If you can't grow it, you have to mine it. We do not always realize that we live in a mineral world. Indeed, the majority of the materials and products we are confronted with on a daily basis were made based on, or with the help of raw materials. Raw materials provide us with energy, buildings we live and work in, the vehicles we use for transportation, etc. Minerals also form the basic ingredients for plastics and pharmaceuticals, for the cosmetics and food as well as paper, paint, glassware and furniture. All in all, the minerals surround us.
Each European, during the 70 years of his or her lifetime, uses on average 460 tons of sand and gravel, 166 tons of oil, 39 tons of steal, 1 ton of copper and several other more or less rare minerals. A staggering demand for raw materials requires an ever-increasing effort to locate new reserves in ever more difficult and remote areas and environments. Modern exploitation of these raw materials ensures a minimal damage to the environment in terms of landscape, waste deposition, groundwater pollution and dust, in Europe and in the rest of the world.
Production of aggregates. Photo: NGU
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