Is silver a critical mineral?

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pmbug

pmbug

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This is true but you can't ask Government stooges to understand.

The favorite and most common.

  1. Argentite (Ag2S): Argentite is one of the most common silver minerals and is a silver sulfide. It is typically found in hydrothermal vein deposits and is characterized by its dark gray to black color and metallic luster.
 
"critical mineral" is a legal term and items classified as such are subject to special trade/tax rules.

The Energy Act of 2020 defines a “critical material” as:
  • Any non-fuel mineral, element, substance, or material that the Secretary of Energy determines: (i) has a high risk of supply chain disruption; and (ii) serves an essential function in one or more energy technologies, including technologies that produce, transmit, store, and conserve energy; or
  • A critical mineral, as defined by the Secretary of the Interior.

The Energy Act of 2020 defines a “critical mineral” as:
  • Any mineral, element, substance, or material designated as critical by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey.
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The Department's list of critical minerals is not static and will be reviewed at least every three years and revised as necessary to reflect current data on supply, demand, and concentration of production, as well as current policy priorities, as required under the Energy Act. The 2022 final list of critical minerals was created using the most recent available data for non-fuel minerals and the current state of the methodology for evaluation of criticality.

The methodology used to develop the 2022 final list of critical minerals is based on the definition of “critical mineral” and the criteria specified in The Energy Act. The methodology was published by the USGS in 2020 [1] and 2021 [2] and includes three evaluations: (1) A quantitative evaluation of supply risk wherever sufficient data were available, (2) a semi-quantitative evaluation of whether the supply chain had a single point of failure, and (3) a qualitative evaluation when other evaluations were not possible. The quantitative evaluation uses (A) a net import reliance indicator of the dependence of the U.S. manufacturing sector on foreign supplies, (B) an enhanced production concentration indicator which focuses on production concentration outside of the United States, and (C) weights for each producing country's production contribution by its ability or willingness to continue to supply the United States. Further details on the underlying rationale and the specific approach, data sources, and assumptions used to calculate each component of the supply risk metrics are described in the references cited in this notice.
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... In addition to informing crosscutting DOE priorities including the Critical Materials Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercialization Application Program (RDD&CA), the DOE Critical Materials List will inform eligibility for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act 48C
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267 page .PDF report:
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For more than a decade, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has funded basic and applied research and development (R&D) related to critical materials to address the scientific and technological (S&T) challenges that underpin supply chain vulnerabilities. These investments were made possible through the first DOE Critical Materials Strategy in 2010. This included the first DOE Critical Materials Assessment – identifying which materials were critical for clean energy technologies. It also defined the pillars that form the foundation of the DOE research strategy that guided these investments.

The Energy Act of 2020 expanded DOE authorities to address critical materials challenges through a Critical Materials Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercialization Application (RDD&CA) Program. The Critical Materials RDD&CA Program allows DOE to invest across the entire research continuum and supply chain. Through the Critical Materials RDD&CA Program, DOE implements the DOE Vision and Strategy for Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM):

Vision:
  • Develop reliable, resilient, affordable, diverse, sustainable, and secure domestic critical mineral and materials supply chains,
  • support the clean energy transition and decarbonization of the energy, manufacturing, and transportation economies, and
  • promote safe, sustainable, economic, and environmentally just solutions to meet current and future needs.

Strategy:
  • Diversify & Expand Supply: Diversify and expand critical mineral and material supply from varying sources while minimizing waste and increasing techno-economic coproduction of materials – to ensure material availability;
  • Develop Alternatives: Innovate alternative materials and/or manufacturing components – reduce demand and partially offset the need for virgin materials;
  • Materials and Manufacturing Efficiency: Use and process materials efficiently across the entire supply chain and life cycle – to reduce waste;
  • Circular Economy: Remanufacture, refurbish, repair, reuse, recycle, and repurpose – to extend the lifetime of materials and partially offset the need for virgin materials;
  • Enabling Activities: Cross-cutting functions, such as criticality assessments, stockpiling, international engagement, market development, and advanced theoretical, computational, and experimental tools – to accelerate progress.

The 2023 Critical Materials Assessment will enable DOE to set priorities for investments through the Critical Materials RDD&CA, continuing advancements in S&T innovation in combination with expanded focus on derisking and deploying commercialization technologies to build and transform domestic supply chains.
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As we said, leave it to the Government to try and change things with their idiotic "Legal" definitions. Still wrong.
 
pmbug said:
"critical mineral" is a legal term and items classified as such are subject to special trade/tax rules.
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so the miners want silver to be declared as critical mineral because of trade/tax benefits?
I thought the motive was to push the gov to acquire silver.
 
