Key points
- Travis McLing, chief geologist at Idaho National Laboratory, says China controls 67% of global mining, about 90% of rare earth oxide and metal production, and 89% of high field strength magnet output.
- INL has begun its first pilot test for Perpetua Resources, running an antimony recovery process at about one ton of ore per day for five months.
- McLing cites Bloomberg data showing annual global mining investment near $4 billion versus an estimated $34 billion needed as of 2022.
- The USGS critical minerals list expanded to 60 elements in November 2025, adding uranium; the US currently produces about 5% of the uranium it uses.
