Mining disclosure in Canada is governed by NI 43-101, which exists because the sector has a long history of unverifiable claims. It requires technical information to be prepared or approved by a qualified person with defined credentials and accountability, which is what separates a resource estimate from a press release.
The remainder of this group covers government designations — critical minerals lists, strategic and defense metals — that increasingly determine which projects attract state funding and permitting support. These labels are policy instruments rather than geological ones, and they change with the list that issues them.
6 terms in this section.
Minerals deemed essential to economic security and supply chain resilience, particularly for clean energy, defense, and technology applications. Lists vary by country but commonly include lithium, cobalt, rare earths, graphite, and other battery and technology metals.
Government-designated lists of minerals deemed essential for economic and national security. Lists vary by country but typically include materials critical for energy transition, defense, and technology sectors. Examples include lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and graphite.
Metals and minerals deemed essential for military and defense applications, including rare earths (for precision-guided weapons), titanium (aircraft), tungsten (ammunition), and cobalt (jet engines). Defense metals often appear on critical minerals lists due to national security implications.
Canadian National Instrument 43-101 is a regulatory standard for public disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. It requires that all public disclosures be prepared by or under the supervision of a Qualified Person.
Under NI 43-101, a qualified person is an engineer or geoscientist with at least five years of relevant experience in mineral exploration, mine development, or operations. QPs are responsible for preparing and approving technical reports and resource estimates.
Metals considered essential for national defense, economic security, and critical infrastructure. Strategic metals often overlap with critical minerals and include elements like rare earths, cobalt, titanium, and other materials with concentrated supply chains.