Interactive Map: Global Rare Earth Elements & Critical Minerals

Critical minerals (policy term)

Definition: Non-fuel minerals judged essential to the economy or national security and at risk of supply disruption. The exact list varies by country and is updated periodically (e.g., U.S. 2022 list; EU 2023 Critical Raw Materials Act). In practice it includes lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, copper (EU), rare earths, gallium, germanium, PGMs, etc.

Rare Earth Elements (REE)

Definition: The 17 metals consisting of the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. Despite the name, several are as common as copper in the crust; the challenge is economically minable concentrations and processing.

REE (17) - grouped and "rarity" shorthand

REE - marquee applications

• Permanent magnets (NdFeB, SmCo): EV traction motors, wind-turbine generators, robotics, drones, HDDs.
• Cerium/lanthanum: Catalysts (refining, auto), glass polishing, fluid-cracking catalysts.
• Eu/Tb/Dy: Phosphors, high-coercivity magnet additives.

Critical minerals - energy & industry core

• Lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite: Lithium-ion batteries (cathodes/anodes).
• Copper & aluminum: Wires, motors, grids, renewables.
• Gallium, germanium, indium: Power electronics, LEDs, photovoltaics, sensors.
• PGMs: Catalytic converters, fuel cells.

Polar & near-polar

• Arctic/Greenland: Large REE prospects (e.g., Ilimaussaq/Kvanefjeld). Greenland's 2021 uranium ban has constrained REE projects with uranium co-occurrence; the policy is under political/legal debate.
• Antarctica: Mining is prohibited by the Madrid Protocol's Article 7 (no mineral resource activities other than scientific research).

Seabed

Polymetallic nodules (Ni-Cu-Co-Mn) in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and other areas are explored under International Seabed Authority contracts. As of now there is no large-scale commercial production in international waters, while countries like Norway have opened parts of their continental shelf for exploration.

Space resources

Several countries (e.g., U.S., Luxembourg) recognize private rights to resources you extract in space under national law (without claiming sovereignty over celestial bodies). This is legal groundwork only - industrial mining on the Moon/Mars/asteroids hasn't begun.

Bottom line on "new" sources

Frontiers exist, but environmental/governance hurdles are high (Antarctica: banned; deep-sea: under active rule-making & national debates). Near-term supply growth is still most likely from conventional projects, processing expansions, and recycling.

REE

• REE salts are generally of low to moderate acute toxicity, but chronic exposure (dust inhalation) can affect lungs; some processing wastes contain thorium/uranium (radioactivity), creating TENORM tailings - a key environmental issue if mismanaged.
• Monazite-rich tailings may require radiological controls and lined storage; separation uses acids/solvents that need tight containment.

Other critical minerals

• Cobalt: inhalation/skin exposure risks; occupational limits apply.
• Nickel: dermal sensitizer; many nickel compounds are established human carcinogens (inhalation).
• General mining risks: acid-generating sulfide tailings, metal mobility in water, dust - all require modern waste, water, and air controls.