The World Is Running Out of Sand

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

When it exceeds the value of the product it would bring, it will never get started, unless government is involved.  When Tax Payers are footing the bill, losing money indefinitely is never a problem.

Yes but if it's really that much in demand, then it's value would go up. The market works.

[thackney]

Yes but if it's really that much in demand, then it's value would go up. The market works.

Take for example the specific sand used in hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells.  It isn't enough to cause the price of oil and gas to become more expensive because there are other choices to produce oil and gas. 

If wheat gets expensive enough, consumers buy other products.  There isn't an infinite amount the market will bare in price.

[rangerrebew]

The World is Running Out of Sand
The little-known exploitation of this seemingly infinite resource could wreak political and environmental havoc


By Aurora Torres, Jianguo “Jack” Liu, Jodi Brandt and Kristen Lear, The Conversation
smithsonian.com
September 8, 2017
 

When people picture sand spread across idyllic beaches and endless deserts, they understandably think of it as an infinite resource. But as we discuss in a just-published perspective in the journal Science, over-exploitation of global supplies of sand is damaging the environment, endangering communities, causing shortages and promoting violent conflict.

Skyrocketing demand, combined with unfettered mining to meet it, is creating the perfect recipe for shortages. Plentiful evidence strongly suggests that sand is becoming increasingly scarce in many regions. For example, in Vietnam domestic demand for sand exceeds the country’s total reserves. If this mismatch continues, the country may run out of construction sand by 2020, according to recent statements from the country’s Ministry of Construction.

Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/world-facing-global-sand-crisis-180964815/#xx2fuIPVFScXqBOj.99

[thackney]

Sand and gravel are now the most-extracted materials in the world, exceeding fossil fuels and biomass (measured by weight). Sand is a key ingredient for concrete, roads, glass and electronics. Massive amounts of sand are mined for land reclamation projects, shale gas extraction and beach renourishment programs. Recent floods in Houston, India, Nepal and Bangladesh will add to growing global demand for sand.

That reminds me, I need to order 10 truckloads of sand to restore the arena post Hurricane Harvey.

[MOD4]

Duplicate topics merged.

[GrouchoTex]

Oh NO!

Now what are we going to tell people to go pound?

[WingNot]

Duplicate topics merged.

This might be a record merge.... date wise!

[thackney]

This might be a record merge.... date wise!

That happens when a nearly year old article gets posted.