When this book was originally published in 1984 there was little published data on the extraction or exploitation of strategic materials. The book surveys the entire range of strategic materials and considers both the economics of their extraction and the political issues involved in safeguarding Western access to these critical materials – issues which remain very pertinent in the 21st century and in an era of geopolitical turbulence.
The book begins with a discussion of the mining processes and examines the implications of the by-product nature of many strategic materials for the mining enterprise. The possibilities of stretching existing supplies by either substituting other materials or recycling are also investigated. Finally, in an assessment of the marketing and pricing of strategic materials, there is discussion of the possibility of OPEC-type cartels developing and the political risks associated with this are considered. Strategic Materials: A World Survey brings together various strands of the debate surrounding strategic materials and has established itself as an important work in the field.