Critical minerals are central to modern society and the global transition to cleaner energy systems. These minerals include the rare earth elements, which are essential for electric motors and wind turbines, as well as those that underpin battery technologies such as lithium, graphite, cobalt and nickel. As demand grows, countries worldwide are seeking to better understand the distribution, quality and economic potential of their geological resources, particularly in under-explored regions.

Across the African continent, geological survey organisations (GSOs) play vital, national roles in gathering, managing and interpreting geological and mineral data. The availability of such data supports good governance, sustainable development and transparent decision making, so strengthening this capability is essential to enabling countries to fully benefit from their natural resources.

For the past three years, BGS has been working in partnership with the Geological Survey Department of Zambia (GSD) to advance their understanding of the country’s natural resources. Together, we are making better use of Zambia’s existing geological data to improve national understanding of key metals and minerals such as copper, graphite, lithium and cobalt. This collaboration is grounded in shared priorities: building national capacity, improving data accessibility and supporting long-term, sustainable development.

How GSD is supporting the Zambian government’s critical minerals ambitions

A dedicated team of GSD geologists has been working with BGS specialists to strengthen Zambia’s national capability in critical minerals. This began with the development and publication of the guide, a national reference designed to support government planning and industry engagement. Building on this guide, GSD and BGS are now working on a new, national-scale critical mineral occurrence map. Focusing on Zambia’s eleven designated critical minerals, the map integrates the country’s most up-to-date geological information, mineral occurrences, verified deposits and operational mining and processing facilities. Built from high-quality, GIS-ready datasets, updated infrastructure data and insights from recent joint field campaigns, the map represents the most detailed digital geological dataset currently available for national planning and investment promotion.

Both the guide and draft map were formally launched on 25 February 2026 and received strong support from Zambia’s mineral exploration sector, government ministries and academia, reflecting widespread recognition of the importance of the map and guide to Zambia’s mineral strategy, helping to build confidence in the sector.

Partnerships for the future

As global demand for critical minerals grows, the role of GSOs and the partnerships between them will only become more important. Such partnerships strengthen national capability by combining technical expertise, modern data practices and long-term capacity building. GSOs and the data they manage provide the authoritative, long-term scientific evidence needed to understand a country’s resources, support safe and sustainable development and guide informed decision making across government, industry and society.

Published annually by BGS, the UK Minerals Yearbook provides comprehensive statistical data on the production, consumption and trade of UK minerals. The yearbook includes definitive updates to inform decision makers, the minerals industry and those interested in the contribution of minerals to the national economy.

The UK is an important producer of a range of minerals that are consumed in many sectors of the economy. Some 172.3 million tonnes of minerals were extracted from the UK landmass for sale in 2024. These can be broken down into the following main categories:

• 118.8 million tonnes (69 per cent) crushed rock for both construction and industrial uses
• 38.8 million tonnes (22.5 per cent) sand and gravel
• 8.4 million tonnes (4.9 per cent) industrial minerals (other than those within crushed rock)
• 4.9 million tonnes (2.8 per cent) other construction minerals
• 1.4 million tonnes (0.8 per cent) oil and gas (oil equivalent)
• 0.1 million tonnes (0.1 per cent) coal

A further 75.5 million tonnes, consisting mainly of oil and gas (oil equivalent), but also marine-dredged sand and gravel, were extracted from the UK continental shelf.

Download the UK Minerals Yearbook from the Minerals UK website.

The BGS BritPits dataset contains more than 264 000 records of onshore mineral workings located in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The data includes active, inactive, dormant and ceased sites, as well as a range of mineral operations including mines, quarries and onshore oil and gas fields, together with wharfs and rail depots handling mineral products and industrial processes. Each record describes an onshore mineral working in terms of its name, operational status, geographical location, Mineral Planning Authority (MPA), operator, geology, worked mineral commodity and a range of relevant metadata.

Three levels of BGS BritPits data are available. The open-source index is based on the full BritPits dataset but contains index level information only, including the name, status and location of the working. This can be accessed as a Web Map Service (WMS) layer or via the . The other two levels are available as licensed datasets.

• The open-source index package is available under an Open Government Licence
• The full dataset includes all the entries of the BGS BritPits database, including historic sites; this data is also available for specific Mineral Planning Areas
• A subset of the full dataset that contains only the active, inactive and dormant mines and quarries (over 5200 entries)

These datasets are updated every year. The latest version, released in February 2026, contains 264 549 records, an increase from 262 814 records in the previous version.

