Critical Minerals

Newfoundland and Labrador has significant critical mineral potential that positions the province to support Canada’s defence, sovereignty, and supply chain security objectives. With extensive geological resources, active exploration, producing operations, and a strong project pipeline, the province has the materials, infrastructure, and expertise needed to contribute to Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy and support secure and reliable supply chains.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s mineral potential aligns with NATO’s defence-critical raw materials priorities, with potential for 9 of the 12 minerals identified as defence-critical including Beryllium, Cobalt, Graphite, Lithium, Manganese, Platinum, Rare Earth Elements, Titanium, and Tungsten (see map below for a selection of exploration projects). These materials are essential to defence technologies, secure manufacturing, energy systems, infrastructure, and advanced industrial applications. Current production and development potential position the province as a reliable partner in supporting domestic supply and strengthening allied defence supply chains.

• Supports development of secure supply chains for defence and industrial systems
• Reduces reliance on non-allied sources of critical minerals
• Provides inputs required for defence manufacturing, energy systems, and infrastructure
• Strengthens Canada’s ability to support allied and domestic defence supply chains

• Strategically located at the gateway to the Arctic, the Atlantic, and North America, the province provides efficient access to key trade and defence corridors.
• Newfoundland and Labrador is home to the critical minerals needed to support modern defence and security systems.
• With the potential to supply 9 of NATO’s 12 Defence-Critical Raw Materials, the province can help strengthen allied supply chains and reduce reliance on non-allied sources.
• Critical minerals from Newfoundland and Labrador support defence manufacturing, infrastructure, energy technologies, and steel production.
• Deep-water ports, railways, roads, and established resource access networks connect mineral projects to domestic and international markets.
• Generations of exploration, mining, and resource development expertise support projects from discovery through to production.
• From exploration to advanced development and production, Newfoundland and Labrador offers opportunities to support Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s significant high-purity iron ore resources are strategically important to Canada’s industrial capacity. These resources support steel supply chains for infrastructure, energy systems, shipbuilding, defence-related manufacturing, and emerging low-carbon steel production.

Newfoundland and Labrador has antimony potential supported by past production, idle mineral assets, and ongoing exploration. As a mineral used in defence applications, flame-retardant materials, energy storage, and advanced industrial processes, antimony provides an opportunity to support Canada’s defence and critical mineral supply chains.