Critical Minerals Explained

What this course is about

"Critical minerals" is now part of every conversation about mining, clean energy and jobs. This course explains in plain language what makes a mineral critical, which critical minerals South Africa has and where, how a mineral travels from rock to the products we use, and why prices rise and fall, so that communities, workers, companies, government and investors can talk about the same facts.

Who it is for

Community members near mines and prospecting areas, workers and union representatives, ward committees and municipal officials, company community and communication staff, learners and students, and anyone new to the subject.

What you will be able to do

1. Explain what makes a mineral "critical", and why each country's list is different.
2. Name South Africa's high-criticality minerals and where they are mined, using dated figures.
3. Describe the value chain from mining to manufacturing, and what beneficiation means.
4. Explain how price swings and world policies affect jobs, revenue and communities, and prepare fair questions to ask.

Preview: the first two minutes

Module 1 · Introduction · 2 min

Animated scene (fictional, Thaba, a town on the platinum belt): Lerato, a Grade 10 learner, is given a school project, "What is in my phone?", and asks her uncle, a mineworker, whether anything in it comes from his mine.

Modules

1. 

   Module 1 · 18 min

   What makes a mineral critical

   Explain what makes a mineral "critical", and why each country's list is different.

2. 

   Module 2 · 18 min

   South Africa's critical minerals

   Name South Africa's high-criticality minerals and where they are mined, using dated figures.

3. 

   Module 3 · 18 min

   From rock to battery

   Describe the value chain from mining to manufacturing, and what beneficiation means.

4. 

   Module 4 · 18 min

   Boom, bust and a fair share

   Explain how price swings and world policies affect jobs, revenue and communities, and prepare fair questions to ask.

Go deeper

Optional, outside the 72 minutes.

• Mining School course 2, Understanding the MPRDA.
• Mining School course 6, Having a Say.
• Renewable Energy School course 1, Renewable Energy Explained.

Sources

• https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-platinum-group.pdf
• https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-manganese.pdf
• https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
• https://pubs.usgs.gov/myb/vol3/2022/myb3-2022-south-africa.pdf
• https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202505/critical-minerals-and-metals-strategy-south-africa-2025.pdf
• https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/
• https://www.iea.org/reports/global-critical-minerals-outlook-2025/executive-summary