This data will be of use to organisations in the public and private sector who have an interest in the location of mineral extraction sites and their possible after-use. For example, the data has been supplied to:

• national and local governments for use in planning and statistical studies
• non-governmental organisations for environmental and conservation planning
• commercial organisations for analysis of resource potential and legacy operations

E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. The UK disposes of more than 100 000 tonnes of electrical goods every year and has over 800 million unused, unwanted and discarded electricals stashed away in homes. These electricals contain technology metals, such as lithium and the ‘rare earth elements’ (REEs), and precious metals, including gold, that are currently thrown away but, according to Material Focus’s research, are estimated to be worth a staggering £1 billion.

Significant carbon savings can be achieved by recycling electric motors and batteries from small appliances and other waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Recovery of REEs and other technology metals plays a key role in improving the security of supply and significantly reducing the environmental effects of primary production.

Currently, there is limited data on where these metals are disposed of and recycled; however, over the next year, BGS’s ‘Mapping technology metals in electricals’ project will generate new data that will reveal the amount of potentially recoverable technology metals in WEEE products, including everyday items such as cordless vacuum cleaners, e-bikes and e-scooters. The analysis will focus on two key components found in these electronic devices: the battery and the motor.

The project will undertake detailed modelling to quantify the amount of technology metals commonly found in electrical items, therefore highlighting the potential for recovering them. For example, neodymium, a REE found in the magnets used in motors, and lithium, which is used in batteries, are both found in everyday electrical items such as e-scooters and vacuum cleaners. Data produced from this project can be used to inform business models and support investment decisions for expanding UK capabilities to recover the value of technology metals in WEEE products.

Although there is some brilliant innovation already happening, many new products still aren’t designed to be easily re-used, recycled or repaired, and we lack the systems to recover all the valuable materials inside them.

We are delighted to be announcing the first of the recipients of our new £1 million Circular Electricals Fund, which will help drive innovation and support the development of a more circular electricals system in the UK. These ambitious projects aim to reduce the environmental impact of electricals by improving product design and resource efficiency, and encouraging collaboration.

Scott Butler, executive director, Material Focus.

We are delighted to have been awarded Material Focus funding to investigate the use of technology metals in everyday electrical items across their whole life, from first manufacture, through use and final disposal. We hope the outputs from this work will lead to the development of new circular business models and create commercial opportunities for recovering these valuable metals from end-of-life electrical items.

Richard Shaw, senior mineral commodity geologist, BGS.

Once complete, the report will be publicly available through the and the .

Today (23 November 2025), the UK Government published its for the UK. The strategy recognises the UK’s need to further develop links with international partners, increase domestic production where feasible and invest in the circular economy. This strategy provides a tangible blueprint for these ambitions – now accurate, real-time minerals data will be essential in supporting the Government in its objectives.  

The UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC), hosted by the British Geological Survey (BGS), launched in 2022 with support from the Department of Business and Trade. CMIC informs UK decision makers to enable the securing of adequate, timely and sustainable supplies of critical minerals. This will ensure that the UK can transition its economy in the coming decades to meet challenges such as achieving net zero emissions and realising the Government’s industrial strategy and economic growth agenda.

The geopolitical picture in 2025 demonstrates a complex, unpredictable and interconnected world. Establishing secure supply chains of critical and growth minerals to achieve the UK’s economic aspirations has never been more important. The country’s ambitions in relation to the energy transition, economic growth, security and digital agendas, are directly connected to reliable access to these resources.

Dr Gavin Mudd of BGS and director of the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC)

Almost all critical minerals are currently imported, meaning it is important to understand the complex global supply chains that deliver them. CMIC’s mission is to analyse those supply chains and provide impartial and objective advice that helps the UK secure sustainable supplies of critical minerals for its various industries. In 2024, CMIC’s UK Criticality Assessment revealed the vulnerability of the UK’s economy to supply disruption for specific minerals. The analysis was designed to support policymakers in building economic resilience and securing the minerals that are important to the country’s growth aspirations and national security. CMIC has played a crucial role in informing this new Government strategy.

A new guide to Zambia’s critical minerals highlighting the country’s current and potential critical mineral resources, including cobalt and lithium, was launched this week in Lusaka. ‘’, now available to read online, came about through a collaborative effort between the Zambian Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development and the British Geological Survey (BGS). Funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office and BGS’s International Geoscience Research and Development programme, the guide provides a strong example of how the UK/Zambia partnership is underpinned by an institutional exchange of expertise that supports both nations’ priorities.

