Another Strictly Boardroom article published last year looked at the role of metals and minerals in the defence industry. The issue of 'critical' or 'strategic' minerals, particularly for the defence industry has been of increased salience in recent years. Whilst the military broadly uses most metals and minerals - it uses buildings, automobiles, and consumer products, just like the rest… Read this post →
Last year I presented a keynote at the Argus Media-Metal Pages China Metals Week in Guangzhou, entitled "Which markets are the future stars of the 'critical metals' industry?" The presentation looks at which of the critical metals, those defined as small important metal markets with supply constraints, have the potential to outgrow their current constraints and become large, industrial metals… Read this post →
Book Review: The Elements of Power: Gadgets, Guns, and the Struggle for a Sustainable Future in the Rare Metal Age By David S. Abraham Amongst the flurry of books over the last few years focusing on the geopolitics of metals and mining, and in particular the so-called ‘critical metals’ David Abraham’s effort “The Elements of Power” promises a less-hyperbolic and… Read this post →
It has been hard not to notice the recent furore over “rare earth elements”. China provides over 90% of the mined supply of these elements, and for some elements, all of the world’s supply. This has worried governments and consumers in North America, Europe and non-Chinese Asia. A scramble to develop rare earth mines outside China has begun and miners,… Read this post →
