Pub. 4 2014 Issue 2

10 AT THE CENTER OF UTAH INDUSTRY Cell Phone? • Arsenic (gallium arsenide in the amplifier and receiver). Mined in China, Chile, Morocco, Peru, Kazakh- stan, Russia, Belgium and Mexico. • Copper (circuitry). Mined in Chile, United States, Peru, China, Australia, Russia, Indonesia, Canada, Zambia, Poland, Kazakhstan and Mexico. • Gallium (gallium arsenide). Mined in China, Germany, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. • Gold (circuitry). Mined in China, United States, Australia, South Afri- ca, Peru, Russia, Canada, Uzbekistan, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico and Chile. • Magnesium compounds (phone case). Mined in China, Turkey, North Korea, Russia, Slovakia, Austria, Spain, Australia, Brazil, Greece, India and the United States. • Palladium (circuitry). Mined in Russia, South Africa, Canada, United States and Zimbabwe. • Platinum (circuitry). Mined in South Africa, Russia, Canada, Zimba- bwe, United States and Colombia. • Silver (circuitry). Mined in Peru, Mexico, China, Australia, Chile, Rus- sia, United States, Poland, Bolivia and Canada. • Tungsten (circuitry). Mined in Chi- na, Russia, Canada, Austria, Bolivia and Portugal. • A multitude of petroleum products are used in cellular phones. DID YOU KNOW… The National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies Critical Minerals Report states that cell phones contain indium, titanium dioxide (for the dielectric heart of the phone), and indium tin oxide (in the liquid crystal display). The NRC Report also states that “the technological barrier to cellular communication was overcome only in the 1970s with the discovery of barium titanate ceramics. These ceramics possess the requisite dielectric properties for avoiding signal broadening and heat buildup, while operating over a wide temperature range at a consistent frequency. Other essential components of the cellular telephone include ceramic magnetic switches that contain rare earth elements (REs) and indium and the base stations for the cell phone networks that also use the element indium, as well as tantalum.” Reprinted with permission and adapted from the Mineral Information Institute. For more information, visit www.mii.org . INTERESTING FACTS • About 130 million cell phones are retired annually in the United States. Collectively, these cell phones weigh about 14,000 metric tons. Annually retired cell phones contain almost 2,100 metric tons of copper, 46 metric tons of silver, 3.9 metric tons of gold, 2 metric tons of palladium, and 0.04 metric tons of platinum. • Recovery and recycling of cell phones are in the early stages of development, as is the case for recycling of electronics in gen- eral. For cell phone recycling to grow, recycling must become economically viable. Efficient recovery infrastructure, product de- signs that simplify dismantling, and other changes are needed to facilitate the growth of cell phone recycling. • Gallium arsenide is used in the amplifier and receiver. • Magnesium compounds are alloyed to make the cell phone cases. What’s in my