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Sand is the most-consumed natural resource in the world after water and air. Modern cities are built out of it. In the construction industry alone, it is estimated that 25 billion tons of sand and gravel are used every year. That may sound a lot, but it’s not a surprising figure when you consider how everything you’re surrounded with is probably made of the stuff.

But it’s running out.

This is a scary fact to think about once you realize that sand is required to make both concrete and asphalt, not to mention every single window on this planet. The United Nations Environment Programme found out that from 2011 to 2013, China alone used more cement than the United States had used in the entire 20th century and in 2012, the world used enough concrete to build a wall around the equator that would be 89 feet high and 89 feet thick (27 by 27 meters)


But it’s running out

https://www.archdaily.com/892466/one-of ... ow-is-sand

From the article:

The United Nations Environment Programme found out that from 2011 to 2013, China alone used more cement than the United States had used in the entire 20th century and in 2012, the world used enough concrete to build a wall around the equator that would be 89 feet high and 89 feet thick (27 by 27 meters).

That's rather staggering. It shows you what modernization means in a country the size of China. I would imagine that this will lead to some serious efforts at recycling what can be recycled.

But the idea of a wall at the equator 89 feet high by 89 feet think is pretty impressive even by the standards of the Qin Dynasty.

MeDotOrg wrote:From the article:

The United Nations Environment Programme found out that from 2011 to 2013, China alone used more cement than the United States had used in the entire 20th century and in 2012, the world used enough concrete to build a wall around the equator that would be 89 feet high and 89 feet thick (27 by 27 meters).

That's rather staggering. It shows you what modernization means in a country the size of China. I would imagine that this will lead to some serious efforts at recycling what can be recycled.

But the idea of a wall at the equator 89 feet high by 89 feet think is pretty impressive even by the standards of the Qin Dynasty.

True, but also notice that this high demand for material by China was not a localized influence, they gobbled up steel and concrete at a global scale that dramatically influenced/increased the prices in America over the past 10-15 years (that have only now started to decrease due to tariff policy etc). The price cycle of steel can fluctuate 20%, which ripples throughout the American construction industry, ultimately being borne by the consumer.

But more pressing to the OP, the 3rd most consumed natural resource is sand, behind air/water and beating out wood.

subgenius wrote:Sand is the most-consumed natural resource in the world after water and air. Modern cities are built out of it. In the construction industry alone, it is estimated that 25 billion tons of sand and gravel are used every year. That may sound a lot, but it’s not a surprising figure when you consider how everything you’re surrounded with is probably made of the stuff.

But it’s running out.

This is a scary fact to think about once you realize that sand is required to make both concrete and asphalt, not to mention every single window on this planet. The United Nations Environment Programme found out that from 2011 to 2013, China alone used more cement than the United States had used in the entire 20th century and in 2012, the world used enough concrete to build a wall around the equator that would be 89 feet high and 89 feet thick (27 by 27 meters)


But it’s running out

https://www.archdaily.com/892466/one-of ... ow-is-sand

So are rocks in Israel...the Palestinians threw them all at the Jews.