critical mineral

American  

[krit-i-kuhl min-er-uhl, min-ruhl] / ˈkrɪt ɪ kəl ˈmɪn ər əl, ˈmɪn rəl /

noun

1. a mineral or element, such as aluminum, cobalt, lithium, or nickel, that is declared by the U.S. government to be necessary for the production of nationally important technologies and is difficult to source, especially because of its rarity or location.

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Etymology

Origin of critical mineral

First recorded in 2005–10

Example Sentences

He has spoken openly about the U.S. government and American companies needing greater access to the island’s critical minerals.

From The Wall Street Journal

The move marks an escalation in Beijing’s pressure campaign against Tokyo and could pinch Japan’s economy by squeezing supplies of critical minerals and components used by Japanese factories.

From The Wall Street Journal

Geological Survey in November added copper to its list of critical minerals deemed vital to national security and the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal

But like Venezuela, Greenland is close to North America and rich in resources, especially critical minerals.

From The Wall Street Journal

Geological Survey added silver to its critical minerals list in 2024.

From MarketWatch