The progress in the strategic study of critical minerals and its implications

In recent years, many countries in the world have focused their economic development efforts on the newly-emerging industries of strategic importance, and this trend has induced the problem of resources security as many resources are needed to ensure the development of these new-emerging industries of strategic importance. To solve this problem, many institutes and organizations have carried out studies of critical minerals, established critical mineral lists, and proposed relevant measures. However, the study of critical minerals in China is still at the initial stage and lacks a systematic research on the minerals needed for the newly-energing industries. Quantitative research methods for critical minerals and research on index system mainly are following the foreign research reports. In this paper, the authors examined critical minerals evaluation theories, models and index systems of foreign research reports systematicly and, on such a basis, summarized basic characteristics of critical minerals. Based on domestic practical conditions, the authors propose strengthening cross industries data collection through cooperation of several sectors, carrying out research on critical minerals evaluation theories and models, and strengthening risk management research on critical minerals.