Copper - futures

Question 1

Give 3 reasons why minerals may be depleted in the future?

Answer 1

Population growth
Shifts to renewables
Rare Earth Elements (17) will increase in demand - globalisation

Question 2

How can copper extraction lead to sustainability issues?

Answer 2

Increases economic health
Open pit mines - loss of biodiversity
Spills, leaks and tailing ponds - contaminate
Pressures on local facilities- INFLUX OF WORKERS.

Question 2

How can copper processing lead to sustainability issues?

Answer 2

Tailings
Energy intensive
Water stress near copper mines

Question 3

How does trade of copper create sustainability issues?

Answer 3

Single product economies
Price fluctuations affect investment.

Question 4

What are the possible technological futures for mineral ores?

Answer 4

Improved 3D imaging (increase geological certainty)
Quicker extraction.
Phytomining
Deep sea mining

Question 5

What is phytomining?

Answer 5

Plants grown to extract copper minerals from soil- burnt to retrieve copper.

Question 6

What are the possible economic futures for mineral ores?

Answer 6

Recycling of ore - limited because very expensive. Become necessary in future?
Some reserves become economically viable in the future.

Question 7

What are the possible environmental futures for mineral ores?

Answer 7

New resource frontiers
Deep sea mining - upset marine ecosystems
Conflict between TNCs, governments, environmental NGOs.

Question 8

What are the possessive political futures for mineral ores?

Answer 8

Conflicts over ore
Can lift Antarcticas mining ban (2048)
TNCs and Govs forced to recognise the rights of indigenous peoples.