For a long time man has been using a wide variety of mineral formations called minerals. A significant part of them is located in the upper layers of the earth's crust and even on its surface. Since most of the mineral resources are non-renewable, mankind has to take measures to save them.
Instructions
Step 1
There are reserves of ore, non-metallic and combustible minerals. The last category, which is of the greatest importance in economic activity, includes coal, oil, oil shale and natural gas.
Step 2
Fossil fuels are generated continuously and can essentially be recovered. But the rate of their formation is too low when compared with the rates of use that are required by human economic activity.
Step 3
Ore and non-metallic minerals cannot be restored in their places of occurrence, although they do not disappear without a trace from the face of the Earth. As a result of human activity, these resources are either concentrated or dispersed.
Step 4
The importance of minerals for humanity can hardly be overestimated. Some of them are used as a source of energy, while others are used to manufacture industrial products. However, some fossil resources can be used for different purposes. For example, coal, oil and gas during processing serve as raw materials for the manufacture of household items, building materials, and not only as fuel.
Step 5
It is known that the leading place in the world economy is occupied by the mining industry. The extraction of all minerals is growing at an accelerating rate, which is determined by the growing needs of society. The scale of the extraction of mineral resources today is not inferior to the geological processes taking place on the planet. All this makes environmentalists think about measures to save minerals.
Step 6
Intensive extraction of fossil resources has actually led to the emergence of the problem of "mineral hunger". Scientists have calculated that the reserves of fossil natural resources for mankind can only last for 100-150 years. The reserves of hydrocarbon fuel are decreasing to the greatest extent.
Step 7
There is, however, the prospect of discovering new reserves of minerals and fuels. Work is underway to explore the continental shelf and ocean floor, where significant resource deposits may be located. However, the growth in consumption, as forecasts indicate, may overtake the volume of reserves of mineral raw materials explored to date.
Step 8
The prospect of a shortage of minerals with their growing consumption is an important problem today. The general direction in the protection of mineral resources is to prevent the loss of raw materials during its extraction, enrichment and subsequent processing. The less the loss of fossils is, the more reserves will be preserved for generations who have yet to live on the planet.