Critical minerals are essential to the global energy transition. Diversifying their associated supply chains is central to improving their resilience to global economic fluctuations. Over the past few years, Zambia has boosted its critical mineral economy through increased production of manganese and nickel. In 2024, the Zambian government announced a national strategy to more than triple its copper production to 3 million metric tonnes annually by 2031. The country is also set to open Africa’s first cobalt sulfate refinery by the end of 2025, a major milestone in diversifying the global supply chain and a move that could be a crucial moment in both Zambia and Africa’s mineral valorisation efforts. The facility will be one of the few outside China capable of producing cobalt sulfate, which is a key component in the lithium-ion batteries that power smartphones, computers and electric vehicles.

Zambia has a 100-year history of providing the copper that has helped to electrify the world. The ‘Critical minerals potential of Zambia’ guide, co-produced by the Zambian Geological Survey Department and BGS, will help to kick start the next chapter in the economic development of the Zambian economy. The lithium, graphite, cobalt and other critical mineral resources of Zambia are sorely needed to decarbonise global power generation and storage.

As a geologist, I have worked on Zambian mineral resources for over 35 years and am proud to continue playing a small part in supporting Zambia to develop as an emerging economy that will bring prosperity and improved life chances for all Zambians.

Clive Mitchell, BGS Project Leader, critical minerals resources — Zambia.

As the world transitions to a low-carbon future, Zambia stands ready to play a vital role by responsibly developing our critical mineral resources. Containing up-to-date insights into the geology, production and exploration of eleven minerals deemed essential to Zambia’s future prosperity and the world’s clean energy ambitions, this publication provides valuable information for investors, policymakers and researchers alike.

Gerald Mwila, director of the Geological Survey Department, Zambia.

The ‘Critical mineral potential of Zambia’ guide will support Zambia’s transition to one of Africa’s most significant critical mineral producers. It presents for the first time the geological occurrences, exploration efforts and mineral production statistics for critical minerals in Zambia, both current and into the future.

The guide focuses on eleven minerals identified as ‘critical’ by the Zambian Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development’s critical minerals strategy:

• cobalt
• columbite-tantalite
• copper
• graphite
• lithium
• manganese
• nickel
• rare earth elements
• sugilite
• tin
• uranium

Driven by the electric vehicle and portable battery sectors, global demand for graphite and lithium may increase by as much as 130 and 350 times by 2040, respectively. Zambia possesses some of the world’s highest-grade deposits for copper and is the seventh largest copper-producing country in the world. The country also produces nickel, the global demand for which is set to increase by almost 70 per cent between 2024 and 2040. Cobalt is considered a critical mineral by the UK and USA, and as a ‘strategic’ mineral by the EU.

The guide was launched on 16 July by Calvin Bailey MBE MP, the UK’s trade envoy for southern Africa, alongside British High Commissioner to Zambia Rebecca Terzeon at the Invest-Zambia International Conference 2025.

I was delighted to announce the British Geological Survey’s new guide to critical minerals in Zambia. This will support Zambia’s National Critical Minerals Strategy and will help attract responsible investment in the minerals sector, supporting economic growth and the global green energy transition.

Calvin Bailey MBE MP, UK trade envoy for southern Africa.

The work of the British Geological Survey together with Zambia is an excellent example of the collaboration under the UK/Zambia partnership, which brings economic and environmental benefits to both countries. This is one of many examples of our two countries working together to achieve our shared priorities for economic growth and green energy transition.

Rebecca Terzeon, British High Commissioner to Zambia.

The guide highlights the geology, exploration, occurrences and mineral production of the eleven critical minerals. Knowledge of critical minerals is not just important for geologists and mineral exploration companies; it also educates decision makers and regulators in government and the wider public when they encounter mineral developments in their communities.

Since joining BGS in 2022, my time spent working alongside the Zambian Geological Survey Department has been a highlight. We have collaborated in Eastern Province, focusing on graphite reconnaissance fieldwork, and in Lusaka, working on the critical minerals guide. Zambia is home to such friendly, welcoming and environmentally conscious people and we hope this guide attracts interest from Zambian and international investors alike.

Dr David Currie, BGS Minerals Scientist.

This guide is part of a mineral ecosystem that aims to diversify the Zambian mineral production portfolio and bolster the resilience of the Zambian economy. Mineral promotion, such as this guide, reveals information on mineral resources that exploration companies may not have come across and potentially leads to investment in Zambia that could ultimately result in development of mines and mineral production.

For more information, please contact BGS press (bgspress@bgs.ac.uk) or call 07790 607 010.

