Asian Geographic I5 2020

ISSUE 5/2020 ELEMENTS OF LIFE, COLOURS OF ASIA

THE METAL EDITION THE METAL EDITION

TM

NO. 144 ISSUE 5/2020

8The Metals

THAT SHAPED SOCIETY

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ChairmaN No. 144 • Issue 5/2020 The metal issue
LIM Geok Khoon
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
PubliShEr/EdiTOrial dirECTOr highlights fEAtURE: mEtAl REvolUtion

John THET • [email protected] 06 Images of Asia 2020 38 The Eight Metals that
aSSiSTaNT EdiTOr Shaped Society
CUltURE
Elizabeth LIM • [email protected] The discovery of metals
CONTribuTiNg EdiTOr 26 The Metal Element revolutionised civilisations

Ian BONGSO-SELDRUP • [email protected] REflECtions fEAtURE: thE mEtAl

DESIGN 32 The Battle for Earth’s 56 The Future of Metals
aSSiSTaNT arT dirECTOr Rare Metals
Tinhtwe JUSTIN • [email protected] Today, metals are found in our
Over 10,000 years ago, our most sophisticated technological
ADVERTISING & MARKETING ancestors found copper, the innovations and have become
rEgiONal buSiNESS maNagErS first metal known to man. The essential elements in maintaining
Elysee TAN • [email protected] discovery allowed humans to our high-tech way of life
step out of the Stone Age and
Desmond HO • [email protected] into the Age of Metals fEAtURE: REvEAlED
Karter LEE • [email protected]
timElEss 64 The Fabled Realm of
PrOjECT & EvENTS maNagEr Suvarnabhumi
Ellfrance PHANG • [email protected] 76 The Gift
Cloaked in mystery for centuries,
markETiNg maNagEr Ag PAssPoRt Suvarnabhumi has been the
Nora ISMAIL • [email protected] subject of much debate among
77 Island Tourism of scholars and historians alike
markETiNg ExECuTivE South Asia
Tan Kay HWEE • [email protected] highlights
Journey to South Asia with
CIRCULATION us as we take you on a tour 72 Discovering the
SENiOr TraffiC/PrOduCTiON maNagEr around two of the most amazing Wrecks of the
islands found in the region. Philippines
Victor OW • [email protected] With crystal-clear waters, white
sand beaches, incredible marine highlights
Editorial Submissions • [email protected] life and the most amazing dive
Subscriptions • [email protected] sites, these islands will make 90 Enabling Artists to
Feedback • [email protected] you feel as though you’ve just Perpetuate Their Art
stepped into paradise

ON THE COVER

A collection of objects made from eight different
metals that have shaped society

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK

Copyright © 2020 by Asian Geographic Magazines Pte Ltd. No material may be reproduced without Please recycle.
written permission. This publication is purchased with the understanding that information is presented from
many sources for which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher as to accuracy, originality, or
completeness. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering product endorse-
ments or providing instruction as a substitute for appropriate training by qualified sources. All content provided is
accurate at the time of publishing. Unmarked Images are purchased from Shutterstock.

MCI (P) 097/06/2019; PPS 1367/04/2013 (022956) ISSN 0219-3310

AsianGeo @asiangeographic @asiangeographic

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“Everything has its limit – iron ore cannot be tourisM boArDs
educated into gold.”
AttrACtions
—Mark Twain
CoMMerCiAl Centres
From the steel used in our skyscrapers to the tin cans of our
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drinks, metals have become an indelible part of our lives. Mercury
seduced us in our search for immortality while gold has both created NewsstaNd distributioN
and destroyed empires. These are just some of the metals that ASIAN Geographic can be found in the following countries. If
have played vital roles in our shared history. you have difficulty finding us on newsstands, please contact our
Join us as we explore the long and complex history of metals in our distributors: ChinA AnD hong Kong Times Publishing (HK) Ltd;
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progress in a myriad of different fields – and why we can ill afford to
use up these finite resources. media correspoNdeNts
inDiA, sRi lAnKA
Elizabeth LIM RMA Media, Faredoon KUKA | [email protected]
nEPAl, BAnglADEsh
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JAPAn
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SEPTEMBER 2020

