Mankind is using a greater variety of metals in greater quantities than ever before. As a result there is increasing global concern over the long-term availability of secure and adequate supplies of the metals needed by society. Critical metals, which are those of growing economic importance that might be susceptible to future scarcity, are a particular worry. For many of these we have little information on how they are concentrated in the Earth’s crust, how to extract them from their ores, and how to use, recycle and dispose of them effectively and safely.
Published with the British Geological Survey, the Critical Metals Handbook brings together a wealth of knowledge on critical metals and provides a foundation for improving the future security and sustainability of critical metal supplies. Written by international experts, it provides a unique source of authoritative information on diverse aspects of the critical metals, including geology, deposits, processing, applications, recycling, environmental issues and markets. It is aimed at a broad non-specialist audience, including professionals and academics working in the exploration and mining sectors, in mining finance and investment, and in mineral processing and manufacturing. It will also be a valuable reference for policy makers concerned with resource management, land-use planning, eco-efficiency, recycling and related fields.
Table of Contents
List of Contributors, xi
Acknowledgements, xiii
1 Metal resources, use and criticality, 1
T.E. Graedel, Gus Gunn and Luis Tercero Espinoza
2 The mining industry and the supply of critical minerals, 20
David Humphreys
3 Recycling of (critical) metals, 41
Christian Hagelüken
4 Antimony, 70
Ulrich Schwarz-Schampera
5 Beryllium, 99
David L. Trueman and Phillip Sabey
6 Cobalt, 122
Stephen Roberts and Gus Gunn
7 Gallium, 150
Thomas Butcher and Teresa Brown
8 Germanium, 177
Frank Melcher and Peter Buchholz
9 Indium, 204
Ulrich Schwarz-Schampera
10 Lithium, 230
Keith Evans
11 Magnesium, 261
Neale R. Neelameggham and Bob Brown
12 Platinum-group metals, 284
Gus Gunn
13 Rare earth elements, 312
Frances Wall
14 Rhenium, 340
Tom A. Millensifer, Dave Sinclair, Ian Jonasson and Anthony Lipmann
15 Tantalum and niobium, 361
Robert Linnen, David L. Trueman and Richard Burt
16 Tungsten, 385
Teresa Brown and Peter Pitfield
Appendices, 414
Glossary of technical terms, 419
Index, 431