Material Innovations

The top of the Washington Monument

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In 1884 the construction of the Washington monument was completed with a six pound aluminum pyramid as its crown jewel.  Although aluminum is the third most abundant element on earth (after oxygen and silicon) in 1884 it was less common than platinum.  Today we extract aluminum oxide from Bauxite ore and convert it to pure aluminum by electrolysis.  This extremely energy intensive process was not invented until 1886.

(An in depth history of aluminum production)

http://www.alunet.net/shownews.asp?ID=490&type=3

Why is this important?

“Aluminium can be recycled over and over again without loss of properties. The high value of aluminium scrap is a key incentive and major economic impetus for recycling. Aluminium recycling benefits present and future generations by conserving energy and other natural resources. It saves up to 95% of the energy required for primary aluminium production, thereby avoiding corresponding emissions, including greenhouse gases.”

The aluminum recycling process:

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=3529#_Recycling

Aluminum Life Cycle

Beverage containers ready for recycling

With a superior strength to weight ratio aluminum is a valuable part of our present day life. The life cycle of aluminum is similar to other nonferrous metals with an initial mining and refining process bringing it to virtually a closed loop existence.  Due to its wide use and recyclability, aluminum has acted as a model for many post industrial and consumer recycling programs.

Jewelry represents the equivalent of 90% of mine production of gold.

Turn to the Dirty Metals Report for more disturbing facts regarding the extraction process.

Dirty Metals Report Summary:
“Details the massive pollution, huge open pits, devastating community health effects, worker dangers and, in many cases, human rights abuses that have become hallmarks of gold and metals mining in countries such as Peru, Indonesia, Ghana and in parts of the United States.”

No Dirty Gold Campaign:
In 2005 the No Dirty Gold Campaign was launched.  It is an international campaign to ensure that gold mining operations respect human rights and the environment.

“The “No Dirty Gold” campaign has persuaded many top jewelry retailers to stop selling gold from mines that cause severe social or environmental damage, but such concerns don’t ruffle the biggest consumer nations, namely India, where a gold obsession is woven into the culture, and China, which leaped past the U.S. in 2007 to become the world’s second largest buyer of gold jewelry.”

In 2009 they signed their 50th retailer and now represent 23% of the US jewelry market.

National Geographic “The Real Price of Gold”:
Provides a narrative on the social injustices of mining and striking photo galleries from mines around the world.
“Under the ancient lottery system that still prevails in the high Andes, known as the cachorreo, this is what passes for a paycheck: a sack of rocks that may contain a small fortune in gold or, far more often, very little at all.”

Ethical Metalsmiths: Connecting People With Responsibly Sourced Materials
They offer this list of responsible mining organizations.

Jewelers and independent makers can source metal from Hoover & Strong who produces a line of Harmony products that meet established certification standards.  They follow Scientific Certification Systems guidelines.