The role of geoscientists in securing the future supply of high technology minerals and metals


The role of geoscientists in securing the future supply of high technology minerals and metals

Gutzmer, J.; Birtel, S.; Frenzel, M.

The availability of minerals and metals required for high technology applications has in recent years been widely recognized as being of strategic importance for future development - especially for highly industrialized economies. Because the absolute tonnage of such high technology minerals and metals in industrial products is typically small, inventories in the technosphere will remain limited and widely disseminated. This will significantly hamper recycling efforts. As a direct consequence, primary resources will need to be utilized to secure supply into the foreseeable future. Tapping primary resources appears as a reasonable approach, as these are readily available for most high technology metals. Geoscientists will have to make an important contribution – not only towards exploration and discovery, but also to the implementation of technological concepts for comprehensive resource utilization, i.e., mining operations that are not only economic, but also resource-efficient and environmentally benign.

Keywords: High technology metals; criticality; exploration; mineral systems analysis; geometallurgy

  • Lecture (Conference)
    12th Biennial SGA Conference, 12.-15.08.2013, Uppsala, Sverige

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-22213
Publ.-Id: 22213