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General and International Mineral Policy pp 1–38Cite as

Introduction

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Abstract

Raw materials mark the beginning of a value-added chain. In times of increasing globalization their availability is a precondition for prosperity, productivity and development of a country’s economy. Raw materials have always been needed for many purposes. Global demand had its origin in the Bronze and Iron Ages and increased exponentially during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th Century. Worldwide demand for raw materials rapidly increased in the 20th Century, caused by the explosive growth of the world population and global economic productivity. In the 21st Century, the information and computer age, the demand for raw materials remains on a high level. Modern jet airlines, automobiles, and mobile phones require a comprehensive cocktail of innumerable raw materials.

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  1. Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria

    DI Dr. Günter Tiess (University Assistant at the Chair of Mining Engineering and Mineral Economics)

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Tiess, G. (2011). Introduction. In: General and International Mineral Policy. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-89005-9_1

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