Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 2 June 1995:
Vol. 268. no. 5215, pp. 1305 - 1312
DOI: 10.1126/science.268.5215.1305
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Mineral Resources, Environmental Issues, and Land Use

Carroll Ann Hodges 1

1 U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.

Contrary to predictions from the 1950s through the mid-1980s, persistent shortages of nonfuel minerals have not occurred, despite prodigious consumption, and world reserves have increased. Global availability of raw materials is relevant to policy decisions regarding mineral development and land use. Justification for environmental protection may exceed that for mining a specific ore body. Demand for environmental accountability is rising worldwide, and new technologies are enabling internalization of costs. Mineral-rich developing nations plagued by inefficient state-owned mining enterprises, high population growth rates, and environmental degradation could realize substantial benefit by reforming government policies to encourage foreign investment in resources and by appropriate allocation of mineral rents.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
From the Cover: Metal stocks and sustainability.
R. B. Gordon, M. Bertram, and T. E. Graedel (2006)
PNAS 103, 1209-1214
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)