Ever wonder what makes your cell phone ring? We're talking hardware, not incoming calls. That tiny device puts a periodic table's worth of elements in your pocket. We dissected a Sony-Ericsson W300 -- and tracked down where its contents likely originated.
Top Suppliers: Where to Find the Raw Materials
China: gallium, indium, silicon, tin, yttrium, silver, aluminum, garnet, lithium
Australia: aluminum, garnet, gold, lithium, nickel
United States: copper, silica sand, gold, oil
Russia: nickel, silicon, oil
Canada: nickel, indium
Chile: lithium, copper
Germany: silica sand, galium
India: yttrium, garnet
Indonesia: tin, copper
Japan: indium, gallium
Peru: silver, gin
Brazil: aluminium
Malaysia: yttrium
Mexico: silver
Norway: silicon
Saudi Arabia: oil (for plastic)
Slovenia: silica sand
South Africa: gold
Follow the link above to see an interactive graphic explaining which of these materials go into each part of the phone.
Trading around the world helps me talk around the world! Who knew?
(HT Russ Roberts)
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