Critical minerals for Kiwi kids
Critical minerals are special materials found in the Earth. We use them every day in things like phones, computers, wind turbines, electric cars, roads, buildings, and even the fertilisers that help our food grow.
What are Critical Minerals?
They are called “critical” because they are very important for modern life, but not so easy to find. Some critical minerals are only found in a few countries, so scientists are working hard to learn where we can find and use them carefully here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Critical minerals are important for our clean energy future. They will help power and create our modern world, from our phones, cars and roads to wind farms. By exploring, studying, and caring for these resources wisely, we can make sure that both people and our planet have a bright, sustainable future.
Where do Critical Minerals come from?
Critical minerals form deep inside the Earth over millions or even billions of years ago. Heat and pressure melt and mix rocks, creating new minerals. Sometimes these minerals stay deep underground. Other times, rocks break down over time and minerals wash into rivers or onto beaches, or even settle on the seafloor. Geologists (that’s what we call rock scientists) study rocks, maps, and satellite images to figure out where these minerals might be found. Using all the clues, and often after a long time and cost, geologists can find them and then engineers will design ways to get them out of the ground.
As we use more technology, we need more of these minerals which become increasingly more difficult to find. Recycling old phones, batteries and computers can help us reuse some of the minerals we have already found, but it won’t replace the need to find more, so we’ll need both recycling and mining to meet future needs.
Critical Minerals in Aotearoa New Zealand
Scientists in Aotearoa are learning which minerals are important for our future and where they might be found. Some parts of New Zealand have rocks that may contain minerals like:
- Lithium – for rechargeable batteries
- Rare earth elements – to make magnets used in wind turbines and electric motors
- Gold and copper – used in electronics, by our banks, and in jewellery
- Aggregate and limestone – for roads, buildings, and cement to hold it all together
- Fertiliser – used to grow our food
Scientists use rock samples, laboratory tests, three-dimensional maps, drones, and satellite images to learn how these minerals formed and what makes each area special.
Looking After People and the Planet
Mining can help us get the minerals we need for safe, comfortable lives, but it must be done carefully. It’s important to protect the land, water, and animals, as well as respect the people and communities who live nearby. Before mining starts, experts make sure that it really is needed, can be done safely, and that the environment will be looked after and restored after mining is finished. This helps us look after both the Earth and the people who depend on it.
In Aotearoa, we also think about kaitiakitanga, a way of protecting and caring for our environment, based on a Māori world view, as a taonga (treasure) for future generations. That means using only what we need, without harming the places and communities that make our country special.
The Future: Recycle, Reuse, Rethink
As our technology changes, we’ll need clever ways to find and use critical minerals. If we recycle and design things wisely, we can keep using the same materials again and again. You can help too!
- Recycle old electronics
- Reuse or repair things instead of buying new
- Learn about science and geology. Maybe you’ll be the next mineral explorer!
Meet a Kiwi Geologist
“I study tiny clues in rocks to find out how the Earth made them. Every sample is like a piece of a giant jigsaw puzzle!”
— Matt, Geologist at GNS Science
Quick quiz
-
Why are some minerals called “critical”?
They’re important for modern technology but hard to find.
-
Where in New Zealand do you think we have rocks containing critical minerals?
You could have almost named any part of Aotearoa and you would have been right! In our other web pages about Critical Minerals, we talk about them being found all around the country. Regions like Otago, the Coromandel, and the West Coast have some of the biggest deposits, but there are lots of other places like Southland, Nelson, the Taupo Volcanic Zone, Northland, and even in our marine areas offshore we have some mineral deposits too. Did you know there is even gold in Wellington in the hills behind where our Prime Minister works! You can see where we have already found some Critical Minerals here on our web map(external link).
-
What is one thing we can do instead of always mining new rocks?
We could recycle our already mined materials, reuse or repair things we have already made, or reduce what we are using through clever new technologies.