Reply #10: In what manner has

[24HRrnr]

the various metals previously mined disappeared from this planet?

The metals previously mined are still here. They would be sufficient for a population that is 90 percent smaller than the currently present. Copper, iron and a wealth of other metals are present in much larger, already mined, volumes than previously existed at substantially higher levels of purity. Just because we run out of easily extracted oil does not mean that the laws of physics (conservation of mass and energy) will be repealed.

Copper is actually a great metal to use as an example. How much copper exists in plumbing, wiring and motors that would not be needed in a doomsday scenario? The amounts are huge. Mining as an industry (other than for coal, near term) would be unneccessary. Resource recovery from abandoned buildings and technologies would be the order of the day. Smelting would be much easier, not harder, due to the high purity.

Likewise, we have larger stands of trees now than in the last 200 years (Yes, I know, outside my parameter). These previously (with coal) provided needed energy. Natural fibers would replace the symthetics in current use which would yield sufficient clothing.

Extraction is a modern problem for a growing world population. That is not the situation that you asserted would exist.

Will there be massive starvation? Under both scenarios, yes. I simply postulated a larger population as a base. I challanged you to provide reasoning for your number of 500 million. So far, you have made a good faith effort to answer. Thank you. I still disagree with your hypothesis - I have yet to see a reason that the rollback cannot be achieved. Given enough energy, larger populations are arguably quite possible.

I would like to see your source - not to beat you about the head and shoulders but to dig into the underlying assumptions that may be within the data.