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Critical Mineral Scarcity

Critical mineral scarcity is the risk that supplies of minerals needed for batteries, electronics, and defense equipment will fall short or be controlled by a few countries. Examples include lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. The Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Geological Survey, and Congress shape policy.

People usually ask where these minerals come from, why supply chains matter for national security, and how governments encourage mining, recycling, and alliances. Others ask how to weigh domestic mining against its environmental costs.

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June 7last updated

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Painted illustration of workers examining mineral samples at a mining and processing site.
Critical Mineral Scarcity

Critical Minerals: US Strategy to Break China’s Supply Chain Dominance

Critical minerals are the indispensable, non-fuel materials that form the bedrock of 21st-century US economic and military power. They're essential for national defense, powering…

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GovFacts
37 Min Read