AMERICAN STRATEGIC MINERALS SUPPLY DEPENDENCE ON THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
This research examines and assesses the significance of American strategic materials supply dependence on the Republic of South Africa. Several questions must be addressed in this examination and assessment. These questions are as follows:
1. Which minerals are of strategic significance to the United States?
2. Which of the strategic minerals must be imported by the United States to meet industrial and national defense demands?
3. Which of the strategic materials which must be imported are available to the United States only or largely from the Republic of South Africa?
4. What will be the probable effect on the availability of strategic mineral supply to the United States from the Republic of South Africa of the current political uncertainty in that country?
5. How will the significance of American strategic mineral supply dependence on the Republic of South Africa likely be affected by the current political uncertainty in the Soviet Union?
Minerals of Strategic Significance to
The list of minerals that are of strategic significance to the United States is both long and varied. These minerals, together with their strategic applications, are as follows (Bureau of Mines, 1990):
1. Barite. This mineral is used in the production of oil drilling fluids.
2. Bauxite. This mineral is used in the production of aluminum, which, in turn, is used in the production of aerospace and other national defense related alloys.
3. Cadmium. This mineral is used in the production of batteries, and in metal plating and coating processes.
4. Celestite. This mineral is used in the production of cathode ray tubes and pyrotechnics.
5. Chromium. This mineral is used in the production of aerospace and other national defense related alloys.
6. Cobalt. This mineral is used in the production of aerospace alloys.
7. Columbiu...