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Peak minerals marks the point in time when the largest production of a mineral will occur in an area, with production declining in subsequent years. While most mineral resources will not be exhausted in the near future, global extraction and production is becoming more challenging.〔Mudd, G M, 2010, The Environmental Sustainability of Mining in Australia: Key Mega-Trends and Looming Constraints. Resources Policy, .〕 Miners must often have to dig deeper and accept lower grade ores. In particular, declining average ore grades are indicative of a shift from 'easier and cheaper' to more 'complex and expensive' processing – in social and environmental terms ''as well as'' economic. == Definition == The concept of peak minerals offers a useful model for representing the changing impacts associated with processing declining resource qualities in the lead up to, and following, peak mineral production.〔Giurco, D., Prior, T., Mudd, G., Mason, L. and Behrisch, J. (2009). Peak minerals in Australia: a review of changing impacts and benefits. Prepared for CSIRO Minerals Down Under Flagship, by the Institute for Sustainable Futures (University of Technology, Sydney) and Department of Civil Engineering (Monash University), March 2010.〕 Peak minerals provides an analytical framework within which the economic, social and environmental trajectories of the mining industry can be explored in relation to the continuing (and often increasing) production of mineral resources. It focuses consideration on the change in costs and impacts associated with processing easily accessible, lower cost ores before peak production for a given mineral. It outlines how the economy might respond as processing becomes characterised by higher costs as the peak is approached and passed. Issues associated with the concept of peak minerals include: * Average ore grades are in decline for most minerals, yet production is increasing. * Mines are becoming deeper, more remote and more inaccessible. * Easily processed ores are becoming exhausted. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「peak minerals」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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