Critical minerals are an increasingly essential part of modern society and a fundamental requirement of many technologies, including electronics, renewables and defence systems. As a result, global demand for technology-critical mineral resources is expected to quadruple by 2040.

In 2023, the UK and Canada unveiled a landmark agreement to cooperate on critical minerals. As part of this collaboration, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) recently announced that five research partnerships will receive a share of the £1 million International Science Partnerships Fund. Collectively, these partnerships aim to reduce mining’s environmental footprint and enhance efficiency across critical mineral value chains.

BGS scientists are actively involved in three of these partnerships:

• Exploration and Geomodels for Rare Earth Element Pegmatite Targets (EGRET)
• Metal Fertility and Transport in Volcanic-hosted Hydrothermal Systems
• Critical Minerals for Resilience and Sustainability (MINERS)

Exploration and Geomodels for Rare Earth Element Pegmatite Targets

EGRET is led by BGS economic geologist, Eimear Deady. Joining up with Canadian partners, the project is developing new geological models and exploration tools for rare earth element (REE) deposits in Saskatchewan, Canada. REEs are a crucial component for the magnets used in wind turbines and electric vehicles. The research will help diversify the REE supply chain and ensure high environmental standards.

We are delighted to have been awarded this grant, which allows us to work closely with our Canadian partners to improve our understanding of Saskatchewan’s REE-rich pegmatites. Our aim is to support the development of more diverse and resilient supply chains that can meet the rising demand for magnets, driven by green technologies.

Eimear Deady, EGRET project lead at BGS

Metal Fertility and Transport in Volcanic-hosted Hydrothermal Systems

This partnership is focused on the UK, Ireland, and Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. Some regions are rich in volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits, which are sources of important metals such as copper, zinc and gold. The research aims to improve exploration and mining efficiency, furthering our understanding of the processes that create these deposits.

Critical Minerals for Resilience and Sustainability

Located in British Columbia, the MINERS project investigates how critical metals like tellurium, bismuth and the platinum group metals can be efficiently extracted as by-products from copper and gold deposits.

The MINERS project will explore the resilience and responsibility of UK/Canada critical minerals supply chains for lithium, nickel, cobalt and germanium, looking to develop the ways that stakeholders can improve environmental, social and governance performance and regulatory efficiency, and move towards a more circular economy.

Gavin Mudd, director of the BGS-led UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre

These research partnerships will protect national security interests by strengthening supply chains for critical minerals and reduce the environmental impact of mining.

‘UK/Canada sustainable critical minerals research partnerships’ is a .

Digital scans of over 500 historical plans of abandoned mines (non-coal) have been released by the National Geoscience Data Centre (NGDC) as part of BGS’s commitment to providing more open, accessible data for its users.   

In the late 1800s, the Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act created the statutory requirement for the deposition of plans of abandoned mines by mine owners to the Secretary of State. In 1980, the BGS Edinburgh office was appointed as the statutory place of deposit for plans of abandoned non-coal and oil shale mines in Scotland. These plans have been preserved and managed by the NGDC, which is NERC’s Environmental Data Service designated geoscience data centre that is hosted by BGS. NGDC collects and preserves geoscientific data and information, making them available for the long term to a wide range of users and communities.

To reflect the BGS’s commitment to more open, accessible data for its users, the decision was taken to make scans of these non-coal mine abandoned plans digitally accessible to the public. This decision comes at an important time when there is increased interest in the potential of mine water for developing geothermal energy technologies. Having these plans openly accessible means they can be used in desk-based studies for those working in the public and private sectors doing site investigations, hazard assessments or further academic research. 

NGDC is committed to providing findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable data (FAIR data) and this includes reviewing access to legacy datasets. The release of over 500 plans demonstrates our commitment to being a trusted provider of geological data and knowledge.

Alison Steven, BGS Data Operations and Governance Manger (NGDC).

The plans can be viewed via the and can be filtered by selecting ‘Abandonment plan’ from the plan type drop-down menu.

These abandoned mine plans are part of a collection of over 70 000 plans delivered through the viewer, including sixteen different plan types such as open cast, quarry and cave plans. The portal can be searched by geographical area, mineral or mine name. The information returned includes mine name, mineral, geographical area, plan date (where available), whether a digital copy of the plan is available and who to contact to purchase copies of a scanned plan. 

More information

Abandoned mines plans for Northern Ireland can be accessed via the .

Further information on the history of non-coal mining plans is available through the BGS website.

Please contact the for any enquiries relating to coal mine plans in Scotland, England and Wales – or visit their .