The Battery Mineral Loop

[Joe Leote]

Off-topic on money. This paper presents an interesting theory of peak mineral demand for ramping up global battery supplies:

the_battery_mineral_loop_report_July.pdf

In theory, after enough minerals are mined and refined, then efficient recycling of those minerals means the world can ramp down overall minerals mining activities. But if the goal of batteries is to reduce the burn rate of global oil then other innovations must occur as well. Google AI Overview states the basic concept: Petroleum is refined to produce fuels, but it is also the base for many essential by-products used in countless industries. To reduce oil consumption, these must be replaced with sustainable, non-petroleum alternatives.

Joe