Helium? Rare earth minerals? Having to mine ever deeper because there are essent... | Hacker News

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Daishiman 41 days ago | parent | context | favorite | on: India's surprise baby bust

Helium? Rare earth minerals? Having to mine ever deeper because there are essentially no easily accessible mineral deposits? The fact that mining has enormous costs and the potential to permanently destroy sources of fresh water?

ianm218 41 days ago [–]

Rare earth minerals are not particularly rare or needed in huge quantities.

Helium is probably more limited but for most cases there is alternatives I.e. I believe people use argon.

Idk none of this seems overly pressing in terms of preventing a lost scarcity world

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