Global platinum group element resources, reserves and mining - A critical assessment
Gavin M Mudd1, Simon M Jowitt2, Timothy T Werner1
1Environmental Engineering Group, School of Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
The Science of the Total Environment
|December 10, 2017
Summary
Platinum group elements (PGEs) are critical metals due to supply concerns, not resource depletion. Global PGE resources increased significantly, indicating that social and economic factors, not geology, impact supply reliability.
Area of Science:
- Earth Sciences
- Materials Science
- Economics
Background:
- Platinum group elements (PGEs) are vital for modern technologies like auto-catalysts and specialty alloys.
- Global supply of PGEs is heavily reliant on South Africa, leading to their classification as 'critical metals'.
- Supply disruptions pose significant social, environmental, and economic risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive global assessment of PGE reserves and resources.
- To analyze key mining trends affecting PGE supply.
- To understand the factors influencing the critical metal status of PGEs.
Main Methods:
- Global assessment of PGE reserves and resources data from 2010 to 2015.
- Analysis of global PGE production figures over the same period.
- Evaluation of social, economic, and environmental factors impacting supply.
Main Results:
- Global PGE resources increased by 16.4% between 2010 and 2015 (from 90,733t to 105,682t).
- This growth occurred despite significant global production (2243t).
- Key supply challenges stem from social, economic, and environmental issues, not resource scarcity.
Conclusions:
- PGE supply reliability is threatened by non-geological factors, reinforcing their critical metal status.
- Future concerns for PGEs will focus on managing social, economic, and environmental risks.
- Resource depletion is not a limiting factor for global PGE supply.
Keywords:
Criticality assessmentMineral resourcesOre reservesPlatinum group elementsSustainable miningMore Related Videos
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