Photos of the month

BLACK & WHITE
CATEGORY WINNER
Photographer
Sharkawi Che Din

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Selangor, Malaysia

Photo Location
West Sumatra, Indonesia

Camera
Canon EOS 1D X

sharkawi.din

@sharkawi3d

An Atmospheric
View of a
Farmer in a
Paddy Field
Heading Home
Before the Sunset

6

Black & White Category Winner

7

IOA | HIGHLIGHTS

Black & White Category Finalists

BLACK & WHITE A Buffalo Boy
CATEGORY FINALIST

Photographer
Mohd Nazri Bin Sulaiman

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Selangor, Malaysia

Photo Location
Terengganu, Malaysia

Camera

Sony α7S II

nazri.sulaiman.7

@nazriphotoelements

8

Taken a Cloud

BLACK & WHITE
CATEGORY FINALIST
Photographer
Sundaram Perumal

Nationality
Indian

Place of Residence
India

Photo Location
Theni, Tamil Nadu, India

Camera
Canon EOS 550D

Śundãram Perumal

@sundarram_perumal

9

BLACK & WHITE
CATEGORY FINALIST
Photographer
Mohd Ezal

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia

Photo Location
Pondo Village, Gaya Island, Sabah

Camera

SONY α77 II

www.facebook.com/mohd.ezal

@hellomohdezal

BLACK & WHITE
CATEGORY FINALIST

Photographer
Mohd Nazri Bin Sulaiman

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Selangor, Malaysia

Photo Location
Sabah, Malaysia

Camera

Sony α6000

nazri.sulaiman.7

@nazriphotoelements

Face of Gaya Island

10

Black & White Category Finalists

The Eyes of a Homeless Man, Malaysia

11

IOA | HIGHLIGHTS

Landscape Category Winner

12

LANDSCAPE
CATEGORY WINNER
Photographer
Mohd Samsi Sumairi
Nationality
Malaysian
Place of Residence
Putrajaya, Malaysia
Photo Location
Royal Belum, Malaysia
Camera

Sony α7R II

shamsi.mohd.5
shamsi_photography

Dramatic Cloudy Sky
in the Morning at Royal
Belum Forest, Malaysia

13

IOA | HIGHLIGHTS

Landscape Category Finalists

LANDSCAPE
CATEGORY FINALIST
Photographer
Mohd Ezal

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia

Photo Location
Al-Khatam Desert, Dubai

Camera

Sony α77 II

www.facebook.com/mohd.ezal

@hellomohdezal

14

View of Al-Khatam Desert

15

IOA | HIGHLIGHTS

The Majestic View of Mount Kinabalu of Sabah during LANDSCAPE
Sunrise seen from the Fisherman Village in Victoria, CATEGORY FINALIST
Labuan, Malaysia Photographer
Roslan Alias

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

Photo Location
Labuan, Malaysia

Camera
Nikon D800

ulanzulcar9

@roslan.alias

16

Landscape Category Finalists

Mossy Forest – A Park in the Cloud LANDSCAPE
CATEGORY FINALIST
Photographer
Mohd Nazri Bin Sulaiman

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Selangor, Malaysia

Photo Location
Cameron Highland, Malaysia

Camera

Sony α7R II

www.facebook.com/nazri.sulaiman.7

@nazriphotoelements

17

IOA | HIGHLIGHTS

Street/People Category Winner

STREET/PEOPLE
CATEGORY WINNER
Photographer
Mohd Nazri Bin Sulaiman
Nationality
Malaysian
Place of Residence
Selangor, Malaysia
Photo Location
Sabah, Malaysia
Camera

Sony α6000

nazri.sulaiman.7
@nazriphotoelements

My Life My Soul –
Sea Gypsy’s Life
in Semporna

18

19

IOA | HIGHLIGHTS

Street/People Category Finalists

STREET/PEOPLE The Life-Changing Beauty of the Sewing Machine
CATEGORY FINALIST
Photographer
Callie Eh

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Switzerland

Photo Location
Jodhpur, India

Camera
Leica Q2

Callieehbb

@callie_eh

20

STREET/PEOPLE
CATEGORY FINALIST
Photographer
Sharkawi Che Din

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Selangor, Malaysia

Photo Location
Semporna, Sabah,
Malaysia

Camera
Canon EOS 1D X

sharkawi.din

@sharkawi3d

A Group of
Children Play
on a Swing
Tied to a
Coconut Tree
in Semporna,
Sabah

21

IOA | HIGHLIGHTS

Wildlife Category Winner

22

WILDLIFE
CATEGORY WINNER
Photographer
Lee Shing Yaw
Nationality
Malaysian
Place of Residence
Selangor, Malaysia
Photo Location
Bandar Botanic, Klang,
Selangor, Malaysia
Camera
Nikon D750

leeshingyaw
@shingyaw

Blowing Bubbles

23

IOA | HIGHLIGHTS

Wildlife Category Finalists

WILDLIFE
CATEGORY FINALIST
Photographer
Hafiz Ikhlas

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Kota Bharu,
Kelantan, Malaysia

Photo Location
Lenggor, Mersing,
Johor, Malaysia

Camera
Fujifilm X-T2

hafizikhlas85

@hafizikhlas

Eye to Eye

24

WILDLIFE
CATEGORY FINALIST
Photographer
Siti Nur Ain Binti Abdullah

Nationality
Malaysian

Place of Residence
Kota Bharu,
Kelantan, Malaysia

Photo Location
Pantai Cahaya Bulan,
Kelantan, Malaysia

Camera
Mobile (Android)

www.facebook.com/sitinur.ain.771

@ciksakura_143

Raindrops on the Plant

25

CULTURE | THE ELEMENT

STAYING TOUGH:

The Metal Element

Valued for their strength, durability, versatility and electrical
conductivity, metals make up an important part of our society.
The material of protective shields and the sharpest of swords,
metal represents solidity, strength, persistence but also rigidity.
Yet unbeknown to many, metals are intricately entwined within
our bodies and more than just being the material of products,
metal is the element of life.

