What would happen if the production of laptops, cellphones, and MP3 players suddenly halted? Oh, and no more hybrid electric vehicles and MRI machines? It probably won’t happen, of course, but the fact that it could is scary enough. A single country, China, mines more than 95 percent of the world’s supply of rare earth metals, found in permanent magnets, phosphors, lasers, capacitors, and superconductors.
That’s not to say that China has all the deposits. In fact, most of the 17 elements in this group aren’t rare at all. They got their name because the ores in which they’re found are notoriously difficult to extract from Earth’s crust. It’s expensive to mine them in the United States, Europe, and other places with relatively strict environmental laws. China, with fewer such scruples, has been able to flood the market. In 1992, the price of ore containing these elements plummeted, and Molycorp Minerals, in Greenwood, Colo., the owner of the largest U.S. repository of rare earth metals, stopped digging.
As recently as 2004, China used less than half of the rare earth metals it produced. But according to an estimate by the Industrial Minerals Co. of Australia, in Mount Claremont, China’s domestic demand will overtake its production in less than 10 years. Now Beijing is considering banning exports of some rare earth elements and limiting shipments of others to 35 000 metric tons a year, which would immediately threaten not just electronics manufacturing across the globe but also hybrid vehicles. A Toyota Prius, for example, requires about a kilogram of neodymium for its electric motor and as much as 15 kg of lanthanum for its battery pack.
This article is a bit of a puff piece for Molycorp but it does raise an interesting issue.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why China is taking over Africa, one contract at a time. Africa is going to be stripped bare and left a hollow husk when they are done.
#1 Antarctica could well be next
When a foreign country has a monopoly of a primary mineral or energy commodity, the US media label it a “world supply risk”. But when it resides in the USA it’s a “secure resource”.
This is really a fact that china is come out as major player in electronics item it is top of the word in this segment.I am thankful to you for sharing this one with me.
Lloks like it’s time to start mining the landfills for Walkman headphones and MFM hard drives. That layer from the 1980s is going to be a goldmine.
While the Cheney administration was funding wars with our national treasure, China was planning for the real war – the economic one.
The sheeple will never understand a decade lost with the Cheney regime was a decade gained by China.
The question is – will Obama’s effort to refocus attention on our future regain the ground lost? I hope so but unlikely.
Cheney and his monkey Bush should be tried for treason.
Dullest, you forgot to mention a few tired cliches like Halliburton and Chimpy.
Dallas, you really need to learn to let it go or seek some professional help.
You can’t keep blamming everything on Bush and Company.
You need to come to grips with the truth that the Democrats were complicit in just about everything.
#8 You need to come to grips with the truth that the Democrats were complicit in just about everything.
Ah, the old “You didn’t stop us from doing stupid and foolish and harmful things so it’s your fault” defense.
I think that might have worked for me once, back in elementary school.
#7 , #8 …Ahh yes, the GOP apologist sweepers.
When are you going to clean out what’s under the rug? You can only sweep so much shit in there.
#6 You’re getting pretty old with your senseless rationing. I know you’re a gutless sheeple, but one has to draw a line somewhere.
Have some dignity.
And then comes #9 to fight for his dog food. Get it inside your thick, empty skulls: BOTH PARTIES ARE TO BLAME and YOUR SENSeLESS APOLOGIES ARE NOT MAKING THINGS BETTER< YOU"RE ONLY EXCUSING YOUR ILK'S PLUNDERING ON THE NATION!
And sadly, the only mindless bots for any party here are you lefty loons.
Today, both Fido & Dullas have earned their nicknames. Wash your brains once in a while, they're full of crap and its already getting on people's nerves here.
#10 The only thing needing to be cleaned is the stupidity you write here everyday. Go give Obama a child already. Start by stalking the DNC.
Idiots!
Damn it, can’t you guys lay off of politics for a while. Think about this, you elected them, so the blood is on your hands as well. It’s our government, we collectively must take the blame. Since China is making all the crap, is it surprising they get the raw products? Fox, MSNBC, CNN, and even Comedy Central is setting the whole nation nuts. Not that they needed to push too hard.
#11 Well good for you little pedro, you actually tried to express a coherent thought! Excellent!
I see you’re trying the old “Yeah the Republicans are bad but the Democrats are just as bad” tactic. Pretty tough to be a wingnut these days when that’s your best defense of the Republican party, eh?
I could run thru the standard list of refutations (Would Gore have started the Iraq war? Would Democrats have endorsed torture?) but I don’t want to rain on your parade. Good boy, actually trying to contribute to the discussion!
Let’s arm-wrestle them for it.
#14 lol Buzz, that’ll do it
#13 At least I stand for something and call wrong to the carpet. You’re nothing but a big ZERO.
Your usual “oh all parties are shit, blah blah” is about as insightful as what an eight year old would say just to open its mouth.
Criticism of BOTH parties now is the Republican sheeple form of admitting their party sucks and guilt for voting in disaster for nearly a decade.
Well, by that time, *all* those stuff will be made in China anyway .
We should start mining in Pandora.
Nuke the Na’vi from orbit first, then mine the planet down to the core.
You must see Avatar – you will obey.
# 5 Eric:
“Lloks like it’s time to start mining the landfills for Walkman headphones and MFM hard drives. That layer from the 1980s is going to be a goldmine.”
Yes! Also, everyone should recycle all their subwoofers! (I’m tired of hearing only the bass line from all my neighbors’ music! BOOMP boomp BOOMP boomp BOOMP boomp BOOMP boomp BOOMP boomboomboomBOOMP boomp…)
#16 You think you stand for something and all you do is show how pathetic a being you are. Idiot sheeple!
#13 A moron who thinks he can deflect his stupidity by changing its name and keep on rationalizing. You’re the winner of thew Double Moron Sheeple award.