Geologic Resources

Historical and Political Implications

What are geologic resources?

Metal-bearing minerals

Non-metallic minerals

Fossil FuelsCoal

Oil

Natural Gas

Water

Uses of Geologic Resources

Minerals: composition – source of particular elements

Minerals: physical properties – specific uses

Fossil Fuels: heat, vehicles and industry

Water: obvious!

Global Distribution of Geologic Resources

Distribution is unevenOccurrences are a result of geologic history, especially past and present plate tectonic processesSome nations have a rich supply of geologic resourcesOthers have few or noneNations trade, import, export, make treaties or go to war over geologic resources

What do these have in common?

The Industrial Revolution

Pearl Harbor

The blinding of the cyclops, Polyphemus

California and the Civil War

South Africa and U.S. foreign policy

Classical Greek Civilization

Hitler’s invasion of Poland

Answer:

They are all examples of the relationship between geologic resources, history and politics!

Classical Greek Civilization

The “Bronze Age”

Bronze – an alloy of copper and tin

Made possible weapons and tools

Trade for metals and other commodities helped build Greek city states

Copper – from Kupros, now known as Cyprus

The blinding of Polyphemus

Homer describes Odysseus using an iron-shod wooden pole to blind the cyclops, so that he and his men can escape.

Iron was not commonly used at this time – the period was known as the Bronze Age.

Industrial Revolution

Why did the Industrial Revolution begin in Great Britain?Why did Germany and France follow rather quickly with industrialization, while nations like Italy and Spain followed more slowly?The answer, in part, pertains to the large resources of iron ores and coal in England, France and Germany.

California and the Civil WarGold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California in 1848.The great California Gold Rush began in 1849.This prompted a massive migration westward in the U.S.What does this have to do with the Civil War in the 1860’s?

California and the Civil War

The South felt that they could probably match the North militarily for awhile, but not in direct conflict.Part of the South’s war plan was to prolong the war long enough until

Political support for the war in the North weakened orThe North’s economy would falter under the sustained cost of the war

California and the Civil WarThe South failed to account for the steady supply of wealth that California gold pumped into the North’s economy.Gold from California financed the North’s war effort.

California and the Civil War

California gold, along with the North’s superior industrial base (especially iron) assured the North’s final victory.

Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?

Why a sneak attack?Why Hawaii?Why the United States?The answers are complex, but involve the interplay of the U.S. Pacific fleet, U.S. foreign policy and Japan’s lack of geologic resources.

Japan and the approachto Pearl Harbor

In the 1930’s, Japan embarked on imperial expansion, with military conquests in China, Southeast Asia and many Pacific Archipelagoes.Japan lacked many critical geologic resources: chiefly iron and oil.Iron and oil are critical to military operations and industry.

Japan and the approachto Pearl Harbor

The U.S. government opposed Japanese colonial expansion and placed an embargo on export of iron and oil to Japan in 1940.

In July of 1941, the U.S. placed a total embargo on Japan.

Less than six months later, Japan attempted to destroy U.S. Pacific fleet in Hawaii – the only military presence in the Pacific that could hinder Japan’s continued conquest for resources.

Hitler’s Invasion of Poland

Why Poland?

Why not a stronger military power like France that could have interfered with the overall plan of conquest?

Hitler’s Invasion of Poland

Poland has vast resources of iron and coal

Both were necessary to sustain a prolonged period of empire-building.

South Africa andU.S. foreign policy

The U.S. condemned apartheid in South Africa, but continued to trade with South Africa – despite an official boycott.

Why?

South Africa andU.S. foreign policy

South Africa supplies:

55% of the West’s Gold

47% of the West’s Chromium

40% of the West’s Manganese

80% of the West’s Platinum Group metals

South Africa trans-ships more than half of the world’s Cobalt

Most of the World’s Diamonds

South Africa andU.S. foreign policy

U.S. moral objections to apartheid were set aside. We continued to do business with the white minority government for reasons having to do with economics and national security (need for strategic minerals).

Conclusions

There is a close link between history, politics and geologic resourcesIn many cases, it can be shown that geologic resources are primary factors in determining historical events.These linkages exist because geologic resources are not evenly distributed around the world