Text Elizabeth Lim

BELOW As the fourth phase of the Chinese element, this is the time where the
philosophy of wu xing, metal represents containing warmth of earth fades and a
A golden yin-yang the force of gravity, the minerals found slightly colder, sharper and crisper
on the wall of a within the Earth, patterns of heavenly energy comes through.
Chinese temple bodies and the power of electrical
in Thailand conductivity and magnetism. It is known In Chinese Taoist belief, the metal
to have structure, but it allows for the element denotes the attributes firm, rigid,
moulding and changing of form when persistent, strong and determined. Like
worked with. the edge of a masterfully crafted sword,
metal is able to cut through the clutter
Autumn is the season of metal, and mess of one’s life, separating what is
and it is the period of harvesting and worth retaining and refining from what is
collecting, representing a moving away spent and impure, though sometimes,
from the outward yang just like the may be brutally sharp when doing so.
elements of wood and fire. Known
as being a nurturing and organising The metal element is intrinsically
linked to the lungs and large intestine,

26

“The metal element has to do with our spirituality. It is the place we
choose to find our connection with all of life. When we tend to the
precious metal within us, it comes forward as inner strength that
shines bright for all to witness.”

–Regina M. Powers, What Color Is Your Medicine?

and like metal, these organs work Metal’s symbolic shape is that of the ABOVE
hand in hand to help the body with circle, the purest of shapes, a line that
the separation of the pure and impure. never ends. The ancient Chinese associated A golden feng shui
The lungs are said to be the “receiver the circle with unity, perfection and turtle statuette
of the pure qi from the Heavens”, completeness and during ancient times,
allowing our bodies to take in the circles and squares were frequently used
pure and new, and is home to our together to symbolise the yin and yang
corporal soul (po), where it is bound relationship of the Mother (square, earth
together by indissoluble ties to the yin element) and the Father (the Heavenly,
body, descending with it to earth metal yang element). The Heavens to
even at death. Our body’s qi begins the ancient Chinese was mysterious and
in our lungs and from our lungs, our unknown. To them, the circle represented
prenatal essence, or jing, from the spiritual infinite, whilst the straight lines
kidneys and the nutritive qi from our and sharp corners of a square represented
spleen ascends, before dispersing and the realm of man.
descending our purified qi throughout
the body in the form of vapour. This In feng shui, the metal element is
very cycle of in-breath and out-breath the most welcome in the west, northwest
is a representation of the wu xing cycle. and north, and should be limited in the
east and southeast areas.

27

Ideally, the space of a metal person is with success in business and should be
clean, clutter-free and open with touches included in workspaces of offices.
of warm decor. The metal element is
one of calmness and precision, and Here are some ways to bring the metal
the qi is more of an intangible and element into your space:
invisible energetic charge, that helps
you maintain structure when things 1. Add metal decorative pieces
around you may seem to be getting out Bringing strong metal decorative pieces into
of control. The focused and structured a room is the quickest way to create a strong
qualities of the metal element help presence of the metal element into your
space. Consider adding a strong metallic

28

THE METAL
ELEMENT IN
A NUTSHELL:

Time of day

3am – 7am
Time of year

Autumn
Energy

Contracted
Attitude

Inner strength,
righteousness

Organ

Lungs and
large intestine

Taste

statement piece into your space facing ABOVE Pungent, spicy, umami
west, north or northwest. Metal in feng shui: A living room with modern couch, (Japanese word meaning
metal shelves, industrial coffee table, and oval and “a pleasant savoury taste”)
2. Paint the walls in metal element colours circular features
Using metal element colours such as white Colour
and grey, or metallic colours such as bronze 3. Make use of oval or circular decor
and gold, is the easiest way to bring about a Circles are said to represent the perfect White and grey
shift of energy into your home or office. Have shape, representing a perfect balance of Forms
your west, north or northwest wall painted yin and yang. The sharp edges of furniture
as a statement in metal element colours. are said to cut the qi in your home, so
consider adding anything circular, oval or
with rounded edges to bring a strong metal
element energy into your home. ag

Minerals, precious
29 metals, crystals

CULTURE | THE ELEMENT

Metal People

Never stopping until they reach their goals, PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Metal Rat India
metal people are vigorous, strong, ambitious,
domineering and self-motivated. They are Jan 28, 1960 – Feb 14, 1961 Mohanlal Nair (1960)
heroic and generous, always extending a Jan 25, 2020 – Feb 11, 2020
helping hand to someone in need; responsible, Actor, producer, philanthropist
disciplined; patient and loyal to their friends, Characteristics:
going the extra mile to build good relationships Reliable, persuasive, Indonesia
with the people around. irritable, sensitive with
strong self-awareness Joko Widodo (1961)
Metal types are people who have a balance
of yin and yang, making them neither extroverted Metal Ox Politician, current president
nor introverted, always able to maintain a of Indonesia
temperate manner. They are extremely wise, Feb 15, 1961 – Feb 4, 1962
stable and methodical, often business-oriented India
well organised. They are able to understand Characteristics:
and appreciate the richness and luxuries of life, Diligent, honest, Rajinikanth (1950)
enjoying the good things, often feeling satisfied gentle, frank
with where they are in their lives, accepting that Actor, film producer
there are times where they just have to let go of Metal Tiger
certain things, and move on with their life, leaving USA
any attachments behind. Just like how metal has Feb 17, 1950 – Feb 5, 1951
the ability to conduct electricity, people of the Feb 14, 2010 – Feb 2, 2011 Robin Williams (1951)
metal element experience strong impulses and
generative powers that allow them to bring about Characteristics: Actor, comedian
change and transformation to those they come Independent, active,
in contact with. quick-tempered

The negative emotion associated with metal Metal Rabbit
is grief and the idea of “letting go”, which occurs
when there is an energy imbalance, whilst the Feb 6, 1951 – Jan 26, 1952
positive emotion is courage. A metal person Feb 3, 2011 – Jan 22, 2012
works hard and is able to work through setbacks
and hardships to achieve what they set out to Characteristics:
accomplish. However, the inability to relax unless Meek, kind, cheerful,
everything is perfect can cause an imbalance of enthusiastic, vain
energy, making them feel upset and negative,
resulting in self-doubt. Without the ability to 30
perceive their loss and grief, metal types end
up becoming clingy and envious, allowing their
past hurt to damage their present relationships
and making it difficult for them to form bonds
with others.

