Why is conservation of mineral resources essential?

Industry and agriculture depend on minerals and the substances manufactured from them. We are rapidly consuming mineral resources that require millions of years to be renewed. The natural rate of replenishment is very small in comparison to the present rates of consumption. Mineral resources are finite and non-renewable. Due to a decrease in good quality and their extraction process, the costs of mineral extraction are increasing. Mineral conservation can be done by:

1. Use of mineral resources in a planned and sustainable manner.
2. Improve technology to allow the use of low-grade ores at low costs.
3. Recycle metals.
4. Use scrap metals and other substitutes.