Materials

CRITICAL MINERALSA Guide to the 4 Minerals Shaping the World’s Energy Future
By Jake Bittle
Ending our dependence on fossil fuels and adopting this new, greener technology requires a whole lot of metal. Especially important are rare earth elements and lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. Just as the 20th century was defined by the geography of oil, the 21st century could be defined by the new geography of metal.
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CRITICAL MINERALSThe Potential Impact of Seabed Mining on Critical Mineral Supply Chains and Global Geopolitics
The potential emergence of a seabed mining industry has important ramifications for the diversification of critical mineral supply chains, revenues for developing nations with substantial terrestrial mining sectors, and global geopolitics.
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RARE EARTH ELEMENTSSqueezing More Out of Used Nuclear Fuel and Rare Earth Materials
Rotating packed bed contactor technology may be safe, scalable solution that helps the U.S. expand the potential of nuclear energy. The impact of the research may extend beyond nuclear fuel recycling to applications in other metal recovery processes such as rare earth recovery.
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CRITICAL MINERLSTo Avoid a Ukraine-Style Quid Pro Quo, Australia Needs to Work with the U.S. on Critical Minerals
By Raelene Lockhorst and John Coyne
With Donald Trump back in the White House, Washington is operating under a hard-nosed, transactional framework in which immediate returns rather than shared values measure alliances. For Australia, this signals a need to rethink its approach to the US relationship. A key step would be to work with the United States in the extraction and processing of Australian critical minerals.
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CRITICAL MINERALSWhy a U.S. Minerals Deal with Ukraine Won’t Deter Russian Aggression
By Patrick E. Shea
Research suggests that investments follow alliances. But markets do not care about agreements alone. They respond to other signals too, like explicit statements of support. These statements of support also help to reassure allies and deter rivals. Unless Trump changes how he operates on the international stage, the economics of the mineral deal will not help Ukraine’s security situation.
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CRITICAL MINERALSThe Value of Ukraine’s Critical Minerals Is Overstated
By David Uren
In fact, Ukraine has no proven rare earths reserves—as distinct from deposits, which may or may not be economically recoverable. Its only established rare earths deposit, of unknown size or quality, is near Azov, a town currently under Russian control.
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CRITICAL MINERALSHow Australia, with Friends, Can Secure Its Place in Critical Minerals
By Vlado Vivoda
As the United States recalibrates its industrial policies under President Donald Trump, Australia’s role in securing non-Chinese supply chains for critical minerals has never been more important.
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CRITICAL MINERALS Trump Threatens to Disrupt the World’s Critical Minerals Supply – but There Are Reasons to Be Positive
By Jorge Valverde
The energy policies of the new American administration will have ripple effects. But these are likely to be temporary and the market in critical minerals is unlikely to be affected long term. The global transition to clean energy seems safe, for now.
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CRITICAL MATERIALSCleaning Up Critical Minerals and Materials Production, Using Microwave Plasma
By Zach Winn
With technology developed at MIT, 6K is helping to bring critical materials production back to the U.S. without toxic byproducts.
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CRITICAL MINERALSUkraine Needs U.S. Weapons. Trump Wants Its Rare Earth Minerals in Return.
By Mike Eckel and Wojtek Grojec
President Donald Trump wants to condition future U.S. aid to Ukraine on getting more access to the country’s valuable “rare earth” minerals — minerals that are in increasing demand for batteries, computers, smart phones, and electric cars, not to mention weaponry.
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CHINA WATCHCritical Minerals, Waning Western Influence a Focus of Chinese FM’s African Tour, Analysts Say
By Kate Bartlett
Critical minerals and oil, a renewed focus on the Atlantic coast, and the West’s loss of influence in the Sahel are some of the reasons analysts believe Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has chosen the Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Chad and Namibia as the stops on his visit to Africa this week.
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CRITICAL MINERALSRecovering Rare Earth Metals from Waste Permanent Magnets
Rare earths, in particular, are characterized by chemical, electrical, magnetic, and luminescent properties that can be achieved by adding only a small amount, and their use has recently increased significantly as core materials in the eco-friendly automobile and renewable energy industries.
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SUPPLY CHAINSModel Reveals Supply Chain Risks Pose Major Threat to Financial Stability
Supply chain disruptions can magnify financial risks. A new model shows how risks spread from the real economy to the financial sector.
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CRITICAL MINERALSThe Energy Transition Is Affecting Attitudes Towards Mining
By Jane Nicholls
A survey finds the growing demand for critical minerals to support renewable energy is increasing public acceptance of mining in Australia. It also highlights that trust is a precious commodity.
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CRITICAL MINERALSChina’s Critical Mineral Strategy Goes Beyond Geopolitics
By Weihuan Zhou
China dominates critical mineral refining but faces its own supply vulnerabilities, highlighting the complexity of global dependencies. A national strategy seeks to balance a focus of robust industrial policy on critical minerals while fostering international cooperation. A balanced approach involving China in global frameworks can reduce geopolitical tensions and foster sustainable supply chain solutions.
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