Critical Minerals Analysis Tools
Welcome to the Payne Institute/Colorado School of Mines Economics Department Critical Minerals Analysis Tools page. This site accesses interactive tools, built based on Mines’ proprietary data sets, to deepen understanding of the global supply/availability and demand outlook for individual critical minerals.
Minerals Reserves and Production Costs
Critical Minerals Demand from Power Model (Under Construction)
Other Critical Minerals Research
THE STATE OF CRITICAL MINERALS REPORT 2024
The Payne Institute for Public Policy and the Colorado School of Mines has released its second annual State of Critical Minerals Report. Building on last year’s report, which provided a comprehensive overview of the supply, demand, technical and political landscape for critical minerals globally, this year’s edition targets the U.S. federal response, while also examining dynamics that will impact the mining industry’s ability to meet the needs for critical minerals that are presented by the global energy transition. Highlights include the vast potential from mining tailings, the steep cost curve for Nickel, new legislation focused on increasing the domestic mining of critical minerals and the U.S. government’s recent $4.9 billion of investments in mining and processing. October 10, 2024.
Trump continues push to expand domestic critical mineral production, refining 3/12/2025
Trump continues push to expand domestic critical mineral production, refining
Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Ian Lange contributed to this article about how President Donald Trump is planning an executive order to build refining facilities on military bases to boost domestic production of critical minerals. He is also reportedly planning to name a critical minerals czar that would help coordinate the efforts to expand production capacity. March 12, 2025.
What to Know About Ukraine’s Critical Minerals, and Why Trump Wants Them
What to Know About Ukraine’s Critical Minerals, and Why Trump Wants Them
Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian contributed to this article about how the U.S.-Ukraine negotiations are all about achieving peace – and finding economic opportunity. March 6, 2025.
Trump ‘playing into China’s hands’ with Ukraine minerals deal 3/6/2025
Trump ‘playing into China’s hands’ with Ukraine minerals deal
Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Ian Lange contributed to this article about how the US president’s perceived sacrificing of soft power ‘opens up a tremendous opportunity’ for Beijing and Russia. March 6, 2025.
Ukraine’s Minerals Won’t Solve U.S. Supply Chain Problems 3/3/2025
Ukraine’s Minerals Won’t Solve U.S. Supply Chain Problems
Payne Institute Fellow Josh Busby, Emily J. Holland, and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how even from a purely interest-based perspective, however, there are several structural realities that prevent Ukraine’s extractive materials from contributing much to the U.S. national security community’s renewed interest in critical minerals. March 3, 2025.
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