Metal types are prone to respiratory problems
such as asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath,
cough, sore throat, diarrhoea, constipation and
even skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis
(a skin condition that causes red, itchy patches).

The 12
Zodiacs

Metal Dragon Hong Kong Metal Monkey India

Feb 8, 1940 – Jan 26, 1941 Bruce Lee (1940) Feb 16, 1980 – Feb 4, 1981 Kareena Kapoor (1980)

Feb 5, 2000 – Jan 23, 2001 Martial artist, actor, director Characteristics: Actress
Resourceful, innovative,
Characteristics: impatient, stubborn
Forthright, kind-
hearted, brave, filial

Metal Snake USA Metal Rooster Singapore

Jan 27, 1941 – Feb 14, 1942 Bernie Sanders (1941) Feb 5, 1981 – Jan 24, 1982 Taufik Batisah (1981)

Jan 24, 2001 – Feb 11, 2002 Politician Characteristics: Singer-songwriter, actor
Gentle, helpful,
Characteristics: responsible,
Warm-hearted, generous, broad-minded
courageous, overconfident

Metal Horse Nigeria Metal Dog Hong Kong

Jan 30, 1930 – Feb 16, 1931 Chinua Achebe (1930) Feb 6, 1970 – Jan 26, 1971 Karen Mok (1970)

Jan 27, 1990 – Feb 14, 1991 Novelist Characteristics: Singer, actress
Conservative,
Characteristics: accommodating, realistic
Helpful, self-conscious,
straightforward

Metal Goat Russia Metal Pig Malaysia

Feb 17, 1931 – Feb 5, 1932 Mikhail Gorbachev Jan 27, 1971 – Feb 24, 1972 Christopher Lee (1971)

Feb 15, 1991 – Feb 3, 1992 (1931) Characteristics: Actor, host, singer
Gentle, helpful,
Characteristics: Politician responsible,
Ambitious, cautious, broad-minded
responsible, lacking
flexibility

31

Reflections

The Battle for Earth’s Rare Metals

We’ve come a long way since our ancestors discovered copper and fashioned the
first rudimentary metal objects. In recent decades, we have put the rarest metallic
chemical elements to use in the most exotic applications, from smartphones to fighter
jets. These abundant but highly dispersed, difficult-to-extract metals – the rare-earth
elements – have become one of Asia-Pacific’s most important strategic resources.

Text Elizabeth Lim

THE PERIODIC TABLE OF THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS
“Rare-earth metals” is the term used to refer to the elements defined by atomic numbers 21, 39, and 57 to 71

WHAT ARE RARE EARTH METALS? abundance of these elements in many workable
deposits around the world. These metals were
The Periodic Table of Elements contains chemical only deemed rare, because they were often found
information on over 118 different elements and in very small concentrations at a time, meaning
their various properties that can be found on Earth ore deposits are not commonly economically
today. Out of these 118 elements, 17 of them are exploitable. Ideally, for a rare earth metal ore to
known as rare-earth metals (REMs) or rare-earth be economically viable, it should contain more
elements (REEs). They were first given the name than 5 percent rare earths. If they are mined along
“rare earths” because it was originally thought with another product, such as iron, this allows
that there was a short supply of these elements economic recovery when concentrations are as
on Earth. These elements are typically dispersed low as 0.5 percent by weight.
and rarely found in concentrated amounts, but
further studies have shown that there is in fact an

32

The existence of these rare metals did not cerium (Ce) was the first individual element
come to light until the 18th century. Swedish to be isolated. The first commercially produced
army Lieutenant Carl Axel Arrhenius found a rare-earth element was later mined in the 1880s
unique black mineral in a small quarry in Ytterby, in Sweden and Norway, before moving to
did a small town near Stockholm. The mineral was foreign production in Brazil in 1887, and then
found to be a mixture of rare earths, and in 1803, India in 1911.

The 17 rare-earth metals and some of their common applications

Sc Scandium: Atomic weight 21. Eu Europium: Atomic weight 63. Makes
Used to strengthen aluminium alloys coloured phosphors, lasers, and
mercury-vapour lamps
Y Yttrium: Atomic weight 39. Used in
superconductors and exotic light Gd Gadolinium: Atomic weight 64.
sources Used in magnets, specialty optics, and
computer memory
La Lanthanum: Atomic weight 57. Used in
specialty glasses and optics, electrodes Tb Terbium: Atomic weight 65. Used as green
and hydrogen storage in ceramics and paints, and in lasers and
fluorescent lamps
Ce Cerium: Atomic weight 58. Makes an
excellent oxidiser, used in oil cracking Dy Dysprosium: Atomic weight 66. Used in
during petroleum refining and used for magnets and lasers
yellow colouring in ceramics and glass
Ho Holmium: Atomic weight 67. Used in lasers
Nd Neodymium: Atomic weight 60. Used in
magnets, lasers and as purple color Er Erbium: Atomic weight 68. Used in steel
in ceramics and glass alloyed with vanadium, as well as in lasers

