Treasures of the Earth

Earth’s richness is all around us, from the sparkling seas and mighty mountains to the lush vegetation. But what we see on the surface is only the beginning of the story. This three-part series looks at the gems, metals and power which humanity extracts from the soil. What we dig up from the ground has enabled us to build our present industrial society, the tools on which we rely and the jewelled artefacts which fascinate us. But these resources, as has become painfully clear, are not infinite. This series investigates new solutions of impending dearth.