CRITICAL MINERALS FACT SHEET SERIES - #1 What are Critical Minerals - WHAT MAKES A

Bright School Supplies Classroom Newsletter CRITICAL MINERALS FACT SHEET SERIES #1 What are Critical Minerals WHAT MAKES A THE PUSH FOR CRITICAL MINERALS MINERAL ‘CRITICAL’? Critical minerals are elements, New critical mineral mines are being driven by the metals, or materials which are urgent need to decarbonise the global economy crucial for modern technology, but through rapid escalation of ren. [...] However, the raw materials’ or ‘battery metals.’ development of new mining regions, and new types of These are not chemical or mineral processing will affect communities and geological terms but political and ecosystems in new ways. [...] including: Low-carbon technologies like The US and their allies are sensitive to the fact that lithium-ion batteries, and critical mineral production is concentrated in China. [...] ALTERNATIVES TO NEW MINES ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS Many critical minerals can be found in the Each ‘critical mineral’ has its own set of risks tailings of metals mines - like copper (Cu) associated with extraction and processing. [...] mineral is driving an industry push for de- regulation of policy where in fact we drastically The Fact Sheet series we will include the need stronger environmental laws and following: protections for communities from the impacts 1.