Metal Country Trivia Quiz

Answer: Russia

The main commercial sources of palladium are the nickel-copper deposits in Norlisk-Talhnakh, Siberia, Russia and Sudbury Basin in Ontario, Canada. South Africa also has a large deposit. The Russian company Norilsk Nickel accounted for 39% of the world production at one point. Palladium can also be found with platinum-group metals such as gold however these tend to be placer deposits in stream beds, accumulating after the erosion of the source vein.

Answer: Australia

Australia was the largest source of zirconium during the early 21st century, followed South Africa. Most zirconium is a by-product of the production process for obtaining titanium. The mineral zircon is the most common zirconium-bearing mineral which is found in some mineral sands along with the titanium ores ilmenite and rutile. Once physically separated out, the sand is returned to the water. Australia also tops the list as largest producer of bauxite, iron ore and lithium. Bauxite is the main source of aluminium (and gallium), however China is the largest producer of the metal.

The image shows a selection of Australian didgeridoos, these musical instruments being made from eucalyptus and naturally bored out by termites.

Answer: South Africa

Its rarity in the Earth's crust affects the commercial applications that rhodium is used for as well as its price. Rhodium ores tend to be mixed in with precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum but the metal is not easy to extract. Other regions where it occurs include the Ural Mountains in Russia and Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. South Africa is also a major producer of iridium and platinum.

Answer: Mexico

Silver has been used since ancient times. Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the indigenous Maya and Inca used it more as a decorative material and a symbol of wealth, rather than as a currency. From the 16th century, silver mining became a significant plank in the colonial economy of Mexico and, in turn, of Spain. Mexico remains a leading producer.

Answer: Canada

Although not the largest country producer in recent times, the largest single supplier used to based in Trail, British Columbia, Canada in the early 2000s. Country-wise, China, South Korea and Japan are leading producers with the metal being produced as a by-product during the smelting of, typically, sulphidic zinc ores.

As a by-product, the indium supply available is determined by the economics of extracting zinc and, to some extent, copper from their sulphidic ores. The image shows a couple of maple leaves, which is strongly associated with Canada.

Answer: Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is responsible for over 40% of the world's production of uranium (2022). Most uranium is now obtained by in-situ leaching where holes are drilled into the ore-bearing rock, followed by explosive or hydraulic fracturing and then a leachate is pumped into dissolve the mineral which is then recovered through a second bore hole.

The uranium can then be extracted from the leachate, ending up as yellowcake uranium. The image is shows the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft blasting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 14 October 2004.The Cosmodrome has been used for space missions since 1955. All Russian crewed missions have started here.

Answer: DR Congo

As well as having the highest reserves, DR Congo produces the bulk of the world supply of cobalt annually. It is mainly produced as a by-product of copper and nickel smelting. DR Congo perhaps get more attention for its conflict minerals, namely tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold (the 3TGs). These minerals, or the motivation to control these resources, have helped sustain conflict and exploitation in the eastern regions of DR Congo for some years.

Formerly known as Congo Free State and then Belgian Congo, it was a Belgian colony between 1885 and 1960. The image shows an okapi, a forest giraffe native to the forests of DR Congo.

Answer: Chile

Chile tops the list of copper producers with Peru coming second. Copper has been mined for about 10,000 years with roughly 95% of that mined since 1900. At current extraction rates, it is estimated that there is roughly 5 million years' worth in the Earth's crust. Whether it is economic or ecologically sound to recover is another matter. As of 2023, about a third of the demand for copper is met from recycled copper.

The image shows some of the nearly 1,000 statutes on Easter Island (or Rapa Nui). This is an island and special territory of Chile.

Answer: Indonesia

After China, Indonesia came a close second as a producer of tin in 2019. Myanmar now produces and exports a similar amount as Indonesia. Economically recoverable tin reserves are projected to run out within 40 years. Perhaps recycling will become an increasing important source of the metal if a substitute is not found. Tin has been mined since at least the Bronze Age, bronze being mainly an alloy of copper and tin.

The image shows the Rafflesia arnoldii, also known as the corpse flower or giant padma.

It is one of the national flowers of Indonesia and can boast the largest individual flower in the world.

Answer: Brazil

Brazil accounts for most of niobium's world production with Canada coming a distant second. Niobium tends to be found in combination with other elements, often including tantalum. Both elements derive their names from Greek mythology and were discovered in the 19th century. Another element was also 'discovered' and named pelopium, however this turned out to be a mixture of niobium and tantalum. Niobe was a daughter of Tantalus while Pelops was his son.

The less common niobates, such as those in the pyrochlore group, are the source of most production. Brazil has two large deposits and Canada one, both discovered in the 1950s and still being worked. To get the purity required for superconductors, electron beam melting (a type of 3D printing done in a vacuum) is part of the process.

The image shows a toco toucan also found in Brazil as well as several other South American countries.