[News] U.S. Proposes Major Critical Minerals Update, Adding Copper, Potash, and Silicon to Draft List

In the biggest update since 2018, the U.S. has added copper, potash, and silicon to its draft critical minerals list, as noted by Mining.com. As the report highlights, the latest revision now covers 54 minerals, proposing six additions—including copper, silicon, potash, silver, lead, and rhenium—while removing tellurium and arsenic.

The 2025 draft, as per U.S. Department of the Interior, marks the second revision of the Critical Minerals List, first launched under President Trump’s 2017 Executive Order to assess and address U.S. supply chain vulnerabilities.

According to Mining.com, citing Kendra Russell, chief of staff at the US Geological Survey (USGS), copper and silicon were added due to the severe economic impact potential from supply disruptions. Reuters notes that copper is vital for transportation, defense, and the U.S. power grid—critical infrastructure as demand surges with the growth of data centers and AI. Potash, a potassium-rich salt, is primarily used in fertilizer, the report adds.

On the other hand, Mining.com reports that potash was added after updated models flagged potential trade risks from major suppliers, particularly Canada. Silver was included as a safeguard against a low-probability, high-impact supply disruption in Mexico, the report adds.

Tellurium was removed as the U.S. shifted from net importer to exporter with increased domestic production, while arsenic was dropped after revised data showed Peru—not China—dominates production, reducing supply risk, as per the report.

Notably, Mining.com reports that the 2025 list introduces a new three-tier risk classification system—high, elevated, and moderate—for the first time. With minerals-based industries contributing over $4 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2024, this methodology helps identify which sectors face the greatest vulnerability to supply disruptions, the report notes.

Read more

• [News] Trump’s Proposed 50% Copper Tariff: What It Means for Chips, U.S. Imports, and Beyond

(Photo credit: FREEPIK)