The terrestrial impact of the Three Gorges Dam
It appears in nuclear weapons and naval reactors in its high-enriched form. Because of this, uranium has a profound geopolitical impact.
Kazakhstan is the world leader in uranium production, producing an astounding 21,227 tons of it in 2022 alone. It was followed by Canada (7,351 tons), Namibia (5,613 tons), and Australia (4,553 tons). These countries along with Russia, Uzbekistan, and Niger make up the bulk of the world's supply.
In situ leach (ISL) mining now dominates how this metal is obtained from the Earth, making up 66% of production totals.
A highly concentrated, critical source of energy, uranium provides clean, scalable energy. Low-enriched uranium (3% to 5% U-235) fuels commercial nuclear reactors.
Australia is the world leader in lithium production, churning out 61,000 tons in 2022. While Chile lagged behind Australia, producing 39,000 tons the same year, the country boasts the world's largest lithium reserves.
A relatively rare metal, it's been dubbed the "white gold" of the battery industry. As well as being indispensable to many technologies, it's also used in renewable energy storage systems.
The next biggest players in the lithium supply chain (in order of production) are: China, Argentina, and Brazil. Zimbabwe and Portugal also contribute smaller amounts.
The lithium mining rush is being driven by the huge demand for sustainable energy solutions, many of which function using high-performance lithium-ion batteries.
A soft, light metal, lithium is needed for rechargeable batteries in electronics, including phones, laptops, and electronic vehicles (EVs).
However, the name is somewhat misleading, as these metals are relatively common. What makes them rare is that, despite their abundance, they are not frequently found in mineable quantities.
Some elements found in minor quantities have major applications in clean energy, electronics, and computing. They're known as Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
Cobalt is essential in the powering of modern technology. It's needed for the electrification of mobility, notably electronic vehicles (EVs) which drives the biggest demand for this metal.
But it doesn't end there. The metal is critical for its use in various industrial applications, including the production of superalloys for aircraft engines, the manufacturing of cutting tools and drill bits, and the creation of pigments used in ceramics and glass.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) dominates the world's cobalt production, having produced a staggering 111.3 tons of the metal in 2022.
Russia (8.9 tons), Australia (5.9 tons), the Philippines (5 tons), and Canada (5 tons) made significant contributions, however, it was nowhere close to the rate of cobalt produced by the DRC.
China takes the global lead when it comes to the mining of REEs, producing 210,000 tons in 2022. For context, China's closest rivals in supply, the US and Australia, produce 43,000 and 18,000 tons respectively.
REEs are used in high-performance magnets, electronics, and electric vehicle batteries, driving the global demand for these metals.
The second largest natural gas reserves in the world are found in Iran. Qatar and Canada are also key producers of the resource worldwide.
Although it's a fossil fuel, natural gas is much cleaner and more efficient than some others, producing less pollution and CO2 emissions.
The United States led worldwide contribution in 2022, producing 978.6 billion cubic meters of the resource. Extensive reserves are found across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
However, the world's largest natural gas reserves are found in Russia, the second largest producer (618.4 billion cubic meters), which promotes natural gas vehicles.
South America leads the way in copper mining. In 2021, Chile led global production with a staggering 5,624,900 metric tons, while Peru produced 2,299,277 metric tons.
The DRC, China, and the US also help to meet the high demand for copper in the electrical and telecommunications industries.
Everything from our simplest electrical appliances to the most sophisticated electronics uses copper. It's the third most used industrial metal globally.
Copper has long been one of the most important elements in the world, for the development of human civilization. This is due to its wonderful thermal and electrical conductivity.
Its ability to deliver high energy density (and greater storage capacity) at a lower cost than other metals is another factor contributing to forecasted increased demand.
Nickel also plays a role in battery production for electric vehicles, as well as being a metal that's indispensable for the production of stainless steel.
The demand for nickel over the coming years is expected to be in direct proportion to the demand for electric vehicles, as it's needed to create lithium-ion batteries.
Indonesia leads worldwide in the production of nickel, reaching an output of 1,000,000 tons in 2021. The Philippines, Russia, New Caledonia, and Australia are also notable producers of this metal.
Sources: (World Population Review) (National Geographic) (Minerals Make Life)
Many raw materials derived from the natural world are essential for the creation of high-tech innovations. Without industrial metals, many of our advancements in technology—and certain products—simply wouldn't be possible. Energy and technology, such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, and solar panels, rely on several metals in order to function. But which ones are in the highest demand, as the rate of advancement picks up speed?
Click on to discover the metals shaping the tech of tomorrow.
The key raw materials needed to power the devices of the future
Alchemy in action: the metals shaping the tech of tomorrow
LIFESTYLE Raw materials
Many raw materials derived from the natural world are essential for the creation of high-tech innovations. Without industrial metals, many of our advancements in technology—and certain products—simply wouldn't be possible. Energy and technology, such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, and solar panels, rely on several metals in order to function. But which ones are in the highest demand, as the rate of advancement picks up speed?
Click on to discover the metals shaping the tech of tomorrow.