HEADACHE MINERALS
So let’s rebrand the conundrum – let’s discuss headache minerals reasonably than essential minerals. The issue? That doesn’t sound practically as horny.
Clearly, if one is within the enterprise of getting learn and constructing a model, as suppose tanks and lobbyists are, the very worst potential headline for a pamphlet, analysis paper – or, God forbid, opinion column – is one which concludes “all is essentially positive”. One might as an alternative write “please, don’t learn this” and go house.
However that doesn’t appeal to eyeballs. As an alternative, immediately’s influencers will concentrate on worst-case situations: provide chain Armageddon.
When will the scarcity of essential minerals hit? “Quickly.” How dangerous wouldn’t it be? “Extreme” sounds about proper, however finest to say “damaging”. What and who will likely be affected? Level to all the things and everybody, however in the event you actually wish to be learn within the White Home – and that’s a should – say “nationwide safety”. What’s the mineral at concern? Choose probably the most obscure component from the periodic desk, and name it “essential”, “strategic”, or, even higher, “uncommon”.
The Heritage Basis, a Washington suppose tank near the Trump administration, produced a paper in December 2024 warning about potential shortages of essential minerals undermining the defence business. Paradoxically, the paper sounds very very similar to the same one the suppose tank revealed in 1981, additionally warning about shortages.
One other Washington suppose tank, the Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research, revealed its personal report, flagging a “nationwide safety crucial” in essential minerals corresponding to lithium iron phosphate.
We merely don’t know what American engineers will invent subsequent. However we will safely assume they may attempt to change no matter is in short-supply and costly.
