In a recent posting, sent to the list inadvertently in response to a message
from Mike Gill, I referred to an article on wolfram (tungsten ore)
production in Spain in the early 1940s. Perhaps I should expand a little on
a subject far removed in time from the my recent work on the late medieval
period, but with equivalent economic impact - control of strategic mineral
resources. When the Scots moved south into the English border counties in
1135 they gained control of a source of silver for coin. Steel hardening
minerals had a similar attraction for the advanced economies of the 20th
century, particularly in times of conflict. Alloying minerals were essential
to weapons production and, with limited home resources, the combatants in
both the 1st and 2nd world wars sought to control overseas production. The
recent article in the Journal of Economic History provides an insight into
the tactics used. For more details see -
 http://titles.cambridge.org/journals/journal_article.asp?mnemonic=JEH&pii=S
0022050703001748

The Journal of Economic History, Volume 63, Issue 1

A Wolfram In Sheep'S Clothing: Economic Warfare In Spain, 1940-1944
Leonard Caruana, Hugh Rockoff

Abstract

During World War II the United States attempted to prevent Germany from
acquiring wolfram (tungsten ore) in Spain by buying it in the open market.
Preemptive buying forced the Germans to pay more for and to consume less
tungsten, a material crucial for the production of machine tools and
armor-piercing shells. The income provided an important incentive for Spain
to remain neutral. The naval blockade and the relatively low elasticity of
the supply of wolfram contributed to the success of the wolfram-buying campaign.

Needless to say the British were doing the same in Turkey to corner supplies
of chromite. More economics than mining but essential if we are to
understand why small wolfram mines like Castle-an-Dinas, in Cornwall,
remained in production.

Peter

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Peter Claughton, Blaenpant Morfil, Rosebush, Clynderwen,
Pembrokeshire, Wales  SA66 7RE.
Tel. 01437 532578; Fax. 01437 532921; Mobile 07831 427599

University of Exeter - School of Historical, Political and Sociological Studies
(Centre for South Western Historical Studies)
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]

Co-owner - mining-history e-mail discussion list.
See http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/mining-history/  for details.

Mining History Pages - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/~pfclaugh/mhinf/

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