Critical Minerals Glossary
Clear, source-aligned definitions for mining metallurgy, chemical refining, supply chain economics, and legislative criteria.
Beneficiation
The physical or chemical processing of raw mined ore to concentrate valuable mineral components and separate gangue (waste rock).
Treatment Charge (TC / RC)
The fee paid by a mining company to a custom smelter or refiner for converting raw concentrate into refined metal. Low TCs indicate tight smelter capacity.
Permanent Magnet (NdFeB)
High-strength rare earth magnets composed of neodymium, iron, and boron (often with dysprosium/terbium), critical for EV motors, wind turbines, and defense actuators.
Hydrometallurgy
The extraction and refining of metals from ores using aqueous solutions (leaching, solvent extraction, precipitation) rather than high-temperature smelting.
Pyrometallurgy
Thermal treatment of minerals and metallurgical ores, including smelting, calcination, and refining at elevated temperatures.
Cathode Precursor (pCAM)
A specialized chemical intermediate (such as nickel-manganese-cobalt hydroxide) that is combined with lithium to form active battery cathode materials.
Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI)
A measure of market concentration calculated by squaring the market share of each producing firm or country. Used by USGS to evaluate supply risk.
NI 43-101 / JORC Code
Regulated disclosure standards for mineral exploration and reserve reporting in Canada (NI 43-101) and Australasia (JORC), ensuring technical integrity.
Spheronization
The mechanical process of shaping natural flake graphite into micron-sized spheres, a critical prerequisite for lithium-ion battery anode manufacturing.
Solvent Extraction (SX)
A separation process used heavily in rare earth refining and copper hydrometallurgy where compounds are separated based on their relative solubilities in two different immiscible liquids.