The end products from local and global mining of minerals are an important part of our everyday lives. Examples acan be found in our homes: the convenience of copper wiring that allows us to turn on the lights, gypsum in wall board and gold and silver in computers. Our vehicles rely on lead in batteries and zinc in car bodies.
Many mining products also have an extended life through modern recycling technology. The smelters for newly mined and recycled minerals rely on coal as the major source of power, another product of mining. Our modern lifestyles are more connected to the mining industry thatn many of us realize.