Geologic Resources Historical and Political Implications

What are geologic resources? Metal-bearing minerals Non-metallic minerals Fossil Fuels Coal 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 uneven Occurrences are a result of geologic history, especially past and present plate tectonic processes Some nations have a rich supply of geologic resources Others have few or none Nations 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 War Gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California in The great California Gold Rush began in 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 or The North’s economy would falter under the sustained cost of the war

California and the Civil War The 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 approach to 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 approach to Pearl Harbor The U.S. government opposed Japanese colonial expansion and placed an embargo on export of iron and oil to Japan in 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 and U.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 and U.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 and U.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 resources In 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