US critical minerals list expands: copper, lead, potash, rhenium, silicon, silver added

US Critical Minerals

The US critical minerals list expanded to 54 minerals in the new USGS draft. The US critical minerals list now includes copper, lead, potash, rhenium, silicon, and silver. As a result, the US critical minerals list reshapes policy, permitting, and supply-chain priorities across energy, defense, and manufacturing.

What changed in the draft and why it matters

USGS removed arsenic and tellurium because supply-chain risks have eased. However, the agency added copper, lead, potash, rhenium, silicon, and silver. These additions align with domestic manufacturing needs and national security goals. The Energy Act of 2020 requires triennial updates. Therefore, the draft signals a structured, risk-based refresh. Copper’s inclusion elevates grid, EV, and data-center wiring. Meanwhile, silver and silicon support solar, power electronics, and semiconductors. Rhenium targets superalloys in aerospace and defense. Lead anchors batteries and critical industrial uses. Potash underpins fertilizers and food security, which intersect with energy transition metals through logistics.

What could come next: uranium, coal, and update cadence

USGS invited industry feedback on whether to include uranium, metallurgical coal, or other minerals. It also asked if annual updates are preferable to three-year cycles. As a result, planning horizons could shorten, affecting investment timing and offtake strategies. President Donald Trump directed USGS on 20 January to consider uranium in the 2025 list. Meanwhile, several assessed materials—such as molybdenum, phosphates, helium, and gold—did not make the cut. Therefore, the draft narrows focus to minerals with acute vulnerability and strategic leverage.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Bringing copper onto the list is the headline move. It strengthens the case for streamlined permits, midstream incentives, and recycling scale-up. If USGS shifts to annual updates, treasury, traders, and OEMs must adapt faster to policy-driven risk signals.