Sustainable natural resources are critical to effective responses to climate change that seek to maintain and expand access to high standards of living which many have become accustomed to or aspire to achieve. More extraction, especially of minerals and materials critical to electrification, will be required. Given the well-understood issues linked to extractive industries, we are beholden to identifying ways in which the least possible harm is caused to the planet and communities. The mining sector acknowledges this dilemma, but existing initiatives serve mainly to distance the sector from criticism and scrutiny. Our paper explores industry talk, action and posits alternative futures for less terrible extraction of mineral resources.