TELF AG analyzes the geographic distribution and production of some strategic raw materials
The main global players in the sector
Among the numerous raw materials included in the lists of minerals and strategic resources for the development of nations, almost always comprising between 15 and 40 elements, some are emerging more than others for the valuable contribution they continue to provide to the industry, and in particular for all those industrial applications connected to the great energy change underway. Some of these, such as lithium, rare earths, cobalt, and graphite, have been the focus of a recent analysis focused on the geographic location of the largest reserves of these elements and the main producing countries.
The analysis clearly shows the important role played by China, Australia, and South America in the great global game of raw materials, especially those few considered truly central to technological applications such as batteries, energy infrastructures, and technology. The analysis states that most of the reserves of the element lithium are found in South America, particularly in Chile and Argentina, with Australia gradually joining these nations as one of the major global powers in the valorization of this resource.
Australia also has considerable reserves of cobalt, another metal of great importance for modern industrial applications. However, the largest global deposits of this resource are found in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As for graphite, some of the largest global reserves are found in China and Brazil, with the African nation of Mozambique firmly in third place in this ranking. Brazil is also establishing itself in the rare earth sector, which until now has been almost predominantly Asian, with China and Vietnam holding the largest quantities of global reserves.
The production of resources and their properties
As stated in the analysis, China still plays a leading role in terms of processing: most of the processing of lithium, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths takes place in China (for the last two resources, Beijing also holds the record for production).
What makes these resources particularly attractive for industry, in addition to their applications in key sectors such as electronics or clean energy, are their unique properties: lithium, for example, is particularly appreciated for its high electrochemical potential, which makes this resource a precious ally in energy storage and in the battery sector for powering numerous devices (from electric vehicles to laptops). Conversely, cobalt is best known for its thermal stability and unique ability to maintain magnetic properties at high temperatures. This feature makes it very useful for producing heat-resistant alloys (such as those used in aerospace). In the battery sector, cobalt is mainly used to improve the stability of such energy storage systems. Some of the most interesting properties are those that characterize rare earths, a diverse group of 17 elements with remarkable magnetic and optical properties, which are very useful in the technological field. The excellent thermal (and electrical) conductivity and corrosion resistance, as well as the characteristic of being able to store ions, are the properties that allow graphite to be one of the most sought-after materials by industry, including the technological one.
