using mineral resources

1. Using Mineral ResourcesUsing Mineral Resources
More SustainablyMore Sustainably

2. Using Mineral Resources MoreUsing Mineral Resources More
SustainablySustainably
 We can:We can:

Try to find substitutes for scarce resourcesTry to find substitutes for scarce resources

Reduce resource wasteReduce resource waste

Recycle and reuse mineralsRecycle and reuse minerals

3. Using Mineral Resources MoreUsing Mineral Resources More
SustainablySustainably
 Materials revolutionMaterials revolution – creating substitutes– creating substitutes

Ex: silicon, ceramics, plastics replacing someEx: silicon, ceramics, plastics replacing some
metals for common usesmetals for common uses
 New technologies:New technologies:

Nanotechnology, ceramics, and high-strengthNanotechnology, ceramics, and high-strength
plasticsplastics
 Substitution doesn’t always workSubstitution doesn’t always work

Platinum – industrial catalyst – hard to substitutePlatinum – industrial catalyst – hard to substitute

4. Case Study: The NanotechnologyCase Study: The Nanotechnology
RevolutionRevolution
 NanotechnologyNanotechnology – tiny tech – uses– tiny tech – uses
science and engineering to createscience and engineering to create
materials out of atoms and molecules atmaterials out of atoms and molecules at
the scale of less than 100 nanometers (100the scale of less than 100 nanometers (100
billionths of a meter)billionths of a meter)

In > 1,300 productsIn > 1,300 products

Little environmental harm:Little environmental harm:
• Does not use renewable resourcesDoes not use renewable resources

Potential biological concerns:Potential biological concerns:
• May be chemically reactive and toxicMay be chemically reactive and toxic

5. Case Study: GrapheneCase Study: Graphene
 GrapheneGraphene – made from graphite – carbon– made from graphite – carbon

Single layer of carbon atoms in latticeSingle layer of carbon atoms in lattice

150,000X thinner than a hair, 200X stronger than150,000X thinner than a hair, 200X stronger than
steelsteel

Good conductor of electricity and heatGood conductor of electricity and heat

Incredibly important technological developmentIncredibly important technological development

Potential uses in electric cars, solar panels andPotential uses in electric cars, solar panels and
many other productsmany other products

China controls 73% of graphite productionChina controls 73% of graphite production

May be able to make it from waste productsMay be able to make it from waste products

7. Using Mineral Resources MoreUsing Mineral Resources More
SustainablySustainably
 Recycling and reuseRecycling and reuse

Lower environmental impact than mining andLower environmental impact than mining and
processing metals from oresprocessing metals from ores

Adequate supplies of rare-earth elements in theAdequate supplies of rare-earth elements in the
short-term – could be recycled from e-wasteshort-term – could be recycled from e-waste

Currently searching for substitutes for rare-earthCurrently searching for substitutes for rare-earth
elementselements

9. Case Study:Case Study:
The Ecoindustrial RevolutionThe Ecoindustrial Revolution
 Ecoindustrial revolutionEcoindustrial revolution – to redesign– to redesign
industrial manufacturing processes to betterindustrial manufacturing processes to better
deal with waste to mimic how nature dealsdeal with waste to mimic how nature deals
with wasteswith wastes

Industries can interact in complex resourceIndustries can interact in complex resource
exchange webs in which wastes fromexchange webs in which wastes from
manufacturer become raw materials for anothermanufacturer become raw materials for another

10. Case Study:Case Study:
The Ecoindustrial RevolutionThe Ecoindustrial Revolution