Going downstream past carbonate is will definitely be a better...

Going downstream past carbonate is will definitely be a better decision. The further downstream a company can go the more value they add to the product and higher profits they can earn.

For example I can buy a raw 1 gram semi-precious rock from the ground for $10 and sell it for $15. Or I can get it faceted into a gemstone for $10 and sell it then for $40. Or I can then pay a factory $20 to turn it into a nice sterling silver ring and sell it to a customer for $100.