Reducing the Use of Minerals


There are four main options to prevent or to reduce the extinction of a mineral resource:

  1. Recycle waste products containing the desired mineral
  2. Substitute more abundant or renewable resources for the scarce mineral
  3. Use ore deposits having a lower concentration of the mineral needed
  4. Reduce the need for the material
Each of these will be more or less successful depending on technology, energy, and the environment.

Task 3

Metals are used in a variety of functions, the charts below indicate uses of three metals carry out a similar investigation for one of the following; Copper, Zinc, Mercury, Gold, Platinum
  1. Transportation
  2. Construction
  3. Machinery
  4. Oil and Gas Industries
  5. Appliances and Equipment
  6. Cans and Containers
  7. Other
  1. Transport
  2. Building and Construction
  3. Packaging
  4. Electrical
  5. Mechanical Engineering
  6. Domestic and Offices
  7. Chemical
  1. Sheet
  2. Pipe Plumbing
  3. Alloys and Solder
  4. Chemicals, Insecticides and Paints
  5. Electrical Cable
  6. Petrol Additives
  7. Batteries, Metals - cars, trucks etc