PmPromethium: Atomic weight 61. Used in Tm Thulium: Atomic weight 69. Used in
nuclear batteries. Only man-made portable X-ray equipment
isotopes have ever been observed on
Earth, with a speculated 500–600 grams  Yb Ytterbium: Atomic weight 70. Used in
naturally occurring on the planet infrared lasers Also works as a great
chemical reducer
SmSamarium: Atomic weight 62. Used in
magnets, lasers and neutron capture Lu Lutetium: Atomic weight 71. Used in spe
cialty glass and radiology equipment

33

Reflections

CRUCIAL TO SOCIETY have become crucial in the technology and
defence industries, due to their unique magnetic,
Twenty years ago, the idea of owning a personal heat-resistant and phosphorescent (the process
mobile device was foreign to many people but in which energy is absorbed by a substance)
today, it is a device that many cannot live without, properties. This also means that in the production
and this is where rare-earth metals play an of products such as smartphones and missiles,
increasingly important though sometimes, these materials have no substitute.
unseen role. Often found in a wide range of both
common and specialised products, rare metals

ABOVE THE RARE-EARTH METAL MONOPOLY
Rare-earth elements are From 1940 to 1990, when rare-earth elements
important constituents began to prove important, the United States began
of high-tech devices like to produce and mine their own rare-earth minerals.
mobile phones Up till the 1980s, Mountain Pass Mine in California
became the biggest resource for the country,
OPPOSITE PAGE and was the main global source for rare-earth
Drilling rigs and excavators elements, accounting for over 78 percent of global
working on a site production. But with the destruction and waste
that came with the mining of rare-earth metals,
the mine was finally closed in 2002.

34

Countries such as Myanmar, Vietnam and Japan
are also known to have rare-earth reserves

In 1992, China’s then Communist Party leader take over as the leaders in the rare earth mining
Deng Xiaoping declared, “The Middle East has oil industry, and creating a near global monopoly.
and China has rare earth.” Before 1965, there was Chinese enterprises began mining and exporting
little demand for rare metals and little thought these rare metals on a large scale, due to the low
was put into the use of these elements, but that mining and labour costs. Many countries ended
changed when it was found that the rare element up shutting down their own mining facilities,
Europium (Eu) was essential in producing colour turning to China for the majority of their rare
images for televisions. Years later, in 1980, China metal imports. The US, in particular, placed a
began to find notable amounts of rare earth metals high reliance on China, importing more than
and by the 1990s, became the leading producer. 17,000 tons of rare earth compounds in 2017. This,
The country currently supplies more than 90 however, caused the country’s rare earth reserves
percent of the world’s needs. Countries such as to fall sharply, with its share of world reserves
Myanmar, Vietnam and Japan are also known to exceeding 70% at the end of 2016, to an estimated
have rare earth reserves. 37 percent of world serves today. The Chinese
government subsequently shut down illegal
With the closure of the mine in California, the mining enterprises in an effort to cut the rare-
majority of the world’s rare metals export shifted earth production quota.
over to China, giving them the opportunity to

35

Reflections

THE BATTLE FOR THE METAL
In the years that followed the closure of Mountain
Pass, China began to strategically kill off
competitors, by taking control of the raw materials
whilst simultaneously flooding the market with
their own low-priced rare-earth elements that
made it difficult for other producers to compete
with. This created fissures between those that have
access to these rare elements, and those that do
not. China has been using its monopoly control
over rare-earth metals to threaten and pressure its
rivals. In 2010, the country quietly cut rare earth
exports to Japan due to a territorial issue and
detention over a Chinese fishing trawler captain,
even though Japan had been the main buyer of
rare-earth elements from China for many years.
The blocking of these exports was a blow to Japan
as they were crucial categories of minerals needed
for the production of products such as hybrid cars,
guided missiles and wind turbines. The control
China has over the vast majority of the world’s
rare-earth reserves has caused tensions among
many countries with industry officials expressing
worries that Chinese export bans could have severe
repercussions for various industries. The reliance
companies have on the availability of rare-earth
metals has put further emphasis on the importance
of needing geographic diversity of rare-earth
elements supplies and countries with no access
to these rare metals now have to find new ways
to mine and import the materials without having
to rely so heavily on China.

Japan has been setting up separate rare-earth
processing factories in Northern Vietnam as
well as working with the US and Australia to
facilitate the production of non-Chinese rare-
earth elements. India, Canada and the US are all
exploring different avenues to extract rare-earth
elements efficiently and cost-effectively, and once
an alternative is found, this will have the potential
to halt China’s monopoly.

