What is a consequence of extracting minerals from the Earth?

Question

Once coal is used up, air pollution will diminish.

Minerals cannot be replaced once mined.

Minerals will be unnecessary once they are used up.

The minerals must be replaced.

Answer 1

The most accurate consequence of extracting minerals from the Earth among the options provided is:

Minerals cannot be replaced once mined.

Once minerals and fossil fuels, such as coal, are extracted and consumed, they cannot be regenerated in a human time scale, which can lead to depletion of resources and long-term environmental impacts.