A phone is more than just technology. It’s minerals, too. Minerals are essential to the devices we use, the infrastructure we depend on and industries across the country. Getting those materials from the ground to the products we use, however, involves complex global supply chains. USGS scientists track mineral production, demand and trade around the world. Where minerals come from, how concentrated their supply is and how easily supplies could be disrupted all help reveal potential risks to U.S. industries and the economy. Each year, the USGS publishes Mineral Commodity Summaries, which brings together data on more than 90 mineral commodities across 180 countries. The report covers U.S. production, imports, exports, consumption and recycling, as well as global production, reserves, prices and market trends. These data also help inform the Nation’s List of Critical Minerals, which identifies minerals essential to economic and national security that are vulnerable to supply chain disruptions. The 2025 list includes 60 mineral commodities. The next time you pick up your phone, remember that the minerals inside it are part of a global supply chain. USGS science helps decision makers understand these connections and prepare for potential disruptions. 📸 1: Bastnaesite is a source of rare-earth elements used to produce magnets in speakers, microphones, and vibration motors. 📸 2: Chalcopyrite is a source of copper, the most abundant metal in a mobile device. Copper conducts electricity and heat, making it essential to electronics. 📸 3: Sphalerite is a source of indium and germanium. Indium is used in conductive coatings on smartphone screens, while germanium is used in displays and LEDs. Credit: USGS

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