Originally posted by Neil
nononononoNO!!!!
We strip-mine earth, the new super-earth, and ALL the planets and moons in the solar system!!!!

Seriosly, though, I think we might as well try and find a way to mine asteroids, if theres anything to mine in them (how am I to know?
), and, if theres no life on the new "super earth", we might as well mine that place with robots instead of ripping up our own planet...
Hence the conundrum.
You *have* to mine this planet in order to obtain the resources to build the spacecraft to reach the asteroids, build the robots, build the tools and equipment the robots will use to mine the asteroids, build the processing equipment and refineries to make the mined ore useable, etc. etc. ad nauseum.
As far as "ripping up our own planet" I would argue that urbanization is much more destructive than mining.
It's a shame that the mining industry is perceived as it seems to be. Try to imagine your life without all of the things made possible by mining activity. Really.
Unless you enjoy being a cave man, it wouldn't be pretty.