Metals
Production of metalsThe production statistics of certain metals are, inter alias, used in global change modeling as sources for some greenhouse gases.
AluminiumAluminium is the second most abundant metal element in the Earth's crust after silicon, but it has only been produced commercially for slightly more than 100 years. Nowadays, it is the second most widely used metal after iron and important in virtually all segments of the world economy (Plunkert, 1996). The United States was in 1990 still the world largest producer of primary aluminium, although its share in global production decreased from 40% in 1960 to 23% in 1990. Australia and Canada have emerged as major producers since then, and nowadays countries like Brazil, China, Norway, Venezuela and some Persian Gulf states are entering the world market. In secondary production a difference is made between new scrap (a.k.a. home or runaround scrap) and old scrap. Home scrap is recycled within the company generating the scrap and does not enter the market. Old scrap is generated by companies who do not want to or can deal with the scrap, and this part does enter the market (Plunkert, 1996). The recycling of e.g. softdrink cans, and car parts is still beginning to emerge in some industrialized countries.
CopperCopper ranks third in world metal consumption after steel and aluminium. Major copper producing countries are Chile (24% of the global mine production) and the United States (19%). Copper use is dominated by electrical and electronic applications. Until the mid-50s copper consumption kept in pace with the production. Since then, the global copper consumption has steadily outgrown the production, in 1990 by 4%, and consumption patterns shifted towards the rapidly developing Asian countries. Copper production data are used for the calculation of SO2 emissions. Schmitz (1979) presents data for global non-ferrous metal production, including annual world primary copper mine and smelter production from 1700 to 1976. The sum of the regions is not equal to the world total given by the Metallgesellschaft, probably some countries were not included in the regional estimates. A good source for statistics on non-metal production after 1960 are the reports of the Metallgesellschaft.
LeadLead is one of the oldest metals used by humankind. Todays major use is in lead-acid batteries. Lead in gasoline, in the developed regions the second largest use of lead is steadily phasing out, to eliminate environmental and health hazards. Also in some countries the use of lead shot for hunting purposes is already forbidden. The five main producers of lead are Australia, United States, China, Mexico and Canada. Secondary production has recently increased by the great number of scrap batteries who are collected nowadays (Smith, 1996). Primary smelter production data of lead are used for the calculation of SO2 emissions. Data for mine and smelter production of lead for the period 1890-1955 were derived from Schmitz (1979). Regional totals may not match to the world total, probably Schmitz (1979) only presented the most important country data. Estimates for the period 1960-1970 were derived from Metallgesellschaft (1991), and for the period 1980-1990 from Metallgesellschaft (1992). Consumption data are derived from Metalgesellschaft.
ZincSmelter production data from zinc are used for the calculation of SO2 emissions. Mine and smelter output of zinc for the period 1890-1955 were derived from Schmitz (1979). Regional totals may not match to the world total, probably Schmitz (1979) only presented the most important country data. Estimates for the period 1960-1970 were derived from Metallgesellschaft (1991), and for the period 1980-1990 from Metallgesellschaft (1992).
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