What Are the Strategic Metals Offered by Swiss Metal Assets

The Rare strategic metals are a group of metals that have garnered attention in the last few years. The metals are primarily mined as by-products of minor metals like copper, zinc, tin and iron mining. There is a company that offers these metals as a vehicle within a portfolio. Swiss Metal Assets was formed in 2010 to meet the demand of investors for an option to enter the strategic metals market. These metals are used in mobile devices, hybrid vehicles, solar panels, computers and the one that has the US government nervous national defense. Each of the metals has a very different path to the market. Some of the strategic metals are produced in large amounts while others are produced in very small amounts. Here are all the strategic metals that are offered by Swiss Metal Assets.

Bismuth (Bi): This metal is used in pharmaceuticals like Pepto Bismol, alloys, nuclear reactors as a substitute for lead and cosmetics. Bismuth is mined as a by-product of lead and other base metals. This metal is available in the, “Key Industries” basket of metals. Supply is approximately 8500t.

Chromium (Cr): This metal is used as plating, in tanning, as a refractory material, stainless steel, dye and pigment and as a catalyst. Chromium is mined as chromite ore which is then converted to ferro-chrome. This metal is available in the, “Construction” basket of metals. Supply is approximately 22,000t.

Cobalt (Co): This metal is used in pigments, super-alloys, batteries, catalysts and of great importance to military applications. Cobalt is mined as a by-product of nickel and copper mining. This metal is available in the, “Construction” basket of metals. Supply is approximately 98,000t.

Gallium (Ga): This metal is used in the solar cells, defense, LED´s and semiconductors. Gallium is mined as a by-product of aluminum and zinc mining. This metal is available in the, “Energy”, “Key Industries” and “Defense” basket of metals. Supply is approximately 216t.

Hafnium (Hf): This metal is used in microprocessors, nuclear control rods and alloys. Hafnium is mined as a by-product of zirconium. This metal is available in the, ”Key Industries” basket of metals. Supply is approximately 70t.

Indium (In): This metal is used in mobile phone touch screens, LCD´s, LED´s and solar cells. Indium is mined as a by-product of base metals. This metal is available in the, “Key Industries”, “Energy” and “Defense” basket of metals. Supply is approximately 640t.

Molybdenum (Mo): This metal is used in Alloys which account for 86% of all usage, compounds, fertilizer and vitamins. Molybdenum is mined as Molybdenite ore. This metal is available in the, “Construction and Engineering” basket of metals. Supply is approximately is 234,000t.

Rhenium (Re): This metal is used in rocket and jet engines as a superalloy. Rhenium is mined as a by-product of molybdenum mining. This metal is available in the, “Defense” basket of metals. Supply is approximately 49t.

Tantalum (Ta): This metal is used in capacitors in electronics and in alloys. Tantalum is mined as Tantalite ore. This metal is available in the, “Key Industries”, “Construction” and “Defense” basket of metals. Supply is approximately 790t.

Tellurium (Te): This metal is used in solar cells, electronics and alloys. Tellurium is mined as a by-product of copper mining. This metal is available in the, “Key Industries” basket of metals. Supply is approximately 115t.

Tungsten or Wolfram(W): This metal is used in defense, superalloys, tungsten carbide for machining and electronics. Tungsten is mined from wolframite and scheelite ore. This metal is available in the, “Construction” and “Defense” baskets of metals. Supply is approximately 72,000t.

Zirconium (Zr): This metal is used in nuclear, space vehicle parts, jewelry as cubic zirconia and compounds. Zirconium is mined as a by-product of titanium and tin mining. This metal is available in the, “Constuction” basket of metals. Supply is approximately 1,190t.

By: Randy Hilarski - The Rare Metals Guy

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