VERY IMPORTANT MATERIALS
The extraction and manufacture of aluminium and sodium are described. The extraction, smelting and purification of copper is covered and similarly notes on the extraction of zinc, titanium and chromium. How to extract a metal is one technological issue, but finally some economic and environmental Issues and metal recycling are discussed as a result of metal extraction. Below is the index of revision notes on extraction procedures and theory, so, scroll down for revision notes on extraction procedures and theory which should prove useful for school/college assignments/projects on ways of extracting metals from their ores.
A vast array of raw materials, including minerals and 'high-tech metals', play a key role in the development of industrial applications and advanced consumer products. According to a recent report by an expert group in the framework of the EU Raw Materials Initiative, Europe is in a vulnerable position when it comes to securing its supply of some of these raw materials: out of 41 minerals and metals analysed, the experts labelled 14 as critical. The results of the report will be used in the drafting of strategies to ensure access to raw materials which the European Commission will present in autumn 2010.
'Critical raw materials for the EU [2 MB] ' was written by an ad hoc working group, chaired by the European Commission and made up of experts from national ministries, geological surveys and industry. The report was an important step towards achieving the objective of defining critical raw materials, as outlined in the EU's Raw Materials Initiative (see box).
After analysing 41 minerals and metals, the team produced a list of 14 raw materials which they deemed critical to the EU: antimony, beryllium, cobalt, fluorspar, gallium, germanium, graphite, indium, magnesium, niobium, platinum group metals, rare earths, tantalum and tungsten. Forecasts indicate that demand for some of these could more than triple by 2030, compared to 2006 levels.
Demand is increasing for minerals and 'high-tech metals' due to the economic growth of developing countries. The emergence of new technologies and products also drives demand. For example, flat-screen TVs and mobile phones need metals, such as antimony, cobalt, lithium, tantalum and tungsten. Many of the new environmentally friendly products also need these raw materials. Electric cars require lithium and neodymium; car catalysts cannot work without platinum; and solar panels are developed using gallium and indium.
Increasing demands on supply
Risks to reliable supplies to Europe come from fast-growing emerging economies, especially those which are blessed with their own deposits of minerals and metals. Now that a number of these countries are pursuing ambitious industrial development strategies, they are beginning to reserve more and more of these resources for their own use. Government measures, such as export taxes, quotas and subsidies are being used in a way that distorts the trade of raw materials on world markets.
Supply risk issues are compounded by the fact that production of some critical raw materials is often concentrated in a few countries. For instance, China produces more than 90% of the world's rare earths and antimony, about 90% of niobium comes from Brazil, and 77% of platinum comes from South Africa.
The nature of mining for these raw materials also has to be taken into account. They are often produced as by-products through the mining and processing of major metals like copper and zinc, which mainly drive their extraction. This can leave industry facing a crisis of availability, as happened in 2000 when there was a rush for tantalum due to the boom in mobile phone production.
The report also noted that the EU has its own valuable but under-exploited deposits of minerals and metals. However, exploitation and extraction is hampered by competition from other land-use needs, and mining regulations can make the transition from discovery to extraction a slow process.
"We need fair play on external markets, a good framework to foster sustainable raw materials supply from EU sources as well as improved resource efficiency and more use of recycling," said European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, in charge of Industry and Entrepreneurship.
Gauging "criticality"
When considering whether a raw material is critical, the Group assessed two types of risk. Supply risk took account of the political and economic stability of the producing countries, along with levels of production concentration, whether any substitute materials are readily available, and rates of recycling. Similarly, the environmental country risk took account of environmentally related risks.
The report makes a number of policy recommendations to help improve supply of critical raw materials and so minimise the risk of shortages.
More raw data
In addition to updating the critical list every five years, the Group suggests efforts should be made to improve the information that is available on raw materials. It also wants to see more research into the life-cycles of raw materials and the products they are used in.
Access to primary resources will have to improve to ensure supply. In the EU that will require fair treatment of mining and extraction compared with other forms of land use. And more needs to be done to promote sustainable exploration in and outside Europe.
The EU will have to make sure that it keeps a close eye on trade and investment activities which hamper the smooth functioning of international markets for raw materials.
More must be done to improve the efficiency of recycling of raw materials. This means an end to stockpiling at home, dumping in landfills and incineration. Promoting more research on ways to optimise recycling could help bring about positive change.
The Group also recommends that efforts should be made to find substitutes for some of these critical metals and minerals. Research in this area could be promoted under EU framework programmes.
