Recently, I had the honor of attending a lecture of a distinguished former Constitutional Court judge that began with the question, “What good is gold except to corrupt the soul?”

I imagine many of you have asked yourselves the same question. You may be surprised to learn that not just gold, but several other minerals are an important part of our daily lives. I would go on to say, without fear of being mistaken, that without mining, we would not be able to live in the way that we do. Here are some examples of ways we use some of these metals:

Gold: 

It is present in almost all of the electronic devices that we use like televisions, computers and cell phones. It is even present in small quantities in windows in buildings and in airplane cabins.

Copper: 

This metal is widely used in the construction industry. It can be found, among other things, in pipes that carry water and gas and in wiring.

Rocks like limestone, phosphate, and potassium:

These are important components of fertilizers used in agriculture.

Salt:

This is used in the preparation of a wide variety of foods.

Iron, Clay, Quartz Sand, Gravel, and Rock:

These are among the many minerals used in constructing buildings.

What all of this means is that mining not only DOESN’T corrupt the soul, but it also enables us to survive on the face of the Earth. In reality, toothpaste wouldn’t exist without mining. We would not have drinking water in our homes. If it weren’t for mining, we wouldn’t be able to make phone calls, access the internet, or have comfortable transportation. We wouldn’t have highways, medical services, glasses or makeup if it weren’t for mining. So I invite you, the next time someone talks about mining, to say, with absolute conviction, what I told my professor. “Mining is needed for everything!”
Author: Ángela María Salazar