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What is 3TG?

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If you’re not familiar with the term, 3TG refers to four minerals that are commonly used in various industries, including the electronics, jewelry, and automotive sectors. These minerals are often collectively referred to as “conflict minerals” because their mining and trading have been linked to human rights abuses and armed conflict in certain regions of the world.

  • Tantalum (T): Tantalum is used in electronic components such as capacitors and resistors. It is also used in the aerospace industry and for making high-temperature alloys.
  • Tin (Sn): Tin is used in various industries, including electronics for soldering, as well as in the production of automobiles, food packaging, construction materials, and more.
  • Tungsten (W): Tungsten is used in various applications, including manufacturing tools, electronics, and even some types of jewelry due to its hardness and durability.
  • Gold (Au): Gold is not only an investment or jewelry, but it is also used in electronics, dentistry, and certain industrial applications due to its excellent conductivity and resistance to corrosion.

The term “3TG” is derived from government regulatory agencies as a way for companies to develop responsible and ethical best practices related to sourcing and supply chain management.

Companies that use these minerals often engage in due diligence to ensure that the minerals are sourced from conflict-free areas and do not contribute to human rights abuses. This practice aims to promote ethical and sustainable sourcing of these minerals.

3TGs minerals are inside everything we use, including smartphones, both electric and combustion vehicles, medical devices and more. It’s difficult to find a modern electrical device that does not include 3TG minerals a component.

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Mining Industry Risks Serious Labor Shortage in Meeting Industrial Demand

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A recent report issued by Deloitte titled “Tracking the Trends 2023, the Indispensable Role of Mining and Metals” is filled with ideas on how the mining industry can align with DEI ideology and embrace the cult of climate change.

The transition to a “green energy” future requires an abundance of minerals, rare earth metals and precious metals.

International Energy Agency estimates that demand for critical metals is expected to increase ten fold by 2040 as battery and electric vehicles manufacturing increases.

The mining industry will play a critical role as the supply chain ramps up to support domestic manufacturing of batteries, electric vehicles, solar panels and other advanced energy products.

The industry faces challenges with regulators, environmental protestors and the ESG and decarbonization movements continue to force companies to adopt policies to meet diversity and inclusion quotas.

Industry leaders report that companies across the mining industry already face serious labor shortages. Activist investors and companies continue to put an emphasis on the need for diversity and inclusiveness policies that are a hamper to business efforts and growth. Many of these policies are seen as nonsensical and impractical.

A bigger threat for the industry, particularly in North America, is that many of the existing workers in the mining industry are aging. Today, the average age for a worker in the mining industry is 46 years old. With nearly 50% of the skilled engineers expected to retire within the next 10 years. 

Mining directly employs more than 834,000 in the United States. With an additional 77,000 in Canada and 400,000 in Mexico.

The mining industry in Canada faces risks to keep up with industrial and consumer demand. The Deloitte report suggests that Canadian miners need to hire 80,000 to 120,000 people between now and 2030 in order to keep up with demand.

In the United States, employment in the mining sector has fallen over 20% in the last decade due mine shutdowns resulting from the decline in global demand for coal as the ESG movement lobbied for energy policy changes to support green energy solutions and less reliance on fossil fuels.

Last year, the United States produced 170 million tons of gold. Silver production topped 1,100 tons.

Industrial demand for silver is expected to continue to surge as as companies invest in the domestic manufacturing of EV batteries, solar panels and other components of the green energy movement.

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How to Leverage eBay Bucks When Buying Gold & Silver

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When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a small commission. More information about our affiliate programs can be found here.

eBay Bucks is a rewards loyalty cash-back type program run by eBay that gives a 1% credit on eligible purchases that can be used towards future purchases.

eBay Bucks credits are earned throughout each quarter up to a maximum of $500 in eBay Bucks per quarter. eBay Bucks are available to spend on eBay at the beginning of the quarter after they are earned. Earned eBay Bucks must be spent during the first month of the quarter after they are earned.

Throughout each quarter eBay runs promotions that increase the earnings amounts to 8%, 10% or 15% above the base amount of 1%.

Items listed in the Bullion category and subcategories are ineligible for earning eBay Bucks. However, many reputable dealers will list bullion products for sale in alternate categories that do earn eBay Bucks.

Towards the end of the first month of the quarter eBay will sometimes run a Bucks promotion. During this time it’s possible to double-dip. If you have eBay Bucks to spend you can earn additional promo Bucks if you spend your accrued Bucks on eligible items.

Earned eBay Bucks can be spent on anything, including silver and gold bullion.

There are a bunch of different ways to leverage eBay Bucks when stacking silver and gold.

Some people will find items that earn the maximum amount of Bucks per transaction ($100) on items that are being sold for close to melt value (such as $20 Gold Double-Eagles) that can be flipped easily for more than melt value. Then leverage the earned Bucks to buy whatever they want. This is similar to credit card churning. If you have a rewards credit card that earns 2%-5% cash back on these types of transactions that adds a bit more.

eBay Bucks can also be used to offset the cost of regular bullion purchases. For example, let’s say you regularly purchase 20 Francs Gold Coins. These can often be found on eBay for around 5% premium. So if melt is around $280, you can find them on eBay from major dealers for around $295. During a 10% Bucks promotion you’d earn $29.50 in Bucks on that purchase. If you regularly purchase 2 coins a month during the earnings period while 10% promotions are running you’d earn $59 in Bucks each month, or $118 during the 2nd two month period of the quarter.

Your out of pocket cost for the 4 coins is $1180 and you earned $118 in Bucks credit.

During the first month of the following quarter, use the $118 in eBay Bucks credit to offset the cost of 2 additional 20 Francs coins. The cost of 2 coins could be $590 minus the $118 in credit for an out of pocket cost of $472.

All together, you’ve spent $1652 on (6) 20 Francs coins, which is roughly $275 per coin. This all assumes that the price of gold remains relatively flat the whole time, your average cost per coin is $5 below melt.