L9

Question 1

Skinners Idea

Answer 1

The limitation of materials (metals) may limit society greater than the limitation of energy.

Question 2

Hubbert’s Peak Theory

Answer 2

That resource use follows a bell shaped curve. Increasing due to discovery and increased infrastructure, and decreases due to resource depletion.

Question 3

Flaws of Hubberts Theory

Answer 3

Resource use is also a function of social (demand) and technological driving forces. The oil use peaked again due to the development of new technology to extract it.

Question 4

Supply - Reserves, Reserve Base and Resources

Answer 4

Reserve - Economically viable, technologically feasible
Reserve base - technologically feasible
Resources - Economic extraction is currently or potentially feasible (i.e. how much is there).

Question 5

Supply - Distribution of scarce minerals

Answer 5

Two bell curves, one of high grade ores and one of common rocks, separated by the mineralogical barrier which represents a large increase in extraction costs.

Question 6

Demand - Equality, investment.

Answer 6

The materials to raise the stocks of developing countries to developed exceeds the reserve base. Steady investment into mining of sustainable materials (not gold) needed.

Question 7

Environmental Impact - Energy

Answer 7

Energy increasing with decreasing ore content, water use increases with energy.

Question 8

Material Criticality - Vulnerability to supply restriction

Answer 8

How much do we need the material (consequence) - Net Import reliance, substitutability, Global Innovation, National economic importance.

Question 9

Material Criticality - Supply risk

Answer 9

Will we run out (probability) - companion fraction, policy potential, human development, global supply concentration

Question 10

Material Criticality

Answer 10

Risk of Material unavailability