Sustaining civilisation - 2

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Over-use of natural resources



Open cast mining in South Africa

The Earth contains only a limited supply of elements vital to our economy (aluminium, magnesium, diamonds etc)
It is possible that we might be able to replenish some of the mineral resources by looking elsewhere in the Solar System - but at considerable expense.



The asteroid Ida and its moon, Dactyl



A herring drifter, Great Yarmouth



The catch

It is not so easy to replace living resources, such as Atlantic cod and herring, tuna and Pacific swordfish, abalone.



An old oil well - Pico Blvd, LA



Kuwait oil fires

Fossil fuels can't be replenished if there were no lifeforms to fossilise.