Where has all our helium gone? [Basic Metrology]

It is widely recognised that our planet is rapidly becoming depleted of a ready supply of certain materials essential for our technological well-being. The mining companies, who have a vested interest in minimising the alarm this situation ought to cause, speak euphemistically of ´producing´ coal, oil, rare-earth metals, etc. – and helium gas, as if they are like a magician apparently conjuring a limitless supply of rabbits out of a hat. A better word would be ´extracting,´ with its connotations of using and then disposing of materials as garbage.