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If it only diverts mining from near-lifeless deserts, that might be more acceptable. All deserts do have life though.

But what's the impact of cutting down trees + mining for some fraction of petroleum vs mining for glass? I would guess that it requires a rigorous and impartial analysis of the environmental impact.

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There is very little danger of any world's deserts becoming sandless (or even making a dent in the amount of sand) due to the needs of glass manufacture.

I'm not even sure I'd call it a "danger." The Sahara creeping south is a danger. If we could make a dent in the amount of sand, it'd be a pretty amazing thing.

I was hinting that deserts aren't devoid of life, so it's still destroying some environment and habitat, even if it's one that humans have little value for. But, OTOH, felling trees is likely much worse.

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