Metals or minerals are considered strategic or critical if they are on high demand for the prevailing technologies. Consequently, their scarcity and/or production dominance by competing nations may cause geopolitical tensions.
SOME EXAMPLES
The first and the second industrial revolutions are considered to have taken place between 1760 and 1870, and between 1870 and 1914, respectively.
During the first World War, 28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918 (WW I), scarcity of some minerals brought about untold bloodshed!
CALICHE & WW I
Caliche is a sedimentary rock containing nitrates and carbonates - most important being sodium and potassium nitrates. These are important ingredients of bombs and bullets, and hence caliche became a conflict mineral in the dusty and arid regions of Chile during WW I.
As USA entered into WW I, it realized that it lacked a good supply of "critical" materials, namely, tin, platinum, nickel, nitrates and potash - all needed for the production of different types of weapons.
TUNGSTEN & WW I
The element tungsten or wolfram was discovered in 1781 by Torbern Olaf Bergman, a Swedish chemist and mineralogist.
One of the very peculiar properties of this element or metal is its high melting temperature at 3,422 degrees Celsius.
Thus, the new miracle metal doubled the efficiency of steel armour. The same was for the artillery shells along with the barrels that fired them.
Small amounts of tungsten added to steel make it far harder, and far more resistant to stress and heat - hence, tungsten was "the armour plate of conflict" during WW I.
The real centre for producing tungsten steel was Germany. British industry was getting 90% of its tungsten via German companies. Moreover, the Carrot Mine in Cumbria (UK) was taken over in 1904 by German- owned Cumbrian Mining Company.
MINERALS & WW II
Africa also produced important minerals required for the basic and military needs for the second World War (WW II: 1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945)
They included copper, chrome, platinum, zinc, manganese and bauxite (source of aluminium and other industrial products)
HIGH TECH OR STRATEGIC MINERALS FOR THE 4th INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
These are "rare minerals" required to produce modern equipment and facilities within the realm of the ongoing 4th Industrial Revolution - characterised by extraordinary information technology advances which commensurate with those of the first, second and third industrial revolutions.
WHAT ARE CRITICAL MINERALS OR HIGH-TECH METALS?
*Are those on very high demand for carrying out the 4th Industrial Revolution, and whose supply may be at risk.
*Are those that are considered to very important for socio- economic prosperity of all nations, and whose supply may be at risk.
*They are used in computers, smartphones, rechargeable batteries, electric cars and robots. They are very vital for health, defence and space technologies.
In February 2022, US Geological Survey (USGS) released a list of 50 minerals that are critical for the US Security. They include rare earth elements and platinum group elements
The 17 elements on the Periodic Table falling under the category of "critical metals" are: scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethazine, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium
CHINA
Is currently dominating around 70-80% of global critical minerals production and continue consolidating global supply chains of these commodities (e.g. lithium, cerium)
RUSSIA
It is estimated that Russia accounts for almost 14% of the world's total mineral extraction.
It is one of the major producers of cobalt, chrome, tungsten, vanadium, nickel, manganese, copper, lead, zinc, aluminum and uranium.
It is also one of the world's leading producers of iron ore, palladium, platinum, diamonds and gold.
UKRAINE
Ukraine is considered to be extremely rich in mineral resources. These include, iron ore, manganese, nickel, titanium, magnesium, graphite, uranium, mercury, sulfur, kaolin and salt.
It is one of the leading producers of manganese ore and manganese ferroalloys and is estimated that Ukraine has 75% of ore serves of former CIS.
RECENT DECISION BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
16 March 2022: HE Prime Minister Scott Morriston said, "the events unfolding in Europe are remainder of the close relationship between energy security, economic security and national security"
Consequently, the Australian government has announced almost US $ 360 million (A$ 500 million) for funding mining in Western Australia in order to boost the production of critical minerals. This may counter the China's dominance of these exotic commodities on the global market.
AFRICA'S MINERAL RESOURCES
*Africa still requires detailed studies on its geology and mineral resources.
*In 2004, we (35 authors) produced a map showing the Geology and Mineral Resources of Africa which was published by BRGM, France.
The current estimates are as follows:
*Africa ranks first in quantity of world reserves of bauxite, cobalt, industrial diamond, phosphate rock, platinum-group metals (PGM), vermiculite, and zirconium.
*Africa hosts approximately 30% of the world's mineral reserves
*It posses 40% of the world's gold and up to 90% of world's chromium and platinum.
*It also estimated that Africa has 30% of the remaining mineral resources in the world
History continues teaching us that wars have always brought about DISRUPTIONS in supply chains of commodities produced in the "fighting nations" and may spill over to their allies.
After WW II, British French and Portuguese geologists where ubiquitous on the continent searching for minerals needed by the ruined world's economies.
In 1949, my very close friend, teacher and professional mentor, the late Professor Robert Shackleton (the nephew of Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton 1874-1922, leader of British expeditions to the Antarctic, i.e. Shackleton Mountains) walked on foot, studying rocks seen in the area between the Mombasa Port and the British Geological Survey Office in Nairobi!
Well, the timing for geological mapping and mineral exploration by those young European geologists (including Robert Shackleton) coincided with the commencement of the 3rd Industrial Revolution which began in the 1950s - time for development of digital systems and new advances in computing systems, and the onset of information sharing.
Contribution by:
Sospeter Muhongo
*Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of London (est. 1807)
*Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of America (est. 1888)
*Honorary Research Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (est. 1956)
*Officer, Ordre des Palmes académiques (Order of Academic Palms, a recognition established in 1808 by Emperor Napoleon)
Date:
Friday, 18.3.2022
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