Geopolitics of minerals I

Question 1

Minerals are politically significant for three principal reasons

Answer 1

• Minerals constitute the base of an advanced economy
• Mineral wealth is distributed in an inequitable manner amongst countries
• Minerals figure in attempts by states to utilise techniques of economic statecraft (sanctions)

Question 2

World iron ore production producers

Answer 2

China, Russia, Australia, Brazil

306,200 10to6 in the world

Question 3

Ore v steel production

Answer 3

Inequitable distribution of activity - aus and brazil produces iron ore and makes no steel - exports everything digs out of the ground - add value be refining and fabricating minerals, if shipping as ore, not achieving max value. Japan dependent of exports and have no resources of their own - major steel producer

Question 4

Drive of little cars

Answer 4

OPEC oil embargo

Question 5

Resource nationalism

Answer 5

• countries securing great control over their own indigenous assets
• countries exerting political influence to secure access to key industrial resources
  e.g Ndola, Zambia
  China builds football stadium for share of mining and relationships

Question 6

Concept of strategic minerals

Answer 6

28 materials presented wartime difficulties
World wars, essential for defence and necessary during wartime
Section 112 of stockpiling act 1979 supply the military and industrial essential civilian for national emergency

Question 7

Chromite Ore production

Answer 7

Chrome, bumpers, stainless steel, turbines, aircraft etc.

Main producers - South Africa, Kazakstan

Question 8

The problem for reserves production

Answer 8

The inequitable distribution of minerals not the actual reserves - no shortage but limited distribution = chromium mainly in south africa, no substitute

Question 9

Strategic mineral evaluation four primary components

Answer 9

1. Production = capacity, labour, conflict, supply sources
2. transportation = risk to major supply lines of minerals
3. consumption = cost of possible disruption
4. trade = collective price agreements

Question 10

SoS mineral program goals

Answer 10

understand E-tech element cycling and concentration in natural systems
understand how to predict and mitigate the enviro effects of extraction and recovery of E-tech elements

Question 11

What determines a critical element?

Answer 11

Demand growth
Supply risks
Recycling restrictions
E.g 14 = Rare earths, cobalt, graphite