ARTICLES ENVIRONMENTAL
For What it’s Worth The cost of technology
Mr Gill sheds light on the technology that surrounds us, focusing on the works of Dillon Marsh. All photographs discussed are taken by him, which you can find out more about on his website, http://dillonmarsh.com/
Look at your phone, if you’re reading this on a phone. Or your laptop. How much did it cost? £300, £400, £1000? But what if that cost isn’t the only one? Your phone contains a whole host of elements; silicon, aluminium and oxygen in the glass screen, magnesium alloys in metal casings, carbon and hydrogen in the polymers that make up the plastic seals and body. But there are also small amounts of many metals, some incredibly rare. Gold and copper in electrical components, lithium and cobalt in the battery and neodymium in the microphone and speakers. Many of these elements are mined in areas of the world in which environmental protections are limited and the drive to make profits comes at the expense of the landscape and ecosystems. In the worst cases, illegal mining practices release tonnes of toxic waste into local water sources and some rely upon the use of child labour. You may have heard of blood diamonds, but some of the key chemicals have been described as ‘conflict elements’ as they are sourced from areas in which wars are taking place. The money made from the sale of the essential
Platinum - 136 million troy ounces
minerals required for the extraction of metals can flow directly to the groups participating in conflict. It may seem that there’s nothing individuals can do about the issues above. However, many of the elements can be extracted from unused devices and effectively recycled. The same is true of the elements used in the batteries of EV cars. Research undertaken by The Royal Society of Chemistry suggests that 45% of people in the UK have at least 5 unused electronic devices in their homes. Incredibly, over 80% have no intention of recycling or selling these. Dillon Marsh is a South African artist, whose series ‘For What It’s Worth’ uses CGI alongside photographs of locations in S. Africa to highlight the enormous impact the extraction of relatively small amounts of rare or valuable elements can have on the environment. This is just a small selection of the images he has created.
Kimberley Mine - 14.5 million carats of diamonds. The background to this page is also an in-
Jubilee Mine - 6,500 tonnes of copper
Iridium - 4 million troy ounces
detail photograph taken from the Kimberley Mine.
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