Analysis of future demand projections to the year 2,000 for 88 mineral commodities indicates that estimated land resources in the U.S. will not meet the demand for 31 of these, and world resources are inadequate for 20 of them.

Apparent mineral resources in the marine environment are in most cases equal to, or greater than, those of terrestrial occurrence.

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Marine minerals will in many instances provide a suitable alternative to terrestrial minerals, and their use will allow more time for technological development of a permanent, nondepletionary resource base.

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