Could the Industrial Revolution be delayed indefinitely? Or is it inevitable once a certain point in development is reached?

I am considering whether a pre-Industrial civilisation could carry on for millennia on an Earth-like planet without entering the Industrial Age.

Of course, regularly destroying everything with plagues, earthquakes, etc and sending people back to the Bronze Age might do the trick, but I am looking for something more subtle.

For example, would a lack of readily-accessible iron ore prevent steam combustion engines from being practical? And is it believable on an Earth-like planet that iron ore would be that inaccessible?

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Could the Industrial Revolution be delayed indefinitely? Or is it inevitable once a certain point in development is reached?

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