AFAM 002A Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Garamantes, Askia Daoud, Feldspar
Document Summary
Africa is the 2nd largest continent on earth (asia is the largest) African population = over 852 million people. The northern 3rd of africa consists of the sahara desert, in sub-saharan africa. Some facts to put the enormity of africa into perspective: China has about 1 million square miles. All of china, india, the us states, western europe, argentina, and new zealand could fit into africa. New zealand is over 100,000 square miles. China has over 60 cities with at least a million people populating. Africa as a whole is not unified/united. 60% of the world"s diamonds come out of southern africa. 80% of the world"s cobalt, which is a key ingredient in radiation treatments. 80% of the world"s tantalum, which is used in surgical instruments. >50% of the world"s phosphates, which is used in commercial fertilizers. >50% of the world"s lithium, the world"s lightest metal, essential for aircrafts. 60% of the world"s boxite and gold.