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An international team of researchers, led by the University of Delaware's Saleem Ali, says global resource governance and sharing of geoscience data is needed to address challenges facing future mineral supply.
Specifically of concern are a range of technology minerals, which are an essential ingredient in everything from laptops and cell phones to hybrid or electric cars to solar panels and copper wiring for homes. However, base metals like copper are also a matter of immense concern.
The research team, which included experts from academic, government and industrial institutions across five continents, the U.S., Europe, South Africa, Australia and South America, reported their findings today in a peer-reviewed paper in Nature.
"There are treaties on climate change, biodiversity, migratory species and even waste management of organic chemicals, but there is no international mechanism to govern how mineral supply should be coordinated," said Ali, the paper's lead author and Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and Environment at UD.
The researchers reviewed data and demand forecasts on the sustainability of global mineral supplies in coming decades. The study showed that mining exploration is not keeping up with future demand for minerals and recycling in and of itself would not be able to meet the demand either.
Saleem H. Ali, et al. Mineral supply for sustainable development requires resource governance. Nature, 2017; 543 (7645): 367 DOI: 10.1038/nature21359
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(Score: 2) by WalksOnDirt on Monday March 27 2017, @06:47AM (6 children)
Cheap platinum would have uses in electronics, but not as a conductor. The second best known conductor is silver, with copper just behind. The best conductor, at room temperature, is graphene, but we don't really know how to use it practically.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Monday March 27 2017, @02:52PM (2 children)
So what would dirt-cheap platinum be good for?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 27 2017, @05:40PM
It's hard, dense, and difficult to corrode, so:
frying pans, barbeque grills, piston rings, exhaust valves, boat anchors, boat propellers, bridges over saltwater, keys, locks, pool equipment, armor, armor-piercing bullets, gun internals, grounding rods
(Score: 2) by WalksOnDirt on Monday March 27 2017, @09:57PM
Electrodes and contacts are the only electrical uses I'm aware of for platinum.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Monday March 27 2017, @02:56PM (2 children)
Actually, wouldn't platinum be a better conductor than aluminum? Dirt-cheap platinum, therefore, could be a good replacement for aluminum for electrical wiring (such as the stuff used for wiring my oven and HVAC).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 27 2017, @03:12PM
You guys know that aluminum weighs much less than platinum, right?
Platinum being used in the place of aluminum would need to be done based on the intent and purpose. Don't wire your plane with platinum and gold because your fuel costs will skyrocket. Same for any transportation costs that seek to repurpose a cheap lightweight material with a heavier one.
(Score: 2) by WalksOnDirt on Monday March 27 2017, @10:00PM
Aluminum is not only lighter but is a 3-4 times better conductor by volume.