[rmlew]

Whereas hydrocarbons were the most important resources of the 20th century, the metals used to create electronics and low-carbon energy sources are the most important resources of the 21st century.

In addition to nickel and cobalt, we also need Gallium, which is necessary for electronics including computers, chargers, and modern radars. Unfortunately, this video does not cover another strategically valuable metal, gallium, so I will. Gallium is normally found with deposits of bauxite aluminum and in certain zinc deposits. China dominates because they have a large amount of bauxite, refine it, and understand its strategic importance. Gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium nitride (GaN) are key materials for various electronic devices like transistors, integrated circuits, and microwave circuits. Gallium is also a vital component of blue and green LEDs. Every modern high-end radar, electric capacitor, and microprocessor contains gallium. It would behoove us to work with Australia, Greece, Türkiye, and Iceland to produce more. We should also develop deposits in Guyana, the Solomon Islands, Sierra Leone, and Vietnam. We should also invest in Filipino and Indian aluminum smelting to get Gallium and other tare Earth Minerals. The Philippines, Vietnam, and India are key to containing China. Helping their economies while also getting the minerals we need is a win-win. The US and UK should also help ensure the security of Guyana and help them develop hydrocarbons and bauxite. We are not going to get anywhere by threatening countries. We should strategically collaborate with them.

[ComputerGuy]

Interesting.

[SuperLuminal]

For about 90 years, the United States had a federal agency half of whose mission was the assurance of critical-mineral supplies...

The Clintons did away with it...

[spacejunkie2001]

I like that we’re starting to mine in the US with the expedited permitting for the likes of the Coliseum mine in CA. This mine is owned by Dateline (symbol DTREF in the US).

[Tell It Right]

On one hand we talk about decarbonization and green transformation'

That part is complete rubbish. So called "green" energy is about as harmful to the environment as an abortionist's suction tube is to a baby.

But I'm 100% for mining more precious metals for whatever reason we want them (in some cases we need them, not just for EV's).

[Carry_Okie]

Critical minerals and rare earth metals have today become the central point of geopolitical rivalry between powers,

Um... "today"?

Our aim is to gain control of the two great treasure houses on which the West depends: The energy treasure house of the Persian Gulf and the minerals treasure house of Central and Southern Africa. - Leonid Brezhnev

[Carry_Okie]

Don’t forget the tantalum for capacitors.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"a wind farm requires 9 times more minerals than a gas power plant"

The looming environmental catastrophe of wind energy is hardly ever discussed. At the end or their economic lives (20-30 years), wind turbines are going to leave behind a staggering amount of non recyclable waste. The steel tower, the generator, the gearbox, and the nacelle structure can be recycled, but the concrete in the ground will lie there forever and the blades will become mountains of waste. The wind turbine blades are primarily made of composite materials, typically a combination of:

• Fiberglass (glass fiber reinforced polymer): Provides strength and flexibility.
• Carbon fiber: Used in some modern blades for higher strength-to-weight ratio, though more expensive.
• Epoxy or polyester resin: Binds the fibers together, forming a solid structure.
• Core materials like balsa wood, PVC foam, or honeycomb structures: Used in the blade's interior for lightweight structural support.
• Coatings: Gel coats or polyurethane for weather resistance and UV protection.

Studies suggest that the global cumulative blade waste by 2050 will reach approximately 43 million tons, with annual waste around 2–2.9 million tons. In the U.S., cumulative blade waste is estimated at 2.2 million tons by 2050, assuming a 20-year turbine lifespan.

Add another 25 years to take us out to 2075: it's estimated that a cumulative 3.23 MILLION BLADES will have been disposed of by 2075.

Meanwhile, a conventional boiler, steam turbine, condenser, generator, gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator are all made mostly of steel and can be easily recycled. Here’s a rough estimate of the fraction recycled at end-of-life of fossil plants:

• Building Steel: 90–95% (highly recyclable, widely practiced).
• Boilers, Steam Turbines, Gas Turbines, Condensers, Generators, Fans, Ductwork/Flues, Pulverizers: 80–90% (mostly steel with some copper/aluminum).
• Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs): 80–85% (steel dominates, but insulation and alloys reduce the rate).
• Overall Average Across Components: 75–85%, weighted by the dominance of steel-heavy components.

The extreme greens completely ignore the huge recycling benefit that conventional plants have over wind turbines just as they intentionally ignore the looming environmental disaster. Our solons at the state and federal levels are just too damn stupid to even ask about the problem, yet they are all-in on more solid waste regulations. Hypocrisy abounds, as usual.