Tantalum: A Valuable Ore

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Coltan is a tantalum-bearing ore that is very rare, valuable and highly sought all over the world (Hayes & Burge 2003: 11). Tantalum has double the density of steel and is extremely resistant to heat and corrosion (Hayes & Burge 2003: 11). In the majority of high-tech electronics such as computers, mobile phones, and game consoles, it is used as capacitors or super-alloys to conduct electric charges in these electronic equipments (Bleischwitz et al. 2012: 20). Almost a decade ago, Australia was the leading country responsible for 60% of the world’s tantalum production (Hayes & Burge 2003: 11). However, in 2008, the largest Australian tantalum producer called Talison, faced a financial crisis and suffered a downfall in the global market (Bleischwitz et al. 2012: 20). In Canada, only 4% of Canadian tantalum is produced, although this was back in 2001 and since then, Canada’s global market share of tantalum production has been gradually falling (Hayes & Burge 2003: 17). After Australia’s drastic fall in the production of tantalum, Central Africa became the largest supplier of tantalum in the world and is expected to continue with being the lead supplier for this mineral in the future (Bleischwitz et al. 2012: 21). There is no central market for tantalum and all of the largest tantalum mines are sold in advance with fixed price contracts (Hayes & Burge 2003: 11). Therefore, it is very common for dealers to set the prices on an individual transaction basis (Hayes & Burge 2003: 11). The demand for tantalum has been increasing over the last 10-15 years especially with the rapid technological advancements making it very high in economic importance (Bleischwitz et al. 2012: 21). Thus, social, political and environmental issues and consid... ... middle of paper ... ...ards from high exposures of toxins from the minerals that are mined. (World Vision 2013: 5). As well, recruitment of children in both regular armies and militias has been related to the conflict in Congo with children as young as eight years old becoming soldiers of war (Hayes & Burge 2003: 30-31). These child soldiers usually start as runners, bodyguards, porters, or spies and later on learn to handle weapons and serve in combat (Hayes & Burge 2003: 31). Human rights violations also extend to women and girls as young as five years old who are sexually assaulted, gang raped, sold into sex slavery, have their genitals mutilated and murdered (Hayes & Burge 2003: 30). Despite the United Nations and international aid agencies trying to put an end to human rights violations, child and human exploitation is still a huge ethical concern in the DRC (Hayes & Burge 2003: 32).

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