Advanced materials and impact on mineral producing countries

Abstract

In order to better understand the impact of advanced materials on producers of traditional metals, this paper provides an analysis of their different end-use markets. Unless the prices of traditional metals increase substantially or if new regulations on the environment greatly stimulate the use of advanced materials, their direct impact during the next decade will be less dramatic than previously expected. Despite this, mineral producing countries should continue their monitoring of advanced materials. They represent the media that diffuse new technologies through industrial economies. Also they may provide opportunities for improving mining and mineral processing technology. This paper was presented at the First International Symposium on Mining and Development, Campinas, Brazil, July 1995. See also RMR Vol 11 No 2.