Re:A Shuffle of Aluminum, but to Banks, Pure Gold
by derleth on Sunday July 21, 2013 @06:07AM
(#6078394)
> the possible future headline "Women and poor worst hit as consumer good prices skyrocket due to aluminum shortage."
Actually, I'd expect rolling blackouts long before an actual Al shortage.
(Reasoning: Aluminum is one of the most abundant metals in the crust, but it's never found pure. It's always found in an ore, and the cheapest way to refine the ore is very electricity-intensive. As a side note, aluminum was once a fairly expensive metal; the tip of the Washington Monument is made out of it, which was an extravagant expense at the time.)
Actually, I'd expect rolling blackouts long before an actual Al shortage.
(Reasoning: Aluminum is one of the most abundant metals in the crust, but it's never found pure. It's always found in an ore, and the cheapest way to refine the ore is very electricity-intensive. As a side note, aluminum was once a fairly expensive metal; the tip of the Washington Monument is made out of it, which was an extravagant expense at the time.)