Located in the 28-mile-long and 22-mile-wide McDermitt Caldera, the discovery of the deposit will be a massive boost to the United States' lithium reserves, which have been...
I’m curious, is lithium mining any worse for the environment than any other mining? If so, why is that?
Because it seems to me that all mining is terrible for the environment, and there’s no reason that I know to complain about lithium over gold or oil or coal.
Mining is a much more significant part of life than most people suppose. There’s an old saying “if it isn’t grown, it’s mined.” Think that one through with as many examples as you can and you’ll realize that aside from wood and food, we mine virtually everything: salt, metals, all the gravel for roads, rare earth elements, gases like helium, all petroleum products namely plastics, etc etc it goes on and on.
Yet there are still people in the world that think “It’s 2023 - why haven’t we done away with mines?”
A fair point, although recycling only provides a fraction of the replacement needs of a population. Some things are only partially recyclable and other things are not recyclable at all, at least not without massive energy cost and industrial capacity.
I’m curious, is lithium mining any worse for the environment than any other mining? If so, why is that?
Because it seems to me that all mining is terrible for the environment, and there’s no reason that I know to complain about lithium over gold or oil or coal.
It’ll be mined outside of the environment.
That’s assuming the front doesn’t fall off.
Removed by mod
The mining disagree with is bad for the environment.
The mining that is “essential” is good for humanity.
Mining is a much more significant part of life than most people suppose. There’s an old saying “if it isn’t grown, it’s mined.” Think that one through with as many examples as you can and you’ll realize that aside from wood and food, we mine virtually everything: salt, metals, all the gravel for roads, rare earth elements, gases like helium, all petroleum products namely plastics, etc etc it goes on and on.
Yet there are still people in the world that think “It’s 2023 - why haven’t we done away with mines?”
Even with food, potash is mined for fertilizer to grow food. Not as direct but still applies.
Good point. I wonder if the Haber process counts as mining, too.
That’s a false equivalency, I also think that those other types of mining should be stopped but the article was about lithium.
So you think we shouldn’t build anything new, and that all old things should eventually be left to decay? Just making sure I understand you correctly.
I’m guessing they probably meant something among the lines of the four Rs: Reduce, reuse, recycle and repair.
I believe that it is about reducing the amount of waste, programmed and perceived obsolescence as well as making electronic devices easier to repair.
A fair point, although recycling only provides a fraction of the replacement needs of a population. Some things are only partially recyclable and other things are not recyclable at all, at least not without massive energy cost and industrial capacity.
Then we need better design, huh?
Absolutely, in general I’m not opposed to mining and other industrial activity if they clean up after themselves.