HEADACHE MINERALS
So let’s rebrand the conundrum – let’s speak about headache minerals quite than vital minerals. The issue? That doesn’t sound almost as attractive.
Clearly, if one is within the enterprise of getting learn and constructing a model, as assume tanks and lobbyists are, the very worst doable headline for a pamphlet, analysis paper – or, God forbid, opinion column – is one which concludes “all is basically positive”. One might as an alternative write “please, don’t learn this” and go residence.
However that doesn’t appeal to eyeballs. As an alternative, immediately’s influencers will concentrate on worst-case eventualities: provide chain Armageddon.
When will the scarcity of vital minerals hit? “Quickly.” How dangerous would it not be? “Extreme” sounds about proper, however greatest to say “damaging”. What and who shall be affected? Level to every part and everybody, however when you actually need to be learn within the White Home – and that’s a should – say “nationwide safety”. What’s the mineral at situation? Decide essentially the most obscure aspect from the periodic desk, and name it “vital”, “strategic”, or, even higher, “uncommon”.
The Heritage Basis, a Washington assume tank near the Trump administration, produced a paper in December 2024 warning about potential shortages of vital minerals undermining the defence trade. Satirically, the paper sounds very very similar to the same one the assume tank printed in 1981, additionally warning about shortages.
One other Washington assume tank, the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research, printed its personal report, flagging a “nationwide safety crucial” in vital minerals comparable to lithium iron phosphate.
We merely don’t know what American engineers will invent subsequent. However we are able to safely assume they may attempt to substitute no matter is in short-supply and costly.