With some rare-earth elements,
there is a high concentration of
radioactive residue produced
from the waste

36

The Middle East has oil and
China has rare earth

—Deng Xiaoping, 1992

LEFT BELOW
An open mine site with Beryllium deposits
rare-earth materials in Buryatia, Russia

WHERE TO NOW? environment that inhabits Pyongyang, hinders the
exploitation of these rare metals.
The world’s eyes have shifted over to North Korea,
where the highest concentration of rare earths is Rare-earth metals can be found in most of the
said to be found. The Jongju site in North Korea is high-tech products that support our modern lives.
believed to be home to the largest deposit of rare- However, while they are extremely important to
earth elements (nearly 216.2 million tons of rare the development of society, many countries are no
earth oxides, which is double the known world longer willing to accept the environmental damage
reserves), estimated to be worth between USD6– that comes along with the mining of these rare
10 trillion. This abundance of the earth resources elements. The mining of rare-earth metals causes
has interest from China, South Korea and Russia, major damage to surface vegetation, soil erosion,
but the greatest challenge is simply figuring pollution and a reduced food crop output, and
out how to mine the rare earths from North with some rare earths, there is a high concentration
Korea, and ship them to foreign countries as the of radioactive residue produced from the waste.
reclusiveness of the country, and the political Many mining companies don’t provide solid waste
management plans, which is threatening both
the environment and public health. Malaysia, for
example, is fighting back against Australian miner
Lynas Corporation. Pushing for better protections
for the environment, the government has instructed
Lynas Malaysia to properly dispose of more than
451,000 tonnes of water leach purification residue,
which is a harmful radioactive substance that is
produced in the mining process.

The battle for rare-earth metals may well
continue to escalate as the demand for the various
elements increases, but we must also keep in mind
that there is a finite supply of these resources, and
industry must be called upon to provide sustainable
long-term solutions. Apple, for instance, says
its latest iPhones contain 98 percent recycled
rare earths, including 100 percent recycled rare-
earth elements in all the smartphone’s magnets.
Ultimately, we must find ways to diffuse the fight
around rare earths, encourage healthy and equitable
competition, foster attitudes towards recycling,
and ensure that our use – and reuse – of rare-earth
metals is not at the expense of our rare and precious
planet Earth. ag

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FEATURE | METAL REVOLUTION: THE EIGHT METALS THAT SHAPED SOCIETY

FEATURE | METAL REVOLUTION: THE EIGHT METALS THAT SHAPED SOCIETY

Old copper pots and pans Golden Buddhist statue

MetalRevolution: The Eight
Metals That Shaped Society

Tin cans Hand cut lead crystal glass

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Silver donation bowls in Wat Sri Suphan Buddhist temple IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK

Bronze sculpture of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of wisdom

The discovery of metals revolutionised civilisations.
Making up around 25 percent of Earth’s crust, they have
shaped the way we live and governed our development
and progress as a society

Text Elizabeth Lim

Handling mercury Iron bells hanging in the Thai temple

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FEATURE | METAL REVOLUTION: THE EIGHT METALS THAT SHAPED SOCIETY

The discovery of metals revolutionised civilisations. Making up around 25 percent
of Earth’s crust, they have shaped the way we live and governed our development
and progress as a society. Join us as we go back to the very beginnings of metallurgy,
looking at the eight most influential metals that were harnessed in ancient times
and some of the most notable uses of these metals.

Copper IMAGE © SHUTTERSTOCK

AROUND 9,000 BCE metal used widely by ancient cultures, with
the oldest artefacts dating back to around
Found in Nature in vast quantities, copper is 9,000 BCE in the Middle East. It would take
mostly locked away in Earth’s crust, occurring thousands of years before the first copper was
in oxidised states and in combination extracted from ore, the oldest archaeological
with other metals. But copper also occurs evidence of copper making by this method
naturally in an uncombined form, and this from around 5,500 BCE in Serbia.
native metallic copper, with its unmistakable
reddish-orange hue, became the first

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The discovery of copper allowed humans In Roman times, the Latin aes cyprium
to step out of the Stone Age and into the referred to copper from Cyprus, where the metal
Copper Age, otherwise known as the was extensively mined. The term was later
Chalcolithic or Eneolithic, beginning in the corrupted to cuprum, the English word being
late fifth millennium BC and lasting at least derived from this.
1,000 years. By around 4,000 BCE, copper
was predominately used in metalworking Native metallic copper, with its
technology, as it was malleable and held unmistakable reddish-orange hue,
a sharp edge. Metalworkers were able to became the first metal used widely
manipulate the metal however they wanted, by ancient cultures
hammering it into sheets and casting it into
moulds to be worked into different shapes, OPPOSITE PAGE
which was quicker and easier than working Various shapes of
with stone. Copper was fashioned into tools, Copper cookware
fishhooks, ornaments, sculptures, and and dishes
weapons, amongst many other things.

Famous uses oF Copper

Copper figure of King Ur-Namma Copper alloy hand mirror Copper statue of Buddha

In Mesopotamia Egyptians India

Much of the copper used in Mining copper from Sinai, In India, copper was often
Mesopotamia was used to create the Egyptians used the to used in the making of tools
“foundation figures”. These figures make agricultural tools such and weapons, as well as in the
were cast in copper and placed creation of religious statues,
as sickles and hoes, with the most well-known being
beneath the foundation of as well as cookware, dishes, a copper statue of Buddha found
a building (often a temple), and in Sultanganj in the district of
were never meant to be found; saws, chisels and knives. Bhagalpur in Bihar. It is 2.3
they were only intended for the Additionally, known for metres tall, a metre wide and
Gods. The most well-known figure their fondness for personal weighs over half a tonne.
excavated from this time is the
beautification, they
“Foundation Figure of King made mirrors and razors
Ur-Nammu” (ca. 2112–2004 BCE).
from copper

