Mineral Resources from a Strategic Perspectiv

Abstract

There exists at present a high demand for critical materials in several areas of human activity, such as consumption of electric vehicles and electronic devices, cutting-edge applications, emerging technologies, military development, and the transition to clean & renewable energies under fears of a wide impact due to climate change. Such is the case of a few minerals (for instance lithium, cobalt, rare earths, platinum and others) whose supply is stressed by resource availability, production capacity, economic conditions and market restrictions, among others; so becoming strategic minerals since are deemed essential but not found or produced domestically in sufficient quantity/quality. is document examines the concepts of strategic minerals and resource scarcity within a strategic environment setting, and presents several indicators for assessment in the physical, economical and geopolitical dimensions.