Voodoo said:
As we said, leave it to the Government to try and change things with their idiotic "Legal" definitions. Still wrong.
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2023 Final Critical Materials List​

DOE has determined the final Critical Materials List to include the following:
  • Critical materials for energy: aluminum, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, electrical steel, fluorine, gallium, iridium, lithium, magnesium, natural graphite, neodymium, nickel, platinum, praseodymium, silicon, silicon carbide and terbium.
  • Critical minerals: The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), published a 2022 final list of critical minerals that includes the following 50 minerals: “Aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barite, beryllium, bismuth, cerium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, dysprosium, erbium, europium, fluorspar, gadolinium, gallium, germanium, graphite, hafnium, holmium, indium, iridium, lanthanum, lithium, lutetium, magnesium, manganese, neodymium, nickel, niobium, palladium, platinum, praseodymium, rhodium, rubidium, ruthenium, samarium, scandium, tantalum, tellurium, terbium, thulium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium.”


Legal ... chemical ... economic ... energetic definitions... aside, fact is, it's hard to think of aluminium, steel, nickel, platinum and copper as critical materials... but not silver!
 
www.moneymetals.com

Why Was the U.S. Silver Stockpile Raided by DOD?

Silver has been used for thousands of years as ornaments and utensils, for trade, and as the basis for many monetary systems. Of all the metals, pure silver has the whitest color, the highest optical reflectivity, and the highest thermal and electrical conductivity. Backstory. Whenever you...
www.moneymetals.com www.moneymetals.com
 
Podcast here. Nothing to see, can listen in one tab, surf the forum in a different tab.

Presenting the Case for Silver as a Critical Mineral​

Feb 24, 2024

Executives from Canadian and international silver mining producers operating in the country have appealed to government to recognize silver as a critical mineral.

In a letter addressed to Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, the executives outlined their reasoning behind their push for silver to be included on the list.David Morgan and Keith Neumeyer have a conversation about the letter.

Watch this video on Presenting the Case for Silver as a Critical Mineral, then please share with your friends and family on social media and use the caption Presenting the Case for Silver as a Critical Mineral. 35 mins long.

 
Some context on the push for recognizing silver as a critical mineral:
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While the mining leaders surveyed by KPMG want to see more action from Canada when it comes to critical minerals, the country has been advancing its Critical Minerals Strategy since its implementation in December 2022.

With substantial governmental backing worth nearly C$4 billion over eight years, notable milestones attained so far include the launch of the C$1.5 billion Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund, which is aimed at fortifying clean energy and transportation infrastructure. Two critical minerals projects have also been allocated C$249 million.
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KPMG also found that survey respondents have growing concerns about the potential non-renewal of the 15 percent federal Mineral Exploration Tax Credit in the 2024 budget. This credit incentivizes exploration targeting critical minerals excluded from the CMETC, as well as other non-critical minerals such as gold and silver.
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It sounds like there are some significant financial benefits to being on the Canadian list.
 
FWIW (dyodd)

From the link:

Recently there have been calls by members of the silver market to have governments declare silver a strategic or critical metal. Such a move would be detrimental to the silver market, to producers, users, investors, and others. Efforts to have silver labeled a strategic or critical metal are misguided on a number of levels.

  • Silver is neither a strategic nor a critical metal. It simply does not have the qualities that make metals or minerals either strategic or critical. Silver simply does not meet the qualifications to be considered strategic or critical.
  • Silver’s strength lies in the very fact that it has none of the characteristics of a strategic or critical metal. If silver were a strategic or critical metal, as these terms are defined by governments and other authorities, silver would not be used in as many applications and ways as it is, and its market would be burdened with many nuances that would limit silver’s attractiveness both to fabricators that do or might in the future use silver in their products and processes, and to investors. All of this and more would be bad for silver producers, markets, and prices.
  • The last thing that the silver mining industry, silver users, investors, and the overall silver market needs are the governmental burdens, regulations, oversight, and involvement in the silver market that would come with the metal being declared a strategic or critical metal.
cpmgroup.com

Silver’s Strength Is That It Is Neither Strategic Nor Critical |

The last thing that the silver market needs are the governmental burdens, that would come with the metal being strategic or critical
cpmgroup.com cpmgroup.com
 
Despite its critical role in military, industrial, and technological applications, silver remains conspicuously absent from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 2022 critical materials lists. These lists identify minerals essential to the U.S. economy, national security, and technological advancements, yet neither silver nor gold were included. This omission raises several questions, especially given silver’s growing demand across various sectors.
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The omission of silver from the U.S. critical materials lists is perplexing, especially in light of its essential role in numerous high-demand sectors. Policymakers should consider reassessing silver’s status, ensuring the United States secures sufficient supplies to meet future needs. A thorough examination of supply chain vulnerabilities, demand trends, and potential geopolitical risks could be instrumental in shaping future policy decisions about silver.

