Christopher Lawley Karol Czarnota Poul Emsbo 2021 <p>The global economy is unprepared to meet the exploding demand for critical minerals. These materials, many of which were of little economic interest until recently, are required to fuel a proliferation of technologies and industries that have become vital for social and economic well-being the world over. But supplies of critical minerals are at risk because of their natural scarcity and because of geopolitical issues and trade policies that complicate their distribution, among other factors.</p> application/pdf 10.1029/2021EO154252 en American Geophysical Union Geological Surveys unite to improve critical mineral security article