Right! And for the size of our economy, this is probably the worst time the mining sector has suffered since before WWII. The difference is strange to contemplate.

Prior to WWII, demand for metals was way down owing to the lingering Great Depression. Presently we are facing coming shortages of many metals as demand increases, yet capital for expoiting resouces is hard to come by, and anti-mining groups hold increasing influence over regulators.