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The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) 2025 List of Critical Minerals includes 60 mineral commodities critical to the U.S. economy and national security. Of these 60, Missouri has 36 economically viable critical minerals. Beyond critical defense and economic uses, the elements are used every day in cell phones, computers, cars, lighting, medical applications, electronics, and green energy, among numerous others. Learn more about some of these minerals below. 

Barite
Barite is used in the drilling of oil and gas wells
Cobalt
Cobalt can be found in siegenite, a potential cobalt ore mineral
Copper
Copper is important for electrical wiring and other homeware uses
Zinc
Zinc is an important metal due to its resistance to corrosion
Lead
Lead is a key component of lead-acid batteries
Silver
Silver was added to the USGS 2025 list of critical minerals
Rare Earth Elements
Minerals like xenotime contain rare earth elements crucial for high-tech products
Other Critical Minerals in Missouri
Numerous other critical minerals are found in Missouri