ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the ways in which different minerals can meet the needs of society or individuals. People benefit from using minerals and products made from them in a nearly infinite number of ways. People also benefit from the production of minerals – directly through jobs in mining, refining, or recycling, and indirectly through the incomes and livelihoods they derive from elaborating and selling products made in part with minerals. The demand for mineral commodities is likely to rise with increases in population and real per capita income. In terms of primary extraction, most minerals cannot be considered a renewable resource on any timescale of relevance to the human race. Consequently, there is an extensive history of concern about minerals use and long-run availability.
