Pub. 4 2014 Issue 2

6 AT THE CENTER OF UTAH INDUSTRY W e’ve all heard the saying, “If it isn’t grown, it has to be mined,” but rarely do we stop to think of the genesis for all the items that make modern life possible. We take for granted that the things we need and want will always be there. But without mining to provide the foundational minerals and metals for the things we use every day, our society would be much different. Every year, the average American uses hundreds of newly mined minerals, and demand for minerals in our advanced society is increasing every day. Minerals are critical to developing the innovative technologies that will propel our economy, enable America to compete globally and improve our quality of life. The field of communications is a prime example of the essential nature of the mining industry. Without question, the way the world communicates i s c on t i nua l l y advanc i ng . Fr om the minerals and metals required to manu f ac t ure communi cat i ons materials, to the coal, natural gas and uranium to produce the energy required to run these systems, it really does begin with mining. For example, mobile data traffic has increased enormously since 2007. In fact, it is 400 times more than in 2007. Everything comes at a price, and it turns out that mobile networks use more energy than wired networks to move a unit of data. How much more? Moving a unit of data through a wireless network requires 100 times more energy than moving the same unit of data through a wired network. What does all this mean? Essentially, it all comes down to one important fact. The U.S. is heavily dependent on minerals, metals and energy for its favorite electronic products. We depend on mining for our smart phones, our tablets, and our mobile data traffic. Indeed, we depend on mining for our very lifestyle. Just as we shouldn’t take for granted our modern lifestyle and high standard of living, let’s not take for granted the mining industry that makes it all possible. X Mark Compton, President Everything comes at a price, and it turns out that mobile networks use more energy than wired networks to move a unit of data. How much more? PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE