Geodestinies: The inevitable control of Earth
Resources over Nations and individuals. 1997. National
Book Company.
"In viewing the future as compared with the past it is important to
note that the United States rose to its preeminent industrial
position and its high standard of living on abundant, cheap energy,
and rich mineral resources. It took much energy to mine and smelt the
ores to produce the metals vital to industrial development. It took
vast amounts of energy to conquer the frontier and do the work need
to covert a raw wilderness into the world's largest and most affluent
society. As recently as the period of 1940 to the 1960s, much of that
time the United States enjoyed $3 a barrel oil, natural gas at around
15 cents a thousand cubic feet, and coal at about $4 a ton, all
available within the United States.
Abundant and inexpensive energy sources and high grade iron and
copper deposits were exceedingly helpful to a young and rapidly
growing nation. High grade metal deposits take less energy than do
low grade deposits to mine and smelt. The combination of high grade
ores and inexpensive energy compounded to provide very inexpensive
finished products to foster economic growth. Conversely, as ore grade
decreased it takes more energy to produce the same amount of metal as
previously. When this is combined with higher energy costs, the
result is substantially higher end product costs. The earlier more
favorable economic circumstances of high grade mineral deposits and
low energy costs (coal and oil) will never again return to the United
States."
"The United States rose to international economic dominance in record
time, but in the process it used up many of its own and highest grade
resources. The rich ores of the Mesabi Iron Range are now gone. All
the high grade native copper mines of upper Michigan are closed. the
US must now search for oil off the frozen north coast of Alaska and
in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The United States is no
longer nor will it ever again be self-sufficient in oil. Its oil
reserves, once the largest known in the world, are now dwarfed by
those of several other countries. Although it uses about 28 percent
of the world's oil, the US now holds only about four percent of the
estimated proved world oil reserves."
Here in its entirety is
CHAPTER 27 - Myths and Realities of Mineral Resources.