According to the US Geological Survey, a critical mineral is...

According to the US Geological Survey, a critical mineral is defined as a non-fuel mineral or mineral substance under the Energy Act of 2020 that is essential to the US economy or national security and has a supply chain that is susceptible to disruption.

Need For Critical Minerals
November 14, 2022
https://borates.today/boron-mojave-desert/

Critical minerals, which are used in a variety of industries, including defense, renewable energy, and high-tech manufacturing, are heavily dependent on imports into the United States.

Due to the government's frequently constrained funding for such projects, funding has become more competitive as the United States government focuses on domestic production of essential minerals for the economy, climate, and national security.

Henri Tausch, the chief executive officer of 5E Advanced Materials Inc., which owns the Fort Cady mine, claims that boron is likely where lithium was ten years ago.

Boron Mining at Fort Cady:

• - Colemanite reserves at Fort Cady, one of the four types of borates that make up 90% of the borates used by industry worldwide, are estimated to be 120.4 million tonnes.

• - 5E might be qualified for a portion of the more than $330 million made available under Title III of the Defense Production Act, which is meant to help USA increase supply and production efficiency for the country's defence needs.

• - Fort Cady has been classified as critical infrastructure, the same classification given to nuclear power plants, by the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.