The World is Changing - 2015 GSA Presidential Address

Mining & Minerals - Evaluations

Jonathan G. Price, President of the GSA, opines that our world is changing. Our science is increasingly global, as we recognize the challenges of understanding interconnected Earth systems, meeting the rising global demand for mineral and energy resources, handling tradeoffs regarding sustainable development, and reducing the risks of natural disasters that impact the global economy. The geosciences are vital to meeting these societal challenges. The future is bright for the geosciences, from many perspectives. Demand is high for nearly every mineral and energy resource. This high demand provides many opportunities for geoscientists to contribute throughout the life cycles of these resources (from exploration and mining to reclamation and recycling) and to continually improve environmentally responsible and economically sustainable extractive activities.

Global production of copper illustrates the high demand. Copper is vital in modern society, primarily as a conductor of electricity. Demand is high in part because the world population continues to rise and in part because per capita consumption is also rising. More people want the conveniences that electricity provides ... lighting, heating, motors, refrigerators, computers, etc. Since 1900, world population has increased approximately fourfold, whereas copper production has increased by a factor of 38, and per capita consumption has risen nine-fold. Although some ups and downs (due to recessions and wars) in production are apparent, the trends are clearly toward more copper mined and more use per person each year. A somewhat similar situation is illustrated by gold production. Although gold has many industrial uses (vital for conducting electricity in computers and cell phones and in reflecting heat), its primary use is as money, either in the form of bullion, coins, or, in much of the world, jewelry.

Original URL: http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/26/1/pdf/i1052-5173-26-1-4.pdf