Metals, Energy and Sustainability: The Story of Doctor Copper and King Coal

Introduction - Dr Copper and King Coal.- Why copper.- Why coal.- Setting the scene Outline.- Properties of copper and coal.- Copper formation.- Copper mineralogy.- Coal formation.- Copper properties.- Copper and coal through the ages.- Early metalsmiths.- Awakening from the dark ages.- The first modern mines.- The age of electricity.- Current major producers.- Metals energy and sustainability.- Human welfare.- Copper's contribution to welfare Coal's contribution to welfare.- Sustainability in context.- Sustainability with respect to copper and coal.- Population - half the equation Crying wolf, false/true profits.- Conclusion.- Human welfare depends on cheap energy.- Subsidies distort the market.- Scarcity of metals and energy.- Elephants in the room.