Monday, 20 October, 2025/Edition 81

This week’s Core Elements is Part 3 of our look into the state of mineral resources globally and in the United States, as well as related information and resources (see Editions #79 and #80 for parts one and two). Let’s get started.

Rasoul Sorkhabi

Editor, Core Elements

Harnessing the Potential of Critical Minerals

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A report by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs discusses how critical minerals need to be utilized for sustainable development.

Selected Elements Critical for Energy Transition

According to the report, the most important elements for energy transition technologies are:

• EV batteries: Aluminum, cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium, manganese, nickel, phosphate, silicon

• EV motors: Copper, dysprosium, neodymium, silicon

• EV body: Aluminum

• Battery storage: Cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium, manganese, nickel

• Bioenergy: Aluminum, cobalt, copper, nickel, zinc

• Electricity grid: Aluminum, copper

• Solar PV: Aluminum, copper, nickel, silicon, zinc

• Concentrated solar power: Aluminum, copper, nickel, zinc

• Geothermal: Copper, manganese, nickel

• Hydropower: Copper, manganese, nickel, zinc

• Wind power: Aluminum, copper, dysprosium, manganese, neodymium, nickel, zinc

• Hydrogen: Aluminum, cobalt, copper, graphite, nickel, platinum

Critical minerals for G20 economies: The U.N. report has identified the most key elements for G20 technologies and economies:

• 16 countries: Cobalt and lithium

• 15 countries: Graphite, nickel, platinum group metals, tantalum

• 14 countries: Gallium, rare-earth elements, titanium

• 12 countries: Copper, manganese, silicon

• 11 countries: Bismuth, chromium, germanium, indium, molybdenum, tin

• 10 countries: Beryllium, magnesium, zirconium

Reserves vs. Production in Select Developing Countries

Countries that overproduce compared to their reserves:

• China: Graphite reserves (27.9 percent) and production (76.9 percent)

• China: REE reserves (40 percent) and production (68.6 percent)

• Gabon: Manganese reserves (3.2 percent) and production (23 percent)

• Mozambique: Beryllium reserves (less than 1 percent) and production (7.3 percent)

• Philippines: Nickel reserves (3.7) and production (11.1 percent)

• Zimbabwe: Platinum reserves (1.7 percent) and production (10.6 percent)

Countries with more reserves than production:

• Bolivia: Lithium reserves (23 percent) and production (almost 0 percent)

• Brazil: REEs reserves (19.1 percent) and production (almost 0 percent)

• Brazil: Graphite reserves (26.4 percent) and production (4.6 percent)

• Brazil: Manganese reserves (14.2 percent) and production (3.1 percent)

Dominant suppliers and producers:

• Democratic Republic of Congo: Cobalt reserves (54.5 percent) and production (73.9 percent)

• South Africa: Platinum reserves (88.7 percent) and production (66.7 percent); Chromium reserves (35.7 percent) and production (43.9 percent); Manganese reserves (31.6 percent) and production (36 percent)

• Indonesia: Nickel reserves (42.3 percent) and production (50 percent)

• Chile: Lithium reserves (33.2 percent) and production (24.4 percent)

Go deeper: Read the full report here.

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Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply

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The Washington D.C.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has published a report on the U.S. production potential and future consumption of certain critical minerals. Here are the highlights.

Geology rules: The report states, “U.S. geology is rich in iron, copper, zinc, lithium, molybdenum, gold, silver, platinum group metals, and phosphate.”

By the numbers: The United States is among world leaders in production for the following minerals:

• Copper, gold, and Palladium (5th position)

• Molybdenum (4th)

• Phosphate (3rd)

U.S. supply and demand in 2035 (metric tonnes):

• Copper:

  • Supply: 1,800,00

  • Demand: 2,915,875

  • Import dependence: -62 percent

• Graphite:

  • Supply: 350,000

  • Demand: 1,026,795

  • Import dependence: -193 percent

• Lithium:

  • Supply: 28,000

  • Demand: 106,936

  • Import dependence: -282 percent

• Manganese:

  • Supply: 0

  • Demand: 810,300

• Molybdenum:

  • Supply: 36,000

  • Demand: 16,644

  • Import dependence: +54 percent

• Nickel:

  • Supply: 8,000

  • Demand: 749,987

  • Import dependence: -9,275 percent

• Silver:

  • Supply: 1,400

  • Demand: 16,596

  • Import dependence: -1,085 percent

• Zinc:

  • Supply: 950,000

  • Demand: 970,000

  • Import dependence: -2 percent

Priority minerals for US. offshoring engagement:

• Very high priority: Nickel and cobalt

• High priority: Graphite, lithium, manganese, silver

• Medium priority: Copper

U.S. Allies for mineral import engagement:

• Australia: Copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, silver

• Canada: Copper, graphite, lithium, manganese, nickel, cobalt, silver

Other countries for U.S. mineral import engagement:

• Nickel and cobalt: Indonesia, Brazil, Philippines, Colombia

• Graphite: Madagascar, India, Tanzania, Mozambique, Brazil

• Lithium: Chile, Argentina

• Manganese: South Africa, Gabon, Brazil, India

• Silver: Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Peru

• Copper: Kazakhstan, Brazil, DRC, Indonesia, Chile, Peru

Go deeper: Read the full report here.

A Message From AAPG

Have you subscribed to AAPG Bulletin?

AAPG's technical journal, Bulletin, highlights the importance of geology in understanding natural resources critical to energy systems and associated environmental topics. It is peer-reviewed and includes some of the latest geological research available from around the world!

AAPG membership includes a complimentary subscription to the Bulletin. Subscriptions are also available for purchase to nonmembers.

Role of USGS in Mineral Research

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Two reports—one by the U.S. Congregational Research Service and the other by the U.S. National Academies—discuss the vital role of the U.S. Geological Survey in mapping and analyzing the country’s mineral resources.

What is USGS: Founded in 1879 by an act of the Congress, USGS is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior engaged in geological mapping and the study of energy, mineral and water resources, natural hazards, land use, and the environment.

Significance of mineral mapping for U.S. resource security: In 2024, the United States was 100 percent reliant on imports for 12 of the 50 critical minerals and more than 50 percent reliant on imports for an additional 29 critical minerals.

USGS mineral programs and databases:

• The Critical Minerals in Ores Database, constructed in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Canada and Geoscience Australia

• Global Distribution of Selected Mines, Deposits, and Districts of Critical Minerals

• International Mineral Industries Geospatial Data

• Mineral Deposits of the World

• USMIN (Mine Features of the United States): Prospects and mines on topographic maps

• Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) and its Focus Areas

• National Geochemical Database

• National Minerals Information Center

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✉️ To get in touch with Rasoul, send an email to editorial@aapg.org.