We all know, some resources once consumed are gone forever.  This applies most famously to fossil fuels, especially oil (coal is more abundant).   Mined metals are not quite in the same category as with some effort, they can be recycled, once the price gets high enough.

I will lead off with a story about phosphorus, essential for fertilizers.  The Times (London).

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/naturalresources/artic...