Welcome to CoreFacts, where we're always short on time and
big on science. I'm Jessica Robertson. Today's question is...
How large is a lifetime supply of
minerals for the average person?
At today's level of consumption, the average newborn infant
will need a lifetime supply of approximately 800 pounds of lead, 750 pounds of
zinc, 1,500 pounds of copper, over 3,500 pounds of aluminum, 32,700 pounds of
iron, 26,550 pounds of clays, over 28,00 pounds of salt, and over 1 million pounds
of stone, sand, gravel, and cement.
The USGS provides information on where these and other
mineral commodities are produced and suspected to be on Earth. For more
information on the USGS Mineral Resources Program, visit minerals.usgs.gov.
And now you know. Join us again every weekday for a new
CoreFact. For other CoreFacts, or for CoreCast, our in-depth science podcast,
go to usgs.gov/podcasts. If you'd like to have a question featured on our show,
give us an email at corefacts@usgs.gov or a phone call at 703-648-5600. Remember, long distance fees do apply.
CoreFacts is a product of the U.S. Geological Survey,
Department of the Interior.
A CoreFact is a weekly audio podcast from the USGS that asks and answers a natural science question. When you subscribe to CoreFacts, episodes will be automatically downloaded to your computer as soon as they're available.
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