Is Mining Optional?

Recently, few industries have received greater acknowledgement for their importance than rare earth minerals and other mined materials.  Whether President Trump stresses their significance for national and economic security, or Canadian Prime Minister Carney emphasizes a “principled and pragmatic approach” for strengthening domestic capacity, these are valuable commodities that our nations are fortunate having.  We also have the ability to mine these materials using the highest environmental and sustainability standards and latest advanced technologies.

As important as these minerals are for our electronics, defense, renewable energy, medicine, space exploration and so much else, aggregates, concrete, recycled construction materials, and related products provide the basis of all our buildings, homes, roads, and infrastructure as well as in hundreds of others uses that protect our environment, assist agriculture, provide recreation, and enhance safety.  Perhaps they lack the “glamour” of metals, but they are even more necessary for daily living and our quality of life.

For far too long there have been attitudes that perpetuate false perceptions that the materials we depend on every day, and that so many hard working individuals provide us, are somehow unnecessary.

The answer to the title of this blog is that mining is NOT optional.  For thousands of years the earth has been mined so that we could continue to improve living conditions, transportation, health, safety, and the environment.  For that I am grateful.