US Geological Survey to Update Critical Mineral List

According to a news release dated November 8, 2021, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) had reviewed the mineral species according the Energy Act of 2020, which were designated as a critical mineral in 2018. In the newly published list, the following 50 ore species are proposed (in alphabetical order).

Aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barite, beryllium, bismuth, cerium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, chromium, erbium, europium, fluorite, gadolinium, gallium, germanium, graphite, hafnium, holmium, indium, iridium, lanthanum, lithium, ruthenium, magnesium, manganese, neodymium, nickel, niobium, palladium, platinum, praseodymium, rhodium, rubidium, lutetium, samarium, scandium, tantalum, tellurium, terbium, thulium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, thulium.

In the Energy Act, important minerals are defined as non-fuel minerals or mineral materials essential for the US economy or security. They are deemed to a fragile supply chain, the Department of Interior have to update the situation at least every three years basing on the new method of Energy Act. The USGS is soliciting public comments during November 9th-December 9th, 2021.