The extraction and manufacture of aluminium and sodium are described. The extraction, smelting and purification of copper is covered and similarly notes on the extraction of zinc, titanium and chromium. How to extract a metal is one technological issue, but finally some economic and environmental Issues and metal recycling are discussed as a result of metal extraction. Below is the index of revision notes on extraction procedures and theory, so, scroll down for revision notes on extraction procedures and theory which should prove useful for school/college assignments/projects on ways of extracting metals from their ores.
A vast array of raw materials, including minerals and 'high-tech metals', play a key role in the development of industrial applications and advanced consumer products. According to a recent report by an expert group in the framework of the EU Raw Materials Initiative, Europe is in a vulnerable position when it comes to securing its supply of some of these raw materials: out of 41 minerals and metals analysed, the experts labelled 14 as critical. The results of the report will be used in the drafting of strategies to ensure access to raw materials which the European Commission will present in autumn 2010.
'Critical raw materials for the EU [2 MB] ' was written by an ad hoc working group, chaired by the European Commission and made up of experts from national ministries, geological surveys and industry. The report was an important step towards achieving the objective of defining critical raw materials, as outlined in the EU's Raw Materials Initiative (see box).
After analysing 41 minerals and metals, the team produced a list of 14 raw materials which they deemed critical to the EU: antimony, beryllium, cobalt, fluorspar, gallium, germanium, graphite, indium, magnesium, niobium, platinum group metals, rare earths, tantalum and tungsten. Forecasts indicate that demand for some of these could more than triple by 2030, compared to 2006 levels.
Demand is increasing for minerals and 'high-tech metals' due to the economic growth of developing countries. The emergence of new technologies and products also drives demand. For example, flat-screen TVs and mobile phones need metals, such as antimony, cobalt, lithium, tantalum and tungsten. Many of the new environmentally friendly products also need these raw materials. Electric cars require lithium and neodymium; car catalysts cannot work without platinum; and solar panels are developed using gallium and indium.
Increasing demands on supply
Risks to reliable supplies to Europe come from fast-growing emerging economies, especially those which are blessed with their own deposits of minerals and metals. Now that a number of these countries are pursuing ambitious industrial development strategies, they are beginning to reserve more and more of these resources for their own use. Government measures, such as export taxes, quotas and subsidies are being used in a way that distorts the trade of raw materials on world markets.
Supply risk issues are compounded by the fact that production of some critical raw materials is often concentrated in a few countries. For instance, China produces more than 90% of the world's rare earths and antimony, about 90% of niobium comes from Brazil, and 77% of platinum comes from South Africa.
The nature of mining for these raw materials also has to be taken into account. They are often produced as by-products through the mining and processing of major metals like copper and zinc, which mainly drive their extraction. This can leave industry facing a crisis of availability, as happened in 2000 when there was a rush for tantalum due to the boom in mobile phone production.
The report also noted that the EU has its own valuable but under-exploited deposits of minerals and metals. However, exploitation and extraction is hampered by competition from other land-use needs, and mining regulations can make the transition from discovery to extraction a slow process.
"We need fair play on external markets, a good framework to foster sustainable raw materials supply from EU sources as well as improved resource efficiency and more use of recycling," said European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, in charge of Industry and Entrepreneurship.
Gauging "criticality"
When considering whether a raw material is critical, the Group assessed two types of risk. Supply risk took account of the political and economic stability of the producing countries, along with levels of production concentration, whether any substitute materials are readily available, and rates of recycling. Similarly, the environmental country risk took account of environmentally related risks.
The report makes a number of policy recommendations to help improve supply of critical raw materials and so minimise the risk of shortages.
More raw data
In addition to updating the critical list every five years, the Group suggests efforts should be made to improve the information that is available on raw materials. It also wants to see more research into the life-cycles of raw materials and the products they are used in.
Access to primary resources will have to improve to ensure supply. In the EU that will require fair treatment of mining and extraction compared with other forms of land use. And more needs to be done to promote sustainable exploration in and outside Europe.
The EU will have to make sure that it keeps a close eye on trade and investment activities which hamper the smooth functioning of international markets for raw materials.
More must be done to improve the efficiency of recycling of raw materials. This means an end to stockpiling at home, dumping in landfills and incineration. Promoting more research on ways to optimise recycling could help bring about positive change.
The Group also recommends that efforts should be made to find substitutes for some of these critical metals and minerals. Research in this area could be promoted under EU framework programmes.
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