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The High-Stakes Race to Satisfy Our Need for the Scarcest Metals on Earth

Keith Veronese
Prometheus Books, 2015

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Applicable

Recommendation

The majority of high-tech products contain circuits and chips made of rare earth metals. Most people can’t name these rare metals, but modern technology depends upon them. Science writer Keith Veronese’s informative book about the uses of exotic metals – including their political, military, geological and economic impact – covers a fascinating aspect of the future of technology. Veronese includes many little-known facts about geology, topography and rare metals, including their uses as poison and medication. Despite his sometimes distracting, sometimes intriguing, topical meanderings, getAbstract recommends this unusual report to amateur geologists, high-tech industry strategists, investors, entrepreneurs and science junkies.

Take-Aways

  • Most high-tech products contain circuits and chips that include rare earth metals.
  • Some metals are more common than others, but all share certain traits.
  • If the platinum extracted since the mid-1980s were melted down, it wouldn’t fill an average-sized swimming pool.

About the Author

Keith Veronese writes for Gawker Media, particularly for its science website, io9.com. He also wrote Plugged In: Comics Professionals Working in the Video Games Industry.

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