As the world moves toward cleaner energy and more technologically advanced defense systems, silver’s strategic importance will only grow, underscoring the need for proactive measures to secure this precious resource.
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More:

www.jpost.com

Why is Silver Missing from U.S. Critical Materials Lists?

Uncover the hidden truth behind silver's absence from critical materials lists. Is it a strategic oversight or a deliberate omission?
www.jpost.com www.jpost.com
 
Related opinion piece. Take it fwiw and dyodd.

Is the Government Suppressing Silver Prices for Military Use?​

Nov 16, 2024 CHICAGO

Is the government secretly keeping silver prices low for military use? In this video, we explore the possibility that silver, which is essential for modern weapons and technology, is being controlled by the government to keep prices down. From its critical role in World War II to its use in today’s high-tech military gear like missiles and electronics, silver has always been more than just another metal. But with demand growing and prices staying low, is there something more going on behind the scenes?

Let's dig into the history and theories behind silver price manipulation, and why some believe the government may still be involved. Could the stagnant silver prices we see today be the result of secret actions to protect military interests? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Disclaimer: This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only. It is not financial or investment advice. Please do your own due diligence.


10:22
 
The US House of Representatives has passed the Critical Mineral Consistency Act 2024, to expand the definition of officially designated critical minerals to include “critical materials” listed by the Department of Energy.

The US list of critical minerals will now include:
  • copper
  • electrical steel
  • silicon
  • and silicon carbide

Advantages to being listed as a critical mineral include eligibility for the FAST-41 permitting process in the list
  • accelerated permitting, in particular, eligibility for the FAST-41 permitting process
  • investment incentives, including opportunities for federal subsidies and support for domestic projects
  • national security enhancement, potentially leading to more direct government intervention in the sector
...
The bill modifies the Energy Act of 2020 and was passed with bipartisan support of both Republicans and Democrats. It must still pass the Senate.

By expanding the definition of critical minerals, the bill requires the US Geological Survey to include on any materials on Department of Energy’s list within 45 days of DOE adding a mineral, element, substance, or material to its critical materials list.
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theoregongroup.com

Copper to be officially listed as critical mineral in US - The Oregon Group - Investment Insights

The US House of Representatives has passed the Critical Mineral Consistency Act 2024, to expand the definition of officially designated critical minerals to
theoregongroup.com theoregongroup.com
 
FWIW (dyodd)

Is The US Setting Up A Silver Stockpile For Military Use?​

Sal references Andy Schectman's interview in this one.


12:25
 
Today, U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) introduced the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025.

This bill eliminates disparities between the Critical Materials List created by the Department of Energy (DOE), and Critical Minerals List created by the U.S. Geological Survey within the Department of the Interior (DOI). Aligning these lists will improve our nation’s critical mineral supply chain by reducing confusion among industry and federal agencies, ensuring that all vital resources are treated equally. Senators Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Curtis (R-Utah), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and are cosponsors of this legislation.
...
“Copper and other critical materials are essential to our energy security, manufacturing, and national defense, but federal bureaucracy has created confusion for producers,” said Senator Kelly. “We’re cutting through the red tape to make sure Arizona’s copper producers and other critical material suppliers can access the resources they need to strengthen our supply chains and support American jobs.”
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More:
www.energy.senate.gov

Lee, Kelly Introduce Bill to Strengthen the U.S. Critical Mineral Supply Chain

www.energy.senate.gov
 
Silver solder is so military as silver resists corrosion better than anything but gold...yes, it is critical.
 
Silver is NOT what you would choose to resist corrosion. Far down the list. Silver solder exists to replace the toxic Lead in solders. A unique combination of mostly non-toxic metals with a low enough melt temp to be a solder.

All of the Platinum Group Metals are likely more stable / corrosion resistant. As are many Titanium or Nickle / Stainless Steels.
 
