What Critical Minerals Are Found in Canada? You’d Be Surprised!

What Critical Minerals Are Found in Canada? You’d Be Surprised!

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What Critical Minerals are Found in Canada

Canada’s vast and resource-rich geology makes it a leading source for many of the world’s most critical minerals and metals—essential inputs for advanced manufacturing, energy technologies, and national security. From the Canadian Cordillera in the west to the Appalachians in the east, key resources such as lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements underpin Canada’s role as a reliable supplier to North America and global markets.

With several of the 34 government-identified “critical” minerals already in production—and strong prospects for new discoveries—Canada is strategically positioned to meet rising international demand amid global supply chain shifts and rapid technological change.

Below, we explore which critical minerals are found in Canada, where they’re located, and how they are essential to today’s most important industries.

Lithium in Canada

Canadian mining infographics banner

  • Global Reserves: 6th largest, with 3.4% of global lithium reserves in 2023 [1]
  • Global Production: 7th largest, with 0.4% of global lithium production in 2023 [1]

Canada had the world's sixth-largest lithium reserves and was the seventh-largest producer in 2023. All of Canada’s lithium mines are located in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. While most current production is in the eastern provinces, lithium brines in Alberta and Saskatchewan could increase Canada’s production as technology and processing advance to extract lithium compounds from oil and natural gas fields [1].

Lithium, an extremely light yet highly reactive alkali metal, plays a critical role in our technologically advancing world. Lithium batteries boast high energy density, offering extended power life and stability, which are essential for manufacturing a variety of modern digital products. The metal is a critical component of lithium-ion batteries, which power an array of modern devices — from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles. It is also used in high-performance alloys for the aerospace industry, where lightweight, durable materials are indispensable. Lithium is integral to grid storage systems in renewable energy technologies, helping regulate and store power generated from intermittent sources such as wind and solar.

With global demand expected to skyrocket fivefold by 2040 [5], the development of Canada’s lithium resources presents a massive opportunity for Canadians both economically and from a resource security standpoint.

Graphite in Canada

Graphite Critical Mineral in Canada

  • Global Reserves: 9th largest, with 2.1% of global graphite reserves in 2023 [2]
  • Global Production: 11th largest, with 0.7% of global graphite production in 2023 [2]

Canada was the 11th-largest graphite producer and held the 9th-largest reserves as of 2023. While several graphite mines are under development in British Columbia and Ontario, the Lac-Des-Iles Mine in Quebec is the only project currently operating in Canada [2].

Graphite is strong and flexible but not elastic, has high electrical and thermal conductivity, and is highly refractory and chemically inert [4]. These unique properties make it ideal for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and nuclear reactors. Graphite is one of five materials needed for electric vehicle batteries and storage batteries for wind and solar power applications.

Emerging technologies are expected to drive global graphite demand; the International Energy Agency (IEA) expects it to double by 2040, as various initiatives, particularly in developed nations, advance worldwide [5]. Learn more:

Nickel in Canada

Nickel Critical Mineral in Canada

  • Global Reserves: seventh-largest, with 2% of global nickel reserves in 2023 [6]
  • Global Production: sixth-largest, with 4.5% of global nickel production in 2023 [6]

Canada was the sixth-largest nickel producer and home to the seventh-largest reserves as of 2023. Today, the critical metal is produced in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and Manitoba, which represent 39.4%, 27.1%, 26.7%, and 6.8% of Canada’s production in 2023, respectively [6].

Nickel is primarily used to manufacture stainless steel, accounting for over two-thirds of total consumption. It is also an indispensable catalyst in a wide array of future technologies such as geothermal power, hydrogen systems, and advanced battery storage [7].

Nickel’s critical role in modern technologies has led the IEA to believe that the consumption of the metal will also expand rapidly over the next few decades, with global demand projected to double by 2040 [5]. Learn More:

Cobalt in Canada

Cobalt Critical Mineral in Canada

  • Global Reserves: third-largest, with 5.3% of global cobalt reserves in 2023 [8]
  • Global Production: fourth-largest, with 2.2% of global cobalt production in 2023 [8]

Cobalt is another critical mineral found in Canada, the fourth-largest producer and home to the third-largest global reserves as of 2023. Canadian cobalt production occurs primarily from nickel mines in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador, with Ontario taking the lion’s share. Four new cobalt mines are under development in British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick, and the Northwest Territories, as Canada continues to expand its critical mineral production [9].

Cobalt has many critical uses in the modern world, including batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, and computers; powerful magnets used in transformers; superalloys used to make turbine engines; a catalyst in the petroleum and chemical industries; power tools; and paints, to name a few examples [10].

Cobalt’s role in the manufacturing of emerging technologies such as advanced batteries makes it an invaluable material. The IEA predicts global cobalt demand to grow by up to 60% by 2040 in its standard outlooks for critical minerals [5].

