Attn: Geologists and Rockhounds

[RastaPope]

Why don't we run out of metal? Or is it thought that we will one day? Seems to me like any resource, it can be used up. Or maybe I'm just stupid.

 

[Private Vasquez]

I love Steve Buscemi.

 

[RastaPope]

I love Steve Buscemi.

He should've been cast as Bruce Banner in the upcoming Incredible Hulk movie, hands down.

 

[Private Vasquez]

Hell yeah!

 

[SleepingWarrior]

Eventually the earth will run out of metals but right now there isn't an end in sight. Then you add in all of the scrap metal that is recycled and the time it will take earth to run out of metal greatly increases.

 

[red_rose]

You have far too much time on your hands, Rasta, my dear.

 

[RastaPope]

Eventually the earth will run out of metals but right now there isn't an end in sight. Then you add in all of the scrap metal that is recycled and the time it will take earth to run out of metal greatly increases.

Kay. Just seems like we'd have an awful lot of holes in the earth as well as mountains like swiss cheese...But sounds reasonable.

 

[RastaPope]

You have far too much time on your hands, Rasta, my dear.

Not really. I just like to learn new things. If I ever have an errant question, I find out about it, it can never hurt.

 

[red_rose]

Not really. I just like to learn new things. If I ever have an errant question, I find out about it, it can never hurt.

And you come here to do your research?

Nevermind... I come here to do my research, too, so I guess I'm not one to talk!

 

[RastaPope]

And you come here to do your research?

Nevermind... I come here to do my research, too, so I guess I'm not one to talk!

I was one of those kids that never stopped asking questions....And Lit has such a cross-section of people, I figure there's always at least one person here who is knowledgable about what I might need to know.

 

[seXieleXie]

eh. different metals are formed in different ways. some are formed relatively quickly, like hundreds of years, others take several hundred thousand.

lots of metals are engineered rather than mined in our modern world. recycling helps a lot with that.

strip mining is a great way to suck all the resources out of the ground and make the land useless for a long period of time. they do a lot of that in africa these days. more developed nations won't stand for that kind of thing.


in their backyards, that is.

 

[Private Vasquez]

Especially where Rockhound is concerned.

 

[BlazeofLife]

And you come here to do your research?

Well, why wouldn't one come to a porn board to inquire about geological phenomena? You mean, you find this odd?

Blaze

 

[metal_minx]

Why don't we run out of metal? Or is it thought that we will one day? Seems to me like any resource, it can be used up. Or maybe I'm just stupid.

i'm here '-P

 

[red_rose]

Well, why wouldn't one come to a porn board to inquire about geological phenomena? You mean, you find this odd?

Blaze

Not in the least, now that I think about it.

Rocks... porn... rocks... porn.

Makes sense.

How ya doin', Blaze?

 

[seXieleXie]

porn rocks.

 

[Private Vasquez]

Rocks rock.

So does Steve Buscemi.

 

[red_rose]

porn rocks.

My point, exactly.

 

[BlazeofLife]

Not in the least, now that I think about it.

Rocks... porn... rocks... porn.

Makes sense.

How ya doin', Blaze?

quite well, I suppose.
How might you be doing?

Blaze

 

[RhumbRunner13]

eh. different metals are formed in different ways. some are formed relatively quickly, like hundreds of years, others take several hundred thousand.

lots of metals are engineered rather than mined in our modern world. recycling helps a lot with that.

strip mining is a great way to suck all the resources out of the ground and make the land useless for a long period of time. they do a lot of that in africa these days. more developed nations won't stand for that kind of thing.


in their backyards, that is.

Actually, Sexie, all metals were created during the "Big Bang" or in the death throes of stars much larger than our Sun. Metals and elements heavier than hydrogen are produced by nuclear fusion. If you heat up and compress an amount of hydrogen enough the nuclei will begin to fuse together creating helium and energy.

Our Sun is such an engine. Hydrogen is being consumed and helium "created". In time there will not be enough hydrogen left to burn and the remains will be expelled to the outer zones with a helium core that will shrink to the size of the Earth. The strong repulsive forces of that helium core will push the dense hydrogen cloud out in a "Red Giant" phase that will envelope the Earth. Our Sun will end as a white dwarf as it slowly cools down.

Larger stars are capable of continuing the fusion process through the phases where carbon and finally Iron is created. Stars don't fuse elements beyond iron, but stars large enough to creat iron usually end in a "Super Nova". The heat and pressure created in the tremendous implosion is capable of fusing heavier elements and trace amounts of heavier metals.

Just thought you all would like to know.

Rhumb

 

[patient1]

Well done, Rhumb!

The Mantle of the Earth(the massive part between the crust & outer core) is made of nickel & iron. That's why it's magnetic.

Most asteroids are nickel & iron, too.


I think it's more a matter of economics/technology than supply.