Silver is critical in a lot of battery designs used by the military.
 


Platinum and Palladium also made the list.
 
Grok said:
Adding silver to the U.S. Department of the Interior's critical minerals list would likely have indirect impacts on its availability in investment markets (e.g., bullion, ETFs, futures, mining stocks), but these effects would primarily stem from enhanced supply chain focus, investment incentives, and market sentiment rather than direct restrictions or allocations that limit investor access. The designation itself does not impose export controls, mandatory stockpiling, or diversions of supply away from commercial markets; instead, it serves as a policy tool to prioritize domestic production and reduce vulnerabilities, which could ultimately increase overall availability. Below, I outline the likely ramifications based on the list's purpose, historical precedents for similar designations, and silver-specific market dynamics.

### Potential Positive Impacts on Availability
- **Increased Domestic Supply and Production:** The critical mineral status would encourage expanded U.S. silver mining through streamlined permitting, federal funding (e.g., grants or loans from the Department of Energy), and tax incentives like those under the Inflation Reduction Act for clean energy-related projects. This could boost overall global supply over time, as the U.S. aims to reduce reliance on imports (primarily from Mexico, which prompted silver's inclusion to hedge against disruptions). More supply entering the market would enhance availability for investors, potentially stabilizing or lowering long-term prices after initial volatility.

- **Attraction of Investment Capital:** Designation signals silver's strategic importance for technologies like solar panels, electric vehicles, and defense electronics, drawing private investment into exploration and production. This has historically led to growth in mining stocks and ETFs (e.g., those tracking silver miners), making silver more accessible via liquid financial products without reducing physical or derivative market availability. Silver's established, transparent markets (e.g., with benchmarks like LBMA prices) contrast with less liquid critical minerals, ensuring continued investor access.

### Potential Price and Market Dynamics Effects
- **Short-Term Price Volatility or Increases:** Heightened awareness of supply risks (e.g., deficits from declining mine production and rising industrial demand) could drive speculative buying, temporarily pushing prices higher. For instance, if policies like tariffs on imports are implemented to support domestic producers (as seen in investigations for other minerals), this could raise costs but also incentivize more supply. However, this wouldn't restrict availability; it might even benefit investors by amplifying returns on silver holdings during surges.

- **No Direct Reductions in Market Access:** Unlike some strategic materials with government-mandated reserves, critical mineral status focuses on onshoring and friendshoring to secure chains, not withholding supply from investors. Silver remains a globally traded commodity, with 80% of supply as a byproduct of other metals, and markets staying open to all buyers.

### Historical Context and Risks
Precedents from other minerals (e.g., lithium or rare earths added in prior lists) show designations leading to increased production investments without curtailing investor availability; instead, they've created opportunities amid supply-demand imbalances. For silver, ongoing deficits (e.g., 237.7 million ounces in 2022) and growing demand (e.g., 14% of global use in photovoltaics) already tighten markets, but the list addition would likely amplify efforts to address this through supply growth rather than restrictions. Potential downsides include regulatory hurdles or environmental opposition delaying new projects, which could temporarily constrain supply and affect prices, but not specifically target investment markets.

In summary, the impact would generally be positive or neutral for availability, fostering more supply and investment options while potentially introducing short-term price effects driven by market perceptions of silver's critical role.
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Grok seems to disagree with CPM group as cited previously.
 
No I'm pretty sure they had left Silver off the critical minerals lists. Interestingly, that list says silver is primarily mined as a byproduct. Not sure that I agree but with current economics that's probably true for now.
 
Perplexity says that is accurate.

  • Silver was recently added to the US critical minerals list, and this is a new development for 2025. Silver was not previously designated as a critical mineral in past lists, and its inclusion is part of an August 2025 draft update that also proposes adding other minerals like copper, potash, and silicon.usnews+2

    Timing of Silver's Addition​

    • First Inclusion: Silver was added in the latest draft published by the US Geological Survey in August 2025, and this is the first time it has been placed on the list.x+2
 
Yes, this is a new development. Dept. Interior released a new list for comments/review. It includes silver. The list isn't finalized/official yet. I think the comment period is 30 or 60 days.
 
It hasn't been locked in as a CM yet but has only been proposed, is my understanding. But no matter what is decided, and it probably will be decided a CM, then the future is set for it eventually being listed as a CM. They may very well just be testing the waters with the proposition.

With its importance in the next generations of technologys I'd bet Govt.'s and Industrys are getting nervous about its future availabilitys.
 
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