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Rare: The HighStakes Race to Satisfy Our Need for the Scarcest Metals on Earth,Used
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How will your life change when the supply of tantalum dries up? You may have never heard of this unusual metal, but without it smartphones would be instantly less omniscient, video game systems would falter, and laptops fail. Tantalum is not alone. Rhodium. Osmium. Niobium. Such refugees from the bottom of the periodic table are key components of many consumer products like cell phones, hybrid car batteries, and flat screen televisions, as well as sophisticated medical devices and even weapon systems. Their versatile properties have led manufacturers to seek these elements out to maximize longevity, value, and efficiency, but not without a human price. In addition to explaining the chemistry behind rare earth metals, Rare delves into the economic and geopolitical issues surrounding these 'conflict minerals,' blending tales of financial and political struggles with glimpses into the human lives that are shattered by the race to secure them. In the past decade, the Congo has been ravaged by tribal wars fought to obtain control of tantalum, tungsten, and tin supplies in the region, with over five million people dying at the crossroads of supply and demand. A burgeoning black market in China, Africa, and India is propped up by schoolage children retrieving and purifying these metals while risking their lives and health in the process. Fears of future political struggles inside China, the world's largest supplier of these metals, have already sent the United States, Great Britain, and Japan racing to find alternative sources.Will scientists be able to create lab substitutes for some or all of these metals? Will Afghanistan be the next big supplier of rare metals? What happens when the limited supply runs out? Whatever the answers, it is clear that our modern lifestyle, dependent on technology, is far from stable.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main topic of 'Rare: The High-Stakes Race to Satisfy Our Need for the Scarcest Metals on Earth'? A: The book discusses the critical role of rare metals like tantalum, rhodium, and osmium in modern technology and the geopolitical and ethical implications surrounding their extraction.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author is Keith Veronese.
- Q: When was this book published? A: The book was published on January 6, 2015.
- Q: What is the condition of the book? A: The book is brand new.
- Q: How many pages are in 'Rare'? A: The book contains 280 pages.
- Q: What format is the book available in? A: It is available in hardcover format.
- Q: Does the book cover the environmental impact of rare metals? A: Yes, it explores the environmental and human costs associated with the mining of rare metals.
- Q: What kind of reader would benefit from this book? A: Readers interested in environmental economics, technology, and ethical sourcing of materials will find this book particularly insightful.
- Q: Are there illustrations in this edition of the book? A: Yes, this edition is illustrated.
- Q: What are some key themes explored in the book? A: Key themes include the supply chain of rare metals, conflict minerals, and the socio-economic issues tied to their extraction.