Introduction: alchemy of a material world -- The pleasure of treasure. What lies beneath: the material and mystical origins of mineral wealth -- Creating value: the endurance of precious jewels -- The rush factor: tracing the mineral roots of global power through gold, coal, and oil -- Toil and...

Pollution and development seem to have been inextricably linked throughout human history. Yet the relationship between environmental harm and development is complex and its understanding has been fragmented by disciplinary biases. Economists and environmental scientists have diverged on the...

Intro -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction: Alchemy of a Material World -- PART I: THE PLEASURE OF TREASURE -- 1. What Lies Beneath: The Material and Mystical Origins of Mineral Wealth -- 2. Creating Value: The Endurance of Precious Jewels -- 3. The Rush Factor: Tracing the Mineral Roots of...