Critical mineral supply chains face scrutiny over ethics and technology

New research and geological assessments are highlighting the complexities of securing critical minerals essential for global electrification and decarbonization. In Australia, researchers at UNSW Sydney have developed the Green Minerals Platform. This interdisciplinary tool uses advanced modeling to help governments and investors evaluate supply-chain designs, considering ore quality, processing locations, energy sources, and carbon emissions to balance costs with supply security.

In the United States, Utah has emerged as a significant mining and processing hub, producing approximately $5 billion in mineral commodity value last year. While the state’s copper industry is vital for electric vehicles and power grids, local extraction faces environmental challenges, such as the shrinking Great Salt Lake. Geologists are weighing the ethics of domestic mining against the risks of outsourcing extraction to nations with weaker oversight.