Mineral resources and raw materials of the Earth

In short: Mineral resources are usable substances from the Earth’s crust: fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), metals (iron, copper, aluminium, rare earths), salts and building materials. They are non-renewable.

In more detail: Raw materials are unevenly distributed, which shapes economies and politics. Extraction alters landscapes and burdens the environment.

In detail

• Fossil fuels: Formed from plants and plankton millions of years ago; burning them releases CO₂ (kohlenstoffkreislauf).
• Metals: Iron for steel, copper for cables, lithium and cobalt for batteries, rare earths for electronics.
• Recycling: Metals can be reused many times and save energy (recycling-von-kunststoff).
• Conflict minerals: Extraction finances violence in some regions; supply chain laws are meant to ensure due diligence.
• Germany: Rich in lignite, salt, gravel and sand; metals are mostly imported.
• Change: Renewable energy changes raw material demand (solarzelle-funktionsweise).