Processing and utilization of mineral raw materials in African countries

Abstract

For centuries mankind, has been involved in the exploration, mining and processing of mineral raw materials without paying much attention to the fact that even the earth's resources are finite. Today it is becoming evident that shortages of certain mineral raw materials, will occur. While in the past the whole world has relied on international free trade in the supply of mineral commodities the mineral exporting nations are increasingly concerned with processing their mineral raw materials into final products. At the same time there exists the fear that some mineral producers could decide to withhold supplies for reasons relating to their development objectives. The inevitable shortages of mineral raw materials are therefore beginning to be taken seriously by the world at large