Electronic part containing a metal component sourced from a conflict-free mine site and a method of forming thereof

• Main Authors: Loun, Jan, Millman, William A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.02.2021
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CABLES; CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES ORLIGHT-SENSITIVE DEVICES, OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE; CONDUCTORS; ELECTRICITY; INSULATORS; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING ORDIELECTRIC PROPERTIES; TESTING

A method of forming an electronic part comprising a metal component is provided. The method includes obtaining an unverified mineral sample from a mine site, analyzing the unverified mineral sample via quantitative mineralogical analysis and comparing data collected during the quantitative mineralogical analysis for the sample to data in a database that corresponds to quantitative mineralogical analysis collected for verified mineral samples sourced from one or more mine sites from the conflict-free geographic region to determine if the unverified mineral sample is sourced from one or more mine sites from the conflict-free geographic region. If it is determined that the unverified mineral sample is sourced from one or more mine sites from the conflict-free geographic region, the method then involves converting the unverified sample into the metal component. The electronic part can be a capacitor, medical device, filter, inductor, active electrode, antenna, sensor, or battery.