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FEATURE | METAL REVOLUTION: THE EIGHT METALS THAT SHAPED SOCIETY

Gold

AROUND 4,000 BCE

IMAGE © SHUTTERSTOCK

First discovered in the ancient world in its most ancient civilisations until now, the cultural
basic and natural state in streams and in the thinking and association people have with gold
ground, gold became mankind’s first precious in society has not changed, and it still remains a
metal. Civilisations used it in the making of highly sought-after material.
jewellery and other artefacts due to its brilliance
and resistance to tarnishing. The rarity and A material that was widely
beauty of gold quickly made it the symbol of distributed around the world,
royalty and glamour in nearly every culture, gold was believed to be a symbol
with many civilisations associating it with of wealth among ordinary people
deities and immortality. Gold became one
of the most valuable and sought-after metals, ABOVE
and during prehistoric times, was seen as being Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar was first built
a viable currency in certain countries. between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. The gold seen on
the stupa is made of genuine gold plates, covering the brick
A material that was widely distributed around structure and attached by traditional rivets. From ordinary
the world, gold was believed to be a symbol citizens to royalty, people all over the country have donated
of wealth among ordinary people. Mankind gold to the pagoda to maintain it
intuitively placed a high value on its name,
associating the metal with power, royalty and
cultural elite. Ever since its use throughout

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Famous uses oF Gold Greece Cambodia

Egyptians Mined throughout the In 2007, in a town called
Mediterranean and Middle East Prohear in the Prey
Egypt was known as a land of bountiful by 550 BCE, gold was mainly Veng province of South-
gold, but the commodity was often used in Greece as money. eastern Cambodia,
controlled by the king, and those of Along with the characteristics achaeologists observed
a higher royal status were often the that gold possessed such as looting of gold and
individuals with a large collection of gold being durable, stable and silver ornaments from
objects. Gold was used commonly to noncorrosive, it was difficult prehistoric burial sites.
to counterfeit hence making While much was lost,
make jewellery, ornaments, it an ideal currency in these dozens of gold and silver
death masks, diadems, civilisations. The Greeks also rings, bracelets, and the
ornamental weapons, believed that gold was made like, were recovered.
among many other objects. from a dense combination of The finds are believed
water and sunlight because to be concrete evidence
The most famous discovery tthe metal was usually found showing the beginning of
of gold from Egypt was in streams goldsmiths’ handicrafts
found in the tomb of King in Southeast Asia
Tutankhamun, the only
Egyptian burial tomb that
has remained in a relatively
intact state at the point of
discovery. King Tutankhamun
had three different coffins laid
on top of one another. The
first two that were unearthed
were made from wood and
covered with gold sheet but
the innermost coffin was found
to have been made from thick
sheets of pure beaten gold.
A death mask was also found
which was constructed out of
two sheets of gold that were
hammered together and weighed
over 10 kilograms

Greek gold coins

did you know Gold box, late Shang dynasty, China

In China, unlike many other countries, gold was not used IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK
as a symbol of wealth or status. Rather, it was used for its
aesthetic value instead, yet it was still highly appreciated.
Historians have been unable to find evidence of an
abundance of gold in China and it is believed that during
the collapse of the Han dynasty, all the riches of gold in
the country were buried and hidden away, or alternatively
that there simply was not much of it to begin with. The first
documented use of gold was during the Shang dynasty
(c. 1600 BCE–c. 1046 BCE), where archaeological evidence
suggests that gold was hammered into a thin foil and
applied to objects for decorative purposes

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Famous uses oF silver Silver

Greece AROUND 3,000 BCE

The “Father of Western Medicine”, Greek Known in Latin as argentum, originating from
physician Hippocrates believed that silver the Sanskirt word argunas meaning “shining”
had strong antibacterial properties. The ancient silver is often an overlooked metal in comparison
Phoenicians (maritime people who are believed to gold, though it has properties that make it a
to be part of an ancient civilisation composed unique and special element. Pure silver is the
of independent city-states along the coast of best conductor of heat and electricity, and also
the Mediterranean Sea), used to drink out of the best reflector of visible light, which is why
silver vessels that held water, wine or vinegar, it is commonly used in the production of mirrores.
so that it would remain pure when they were However, pure silver is too soft for making
on their voyages. This is believed to have been products such as jewellery and tableware.
common among the ancient Romans, Greeks To combat this, silver is usually mixed with
and Egyptians as well other metals to create an alloy, for example,
the finest tableware is made from sterling
Korea silver, which is an alloy of 92.5 percent silve
and 7.4 percent copper (or another metal).
Like the Greeks, Koreans believed that silver
had antibacterial properties and that the metal
would react with poison. It is believed that
during the reign of Baekje (18 BCE to 660 CE),
the royal family used pure silver chopsticks
to test the food that was brought to them, to
ensure that no poison was present. If the silver
changed colour the moment a piece of food
was picked up, it was a signal that the food had
been tampered with. The practice of using metal
chopsticks has continued in Korea, though not,
of course, using silver. Rich families once used
gold, silver or brass chopsticks to show off their
wealth on special occasions, while modern
Koreans settle for stainless steel

The first known silver mining was practised Silver was considered a highly
around 3,000 BCE in Anatolia (the majority of valued material, with many also
modern-day Turkey), as well as across Europe and believing that it had medicinal
West Asia. Silver and lead are found together in properties. The metal was used
silver ores and due to the risk of lead poisoning in a range of objects such as
during the mining process, slaves were often the jewellery, religious statues,
ones who would have to mine the silver and risk décor and utensils
inhaling the poisonous gas. Like gold, silver was
considered a highly valued material, with many BELOW LEFT BELOW
also believing that it had medicinal properties. A silver statue of
The metal was used in a range of objects such as During the Manaw Festival in Hindu god Ganesh
jewellery, religious statues, décor and utensils, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Kachin in Cambodia
but only wealthy families could afford to have women wear traditional dress
these items. Furthermore, to receive silver as a adorned in silver
gift, was seen as a symbol of trust and love.

IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK

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Famous uses oF Bronze Bronze

Bronze bracelets in Ban Chiang, Thailand AROUND 3,500 BCE

Thailand The use of tin began in the Middle East and the Balkans
and became an essential metal in the creation of
In northeastern Thailand on the Khorat bronze. The rising civilisation of Mesopotamia was
Plateau lies Ban Chiang where artefacts the first to set off a revolution in metallurgy when they
have been found that date back to a period learned to combine tin with copper, to form a stronger
between 3,600 BCE to 4,000 BCE. Most of the metal alloy. Made out of a combination of 10-percent
bronze artefacts found were bracelets and tin and 90-percent copper, bronze became the metal
pellets (used in the split-string bow) and a of choice over copper as it was easier to cast in moulds
few vessels. These artefacts were made from and was a much harder material. Ancient metalworkers
a 90:10 copper–tin mix, which is an ideal were able to create better tools and weapons that
combination of both metals to create bronze were more durable and stayed sharp for a longer
time, and though it was a laborious process, bronze
Vietnam was used in a wide variety of things from axes and
awls, to hammers, sickles and weapons like daggers
The Dong Son drum is the most famous bronze and swords.
artefact from southern China and Southeast
Asia. Produced from around 600 BCE until Civilisations entered the Bronze Age at different
the third century CE, the drum comes from times – Greece began working with bronze before
the Dong Son culture, a complex society 3,000 BCE whilst the British Isles and China entered
of farmers and sailors who lived in what is the Bronze Age around 1,900 BCE and 1,600 BCE,
today’s northern Vietnam. A typical drum is respectively. It is widely believed that the creation of
70 centimetres in diameter, with a flat top, bronze was an accidental mix of tin and copper, since
bulbous rim, straight sides and splayed foot. the earliest bronze objects were found to contain
Cast in bronze using the lost-wax casting less than two percent tin, which historians surmise
method and typically made with different could have come directly from copper ores as they are
decorations on them, they alluded to the known to contain traces of tin. Though archaeologists
importance of trade in Vietnam and they have generally believe that the Bronze Age began around
become traditional heirlooms, trade items or 3,500 BCE, artefacts have been recovered that point
cultural items for the country to it having occurred much earlier.

A bronze Dong Son drum from the mid-1st millennium BCE A bronze lion sculpture from ancient China IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK
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It is widely believed that the creation
of bronze was an accidental mix of tin
and copper bronze objects were found
to contain less than two percent tin,
which historians surmise could have
come directly from copper ores as they
are known to contain traces of tin

LEFT BELOW
Various bronze figurines
of Hindu deities and The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a large bronze
Buddhas in a souvenir statue of Amitābha, located on the temple
shop in Kathmandu, Nepal grounds. Including the base, it measures 13.35
metres (43.8 ft) tall and weighs approximately
IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK 93 tonnes (103 tons), Kōtoku-in, Japan

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FEATURE | METAL REVOLUTION: THE EIGHT METALS THAT SHAPED SOCIETY

Tin

AROUND 3,500 BCE

Often credited as being the reason the Bronze Baltic Sea and south to the Mediterranean. As
Age came about, tin is looked at as having no the knowledge of the importance of tin grew, more
value in comparison to its metal counterparts. European settlements began to mine for their own
A necessity in the creation of bronze, tin has many tin, including areas such as Brittany in France,
other properties that still make it just as valuable and Devon and Cornwall in England, around
a material as any other. Tin is a soft and pliable 2,000 BCE. In the Far East, the tin belt stretches
metal, with a high polish and a resistance to from Yunnanin China to the Malay Peninsula.
corrosion, which is why it would often be used Large amounts of tin were also discovered
as a coating for other metallic objects. in the East Asian tin belt, which stretched all
the way from China through Thailand and Laos,
Tin deposits were scattered around the world to Malaysia and Indonesia.
during ancient times, and as a relatively rare
element, many countries had no access to them. Tin was also crucial in the creation of the tin
Due to their importance in the creation of bronze, can, which paved the way for food storage in
tin trade played an all-important role in the the early 19th century. in the early 19th century.
development of many cultures throughout With the creation of the tin can, food was able
ancient times. Europe’s earliest tin mining to be transported over longer distances, and also
district dates back to 2,500 BCE, and was reduced the amount of food wastage as food could
located in Erzgebirge, on the border between be kept longer. Furthermore, this meant farmers
Germany and the Czech Republic. From there, could keep the left-over crops to survive the winter
tin was believed to be traded north to the or for seasons when crops did not grow well.

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