---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The main mineral in your cellphone…"
description: "\"The main mineral in your cellphone, coltan [a black metallic ore], comes from the Eastern Congo. Multinational corporations are there exploiting the ve..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/noam-chomsky-42_black_the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-colta_1664171.jpg"
---

#  The main mineral in your cellphone, coltan \[a black…

![“The main mineral in your cellphone, coltan [a black metallic ore], comes from the Eastern Congo. Multinational corporations are there exploiting the very rich mineral resources of the region. A lot of them are backing militias which are fighting one other to gain control of the resources or a…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/noam-chomsky-42_black_the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-colta_1664171.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/noam-chomsky-42_black_the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-colta_1664171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/noam-chomsky-42_black_the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-colta_1664171.jpg)

> “The main mineral in your cellphone, coltan \[a black metallic ore\], comes from the Eastern Congo. Multinational corporations are there exploiting the very rich mineral resources of the region. A lot of them are backing militias which are fighting one other to gain control of the resources or a piece of the resources.”

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Coltan extraction fuels conflict, with corporations backing armed groups.

**In simple terms:** Mining fuels conflict, corporations support militias.

Key Takeaway

Support ethical sourcing and corporate accountability.

Themes

politics ethics resource extraction

Mood

analytical urgent

Type

political educational

When to use this quote

- electronics manufacturing
- consumer purchasing
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

conflict minerals corporate exploitation geopolitics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can consumers verify mineral origins?
- What policies can curb exploitation?

A Different Perspective

Complex supply chains obscure responsibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Black metal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-metal/) [Congo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congo/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Militia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/militia/) [Mineral resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mineral-resources/) [Minerals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minerals/) [Multinational corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multinational-corporations/) [Multinationals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multinationals/)

## Related quotes

> [“As the seemingly well-intentioned French journalist spoke about Africa’s scarcity and its limited resources, Nine smiled to himself almost condescendingly. He considered such statements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/as-the-seemingly-well-intentioned-french-journalist-spoke-about/)

[James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/)

> [Our diversity as a people united is also our potential to transform our large deposits of mineral resources and use same for national development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yemi-osinbajo/our-diversity-as-a-people-united-is-also-our-potential-to-transform/)

[Yemi Osinbajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yemi-osinbajo/)

> [Our aim is to open access to a wealth of previously unexplored mineral resources on lifeless rocks hurling through space, without damaging natural habitats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-schneider/our-aim-is-to-open-access-to-a-wealth-of-previously-unexplored/)

[Etienne Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-schneider/)

> [This document will play an important role in protecting the strategic interests of Russia and Uzbekistan and ensuring stability and security in the region,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islom-karimov/this-document-will-play-an-important-role-in-protecting-the-strategic/)

[Islom Karimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islom-karimov/)

> [Afghanistan fortunately is one of the richest countries in terms of water, mineral resources, location and human capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/afghanistan-fortunately-is-one-of-the-richest-countries-in-terms-of/)

[Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/)

> [I've never believed protectionism of that kind will lead us anywhere. I think you can have certain specific rules for engaging with India.. for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ratan-tata/i-ve-never-believed-protectionism-of-that-kind-will-lead-us-anywhere/)

[Ratan Tata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ratan-tata/)

> [Globalization has made copper and other minerals more valuable, and Ghana and Kenya have recently discovered mineral resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/globalization-has-made-copper-and-other-minerals-more-valuable-and/)

[Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

> [The biggest industrial sector next to real estate is oil, gas and other mineral resources. They don't report any taxable income, because if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/the-biggest-industrial-sector-next-to-real-estate-is-oil-gas-and/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Clean air and water, a diversity of animal and plant species, soil and mineral resources, and predictable weather are annuities that will pay dividends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-steffen/clean-air-and-water-a-diversity-of-animal-and-plant-species-soil-and/)

[Alex Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-steffen/)

> [The gap between the rich and poor is growing among and within most nations. The political and social effects of unequal location of energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-f-white/the-gap-between-the-rich-and-poor-is-growing-among-and-within-most/)

[Gilbert F. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-f-white/)

> [ Before the 90s, black metal wasn't a selling tool \[and didn't\] have money behind it. Then it became a pop sensation. Now that the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/before-the-90s-black-metal-wasn-t-a-selling-tool-and-didn-t-have/)

[Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/)

> [All in all, I think that out of all musical genres, the world of metal is the most escapist one. Metal is also music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tuomas-holopainen/all-in-all-i-think-that-out-of-all-musical-genres-the-world-of-metal/)

[Tuomas Holopainen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tuomas-holopainen/)

> [I don't have much contact at all with other black metal bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-barr/i-don-t-have-much-contact-at-all-with-other-black-metal-bands/)

[Mick Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-barr/)

> [I think Americans such as Leviathan have done a lot to expand the sonic palette of black metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/i-think-americans-such-as-leviathan-have-done-a-lot-to-expand-the/)

[Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/)

> [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/)

[Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/)

## More by Noam Chomsky

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

[Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## More Black quotes

> [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/)

[Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/)

> [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/)

[Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/)

[Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/)

> [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/)

[Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/)

> [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/)

[Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/)

> [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/)

Frank B. Wilderson III

> [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/)

[R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/)

> [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/)

[John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/)

> [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/)

[Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/)

> [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/)

[Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/)

Browse all 11,655 Black quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The main mineral in your cellphone, coltan [a black metallic ore], comes from the Eastern Congo. Multinational corporations are there exploiting the very rich mineral resources of the region. A lot of them are backing militias which are fighting one other to gain control of the resources or a piece of the resources.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Noam Chomsky"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-coltan-a-black-metallic-ore-comes/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Black"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-coltan-a-black-metallic-ore-comes/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/noam-chomsky-42_black_the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-colta_1664171.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/noam-chomsky-42_black_the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-colta_1664171.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/noam-chomsky-42_black_the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-colta_1664171.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The main mineral in your cellphone, coltan [a black metallic ore], comes from the Eastern Congo…” — Noam Chomsky",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Noam Chomsky",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The main mineral in your cellphone,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-coltan-a-black-metallic-ore-comes/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-coltan-a-black-metallic-ore-comes/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```