos2006.jp/english/rsbs_summary_e/2-3-r
  esources-and-waste.html
• http//www.rocksandminerals.com/uses.htm
• http//www.populationconnection.org/Reports_Public
  ations/Reports/report209.html
• http//www.blueskiesproject.org.uk/images/contribu
  te/300/kidspiration/Population20Growth.jpg
• http//www.political-cartoons.co.uk