The term critical and strategic minerals has been around for some 90 years to describe those mineral commodities needed for the US economy that are mostly imported. The term originated during the First World War to include those materials needed for the war effort. We developed a new list appropriate for economy and technology of 2011. The webinar will review the history of the concept of critical and strategic minerals, look at the new list. Details of some of the key commodities will be reviewed, considering their uses, price histories, the U.S. import situation and their current status for U.S. dependence.
Both the National Academy of Sciences in the U.S. and a special commission of the European Union have conducted special studies and raised the concern over the future availability of many critical and strategic minerals to feed industry in their respective jurisdictions.
- Teacher: James Burnell
Hydrocarbons dominate as sources of energy and are projected to be the dominant sources into the future. Alternative energy sources currently make only a small percentage of the total energy but there is positive growth. This one hour webinar will not only concentrate on U.S sources of energy but will discuss world energy sources and will discuss what the energy sources may look like in 2035 and some recommendations for the future.
- Teacher: Ron Wallace