Tag: Finite resources

Over 80% of mined phosphorus is used for manufacturing synthetic fertilizer, making its source a critical issue for global food security. The primary origin is phosphate rock, but with concerns over limited reserves and environmental damage, alternative sources like recycled waste are gaining importance.

Making up approximately 27.7% of the Earth's crust by mass, silicon is the planet's second most abundant element, behind only oxygen. Despite this immense natural quantity, the path from abundant sand to the highly-purified material needed for semiconductors is fraught with challenges and vulnerabilities.