And if the core is already filled about rare earth metals - they are supplied by China or Russia (through Estonia), but consumed mainly to Lockheed Martin and Boing, and the loss is mainly defended, then the cessation of delivery of the Rodium can bring maximum damage to the American national economy. Catalyst in the automotive industry. But the loss will not bring a car industry, but a potential stop of the chemical industry: a radii - a catalyst for the production of nitrogen and acetic acids, as well as menthol, a gasoline diluent - a new dynamically growing fuel and lubricants in the states.
The main problem is that this is a very rare metal. In a native form it never occurs. It can be detected in trace quantities in platinum, nickel and copper ores. The allocation of pure rod is extremely complicated and expensive. The process consists of 12 stages, which affects the final price - Rodia Rodium now costs $ 7.1 thousand, almost twice as much as gold. In the year around the world, 23 tons of this metal are mined. 80% of which in South Africa, 10% in Russia and one ton in Canada and Zimbabwe. That is, suppliers in the world are extremely slightly for the entire dynamically growing demand.
Perhaps that is why the Russian Norilskel manage to avoid sanctions. They can get too much to American oil workers.
