Klaus and three co-editors assembled this U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1802, dated 2017. The Preface indicated that mineral commodities are vital for economic growth, improving the quality of life, providing for national defense, and the overall functioning of modern society. Minerals are being used in larger quantities than ever before and in an increasingly diverse range of applications— from telecommunications (cell phones and computers), to renewable-energy generation (wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, and fuel cells), to clean forms of transportation (electric and hybrid cars).
Until the mid-20th century, only about 15 metallic elements had much practical use. Today, nearly all the natural elements in the periodic table of elements have several significant uses. For example, the manufacture of a modern computer chip requires more than one-half of the elements in the periodic table. Even though many of the elements may be present in only small amounts, each is essential to the function and performance of the chip.
With the increasing demand for a considerably more diverse suite of mineral commodities has come renewed recognition that competition and conflict over mineral resources can pose significant risks to the manufacturing industries that depend on them. In addition, although mineral deposits may occur in many places around the world, production of many mineral commodities has become concentrated in relatively few countries (for example, tungsten, rare-earth elements, and antimony in China; niobium in Brazil; and platinum-group elements in South Africa and Russia), thus increasing the risk for supply disruption owing to political, social, or other factors. At the same time, an increasing awareness and sensitivity to potential environmental and health issues caused by the mining and processing of many mineral commodities may place additional restrictions on mineral supplies. These factors have led a number of Governments, including the Government of the United States, to attempt to identify those mineral commodities that are viewed as most “critical” to the national economy and (or) security if supplies should be curtailed.
The lists of critical minerals compiled by Governments and other organizations vary in the number and individual rankings of mineral commodities included on them, but many of the lists include several of the same commodities. Rare-earth elements and platinum-group elements particularly are broadly viewed as critical.
This Prossional Paper (1802-A & B) presented resource and geologic information on the following 23 mineral commodities currently among those viewed as important to the national economy and national security of the United States: antimony (Sb), barite (barium, Ba), beryllium (Be), cobalt (Co), fluorite or fluorspar (fluorine, F), gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), graphite (carbon, C), hafnium (Hf), indium (In), lithium (Li), manganese (Mn), niobium (Nb), platinum-group elements (PGE), rare-earth elements (REE), rhenium (Re), selenium (Se), tantalum (Ta), tellurium (Te), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), and zirconium (Zr).
For a number of these commodities–for example, graphite, manganese, niobium, and tantalum—the United States is currently wholly dependent on imports to meet its needs.
The first two chapters deal with general information pertinent to the study of mineral resources. The introductory chapter (A) discusses the purposes of the volume, the distinctions between reserves and various categories of resources, and issues related to the classification of mineral resource “criticality.” The second chapter (B) provides an overview of some of the environmental considerations related to the mining of nonfuel mineral resources, including the modern regulatory framework and development of geoenvironmental mineral-deposit models.
For individual element Cchapters: https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/pp1802
Original working URL: https://www.i2mconsultants.com/downloads/corp/pp1802_entirebook.pdf
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