China has near global monopolies on these exports, accounting for 98% of global gallium production, 93% of germanium production, and 49% of antimony production.

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  • AnneVolin@lemmy.ml
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    9 days ago

    The US national stock pile is set to be depleted in 2025.

    It’s fucking crazy such a simple weapon hasn’t been simplified in its supply chain demand for over 100 years. Antimony is literally used to harden the metal casings of the shells. That’s fucking it. Seriously. That’s fucking it. For 100 years the greatest most capitalisticalist empire on earth couldn’t figure out how to more sustainably harden artillery shells without using a rare earth metal.

      • AnneVolin@lemmy.ml
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        9 days ago

        Ironically this isn’t the first time it’s had this problem. Japan stopped giving it to them around WW2.

    • LaughingLion [any, any]@hexbear.net
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      8 days ago

      It’s also a component for stable and reliable fuses.

      But yeah, I agree. You’d think there would be other options. There probably are. But in America’s hubris they most likely presumed they could just bully anyone into being suppliers for these materials.