Changes

::*'''Question:''' What does "China controls 70% of global extraction, '''85% of refining''' mean? It means China not only controls the vast majority of [[rare earths]] they also control the process of extracting and processing the raw rare earths from rock.

::*'''Question:''' What does "China controls 70% of global extraction, '''85% of refining''' mean? It means China not only controls the vast majority of [[rare earths]] they also control the process of extracting and processing the raw rare earths from rock.

<big>'''The Global Reagent Squeeze: Supply Chain Vulnerabilities in Critical Mineral Processing'''</big>

<big>'''The Global Reagent Squeeze: Supply Chain Vulnerabilities in Critical Mineral Processing'''</big>

'''1. Introduction: The Invisible Constriction'''

'''1. Introduction: The Invisible Constriction'''

The global transition toward electrification, renewable energy infrastructure, and advanced defence technologies has historically been analysed predominantly through the lens of geological scarcity.  

The global transition toward electrification, renewable energy infrastructure, and advanced defence technologies has historically been analysed predominantly through the lens of geological scarcity.  

Market forecasts, geopolitical strategies, and corporate risk assessments have focused intensively on the availability of physical reserves of copper, nickel, lithium, rare-earth elements, and uranium. International  

 

Market forecasts, geopolitical strategies, and corporate risk assessments have focused intensively on the availability of physical reserves of copper, nickel, lithium, rare-earth elements, and uranium.  

 

International  

 

However, the cascading geopolitical industrial events of 2025 and early 2026 have exposed a flaw in this traditional analytical framework: the severe vulnerability of the critical minerals sector lies in the reliable availability of the highly specific chemical reagents required to process it into refined metal  

However, the cascading geopolitical industrial events of 2025 and early 2026 have exposed a flaw in this traditional analytical framework: the severe vulnerability of the critical minerals sector lies in the reliable availability of the highly specific chemical reagents required to process it into refined metal  

The mining industry is witnessing an accelerated structural shift from geological scarcity to chemical input bottlenecks, where the architecture of modern metallurgy is being severely constrained by the geopolitical and logistical realities of the global reagent supply chain.

The mining industry is witnessing an accelerated structural shift from geological scarcity to chemical input bottlenecks, where the architecture of modern metallurgy is being severely constrained by the geopolitical and logistical realities of the global reagent supply chain.

Modern mineral processing relies on highly specialised hydrometallurgical and physiochemical techniques.  

Modern mineral processing relies on highly specialised hydrometallurgical and physiochemical techniques.  

Processes such as solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) for copper oxide ores, high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) for lateritic nickel, and in-situ recovery (ISR) for uranium demand vast, continuous volumes of high-purity sulphuric acid  

Processes such as solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) for copper oxide ores, high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) for lateritic nickel, and in-situ recovery (ISR) for uranium demand vast, continuous volumes of high-purity sulphuric acid  

Furthermore, the separation of rare earth elements requires multi-stage applications of specialised organophosphorus solvent extractants, while primary gold extraction remains dependent on the supply of sodium cyanide

Furthermore, the separation of rare earth elements requires multi-stage applications of specialised organophosphorus solvent extractants, while primary gold extraction remains dependent on the supply of sodium cyanide

• Recent Cost Impact: High sensitivity to natural gas and ammonia feedstock prices for HCN precursors

• Recent Cost Impact: High sensitivity to natural gas and ammonia feedstock prices for HCN precursors

From guidance to reality: acid shortages forced Kazatomprom to cut ~5,000 tU and Indonesian HPAL producers to idle up to 50% of capacity. This is the new cost-curve reality. Note, Kazatomprom are urgently building an acid production online status is hard to ascertain, but maybe by early 2027}}

From guidance to reality: acid shortages forced Kazatomprom to cut ~5,000 tU and Indonesian HPAL producers to idle up to 50% of capacity. This is the new cost-curve reality. Note, Kazatomprom are urgently building an acid production online status is hard to ascertain, but maybe by early 2027

 

::[[User:Conservative]] didn't bother to "collect as much relevant data as possible" in his [[critical thinking]] before, during, of after Andy allowed him to [[spam]] [[Conservapedia]] with his [[racist]] and [[liberal claptrap]]. [[User:RobSmith|RobS]]^{[[User talk:RobSmith|Abnormal is fine. Stupid isn't.]]} 16:59, May 16, 2026 (EDT)

::[[User:Conservative]] didn't bother to "collect as much relevant data as possible" in his [[critical thinking]] before, during, of after Andy allowed him to [[spam]] [[Conservapedia]] with his [[racist]] and [[liberal claptrap]]. [[User:RobSmith|RobS]]^{[[User talk:RobSmith|Abnormal is fine. Stupid isn't.]]} 16:59, May 16, 2026 (EDT)

*[https://citizenwatchreport.com/trump-xi-final-round-can-a-grand-bargain-stop-the-4-inflation-wave/ Trump-Xi Final Round: Can a “Grand Bargain” stop the 4% inflation wave?]

*[https://citizenwatchreport.com/trump-xi-final-round-can-a-grand-bargain-stop-the-4-inflation-wave/ Trump-Xi Final Round: Can a “Grand Bargain” stop the 4% inflation wave?]