Critical Minerals in Your Home

This information graphic highlights just some of the places critical minerals can be found in your home. What is a critical mineral? A critical mineral is a non-fuel mineral or mineral material essential to the economic or national security of the U.S. which has a vulnerable supply chain.

By the Room

Construction Materials: bismuth, cerium, potash, zinc

Solar Panels: germanium, titanium

Bathroom: fluorspar, manganese, nickel, silver, tungsten

Office: gallium, graphite, magnesium

Bedroom: chromium, germanium, indium, silicon

Kitchen: aluminum, chromium, cobalt, rhenium, tin

Garage: antimony, barite, platinum group elements, vanadium

Living Room: copper, lithium, rare earth elements, tantalum

Everyday Critical Mineral Sources

Barite: Most barite in the U.S. is used in oil and gas drilling fluids due to the mineral's high density. Barite is also used in paints, plastics, and rubber.

Bastnaesite: a rare earth element ore. The fluorescence and thermal stability of these elements make them important for phosphors, catalysts, permanent magnets and glass.

Bauxite: The main ore for lightweight aluminum metal. Aluminum is used in cars, food packaging, windows, doors, appliances, utensils, and airplanes.

Fluorspar: Also known as fluorite. Important for refrigerants, steel manufacturing, insulating foam, gasoline, toothpaste, hydrofluoric acid, and paint pigment.

Graphite: This carbon mineral has many properties that make it useful in the manufacturing of a variety of items like pencils, EV batteries, refractory bricks, lubricants, and brake linings.

Pentlandite: A nickel ore. Nickel is used for stainless steel and for superalloys in jet engines because it is corrosion resistant. It is also important for rechargeable batteries.

Sphalerite: The main ore for zinc. Zinc is used in galvanized steel, brass, rubber, and automobiles. Zinc oxide is important for sunscreen because it reflects UV rays.

Spodumene: An ore for lithium. Lithium has a high energy-to-weight ratio and is lightweight, so it is used for EV and rechargeable batteries, and in aerospace applications.

Learn more about the 2025 List of Critical Minerals HERE!