Copper in Canada

Copper Critical Mineral in Canada

  • Global Reserves: Home to less than 1% of global copper reserves in 2023 [11]
  • Global Production: 12th largest, with 2.2% of global copper production in 2023 [11]

Canada was the 12th-largest copper producer in the world in 2023 and is home to less than 1% of known global reserves – well behind Chile (23%), Peru (12%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (11%), and other top reserve holders. Almost all Canadian copper production is found in British Columbia and Ontario, accounting for 45.8% and 43.7%, respectively, with Quebec, Manitoba, and the territories accounting for a smaller share [11].

Copper’s role as a critical mineral is often understated; it has been used for thousands of years, with unique properties that have made it essential to ancient civilizations and remain just as crucial in the modern world. It is one of the few metals with antibacterial properties, making it suitable for medical applications. It is also highly malleable, making it easy to recycle and shape into many different forms, while its high electrical and thermal conductivity make it an essential component in electrical applications such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels [12].

Copper’s use in almost every electronic device imaginable has heightened its importance in global supply chains. However, with the emergence of new technologies like electric vehicles, which require up to 2.5 times as much copper as a standard internal combustion vehicle (ICE) [13], global copper demand is projected to rise by 30% by 2040 [5]. Learn more:

Rare Earth Elements (REE) in Canada

Indium Critical Mineral in Canada

  • Global Reserves: Home to some of the world’s largest REE reserves and resources in 2023 [14]
  • Global Production: Currently not a commercial producer of rare earth elements [14]

Canada, although home to more than 15.2 million tonnes of rare earth oxide in 2023, is currently not a significant producer of REEs, a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements on the periodic table. Many countries have REE resources, but producing these materials requires complex separation and refining processes that can be energy-intensive. Today, China accounts for nearly two-thirds of global REE mine production [14].

Rare earth elements are used in various high-tech applications such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, digital cameras, computers, flat-screen TVs, smartphones and military equipment. Due to their limited availability, these metals are considered “rare” and are increasingly in high demand worldwide because of their importance in tech supply chains.

The IEA predicts global consumption of rare earth elements will increase by 60% by 2040, underscoring the skyrocketing demand for these critical minerals [5].

Canada's List of 34 Critical Minerals 

Critical mineral development across Canada - Natural Resources Canada

Canada's Critical Mineral Development - Government of Canada

Canada is home to several additional critical minerals and metals beyond those listed above. The following are included on the government’s list of 34 critical minerals and metals, over two-thirds of which are already being produced somewhere in the country [15]:

Aluminum Antimony Bismuth
Cesium Chromium Cobalt
Copper Fluorspar Gallium
Germanium Graphite Helium
High-purity iron ore Indium Lithium
Magnesium Manganese Molybdenum
Nickel Niobium Phosphorus
Platinum group metals Potash Rare earth elements
Scandium Silicon metal Tantalum
Tellurium Tin Titanium
Tungsten Uranium Vanadium
Zinc    

Growing Demand for Critical Minerals

Canada can deliver the energy, mining, forestry, food products the world needs banner

The International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests mineral demand will increase by up to six times by 2040 as the developed world continues to push for the use of advanced technologies that rely on critical minerals and metals for production.

Canada, with its mineral wealth, can help provide the world with the materials it needs to manufacture the technologies of today and tomorrow. However, new mineral resources can take many years to explore and even longer to develop before production. According to the Government of Canada, mines can take 15 years or more to explore and develop before first production.

Canada’s critical minerals strategy is a step in the right direction. However, it is crucial that Canada continues to streamline regulatory processes and encourage mining investment if it wants to be the world's go-to supplier of critical minerals.

As long as the world needs elements like lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and copper, it should come from the most reliable suppliers – from places like Canada, benefitting Canadian families here at home while ensuring resource security for our allies and trade partners abroad.

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SOURCES:

  1. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/mining-data-statistics-analysis/minerals-metals-facts/lithium-facts
  2. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/mining-data-statistics-analysis/minerals-metals-facts/graphite-facts
  3. https://www.mining-technology.com/data-insights/graphite-in-canada/?cf=view
  4. https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/graphiteknowledgebase/wiki/Guide_to_Graphite/What%20is%20Graphite.aspx.
  5. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-critical-minerals-outlook-2025/overview-of-outlook-for-key-minerals
  6. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/mining-data-statistics-analysis/minerals-metals-facts/nickel-facts
  7. https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/role-nickel-renewable-energy-revolution/37455/
  8. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/mining-data-statistics-analysis/minerals-metals-facts/cobalt-facts
  9. https://www.mining-technology.com/data-insights/cobalt-in-canada/?cf=view
  10. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/cobalt-statistics-and-information
  11. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/mining-data-statistics-analysis/minerals-metals-facts/copper-facts
  12. https://mineralsmakelife.org/blog/the-importance-of-copper-for-modern-life/
  13. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/14/copper-is-key-to-electric-vehicles-wind-and-solar-power-were-short-supply.html.
  14. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/mining-data-statistics-analysis/minerals-metals-facts/rare-earth-elements-facts
  15. https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/critical-minerals-in-canada/critical-minerals-an-opportunity-for-canada.html