Mineral resources cover a very broad range of specific minerals. Among the more common are iron, aluminum, bauxite, copper, sulfur, tungsten, gems, precious metals such as gold, copper and silver, and nuclear materials such as uranium and plutonium.

The mining of resources in and of itself is a necessary practice, but irresponsible mining practices such as strip mining and unsustainable exploitation of the land are contributing to rampant deforestation.

Strip mining not only removes forests and precious subsoil and topsoil, but causes entire streams to be contaminated or filled in blatant violation of the clean water act.

Chemicals used in other forms of mining contaminate the soil, aquatic and marine ecosystems and drinking water with harmful chemicals. These chemicals which are often used to treat minerals which are mined first filter into the aquifer, getting into our supply of drinking water beneath the earth’s surface.

Not all the chemicals, however, are absorbed into the earth. Many flow down from the top of the mountain, at the uppermost points of the watershed in which they are mined, into the streams, rivers, lakes, and ultimately reach the ocean. The fish and other aquatic and marine organisms are then contaminated and this pollution is passed up the food chain, often working its way into human bellies as well.

Perhaps the most potentially beneficial materials mined are nuclear resources. The use of nuclear power can eliminate the need for the fossil fuels that are destroying both the economy and environment at a global level.