Canada has officially designated 34 minerals as "critical" — not because they are rare, but because they are essential to priority technologies (EV batteries, semiconductors, clean energy, defence) AND because their supply chains are vulnerable to disruption. Several are abundant in Canada; the designation is about strategic importance, not scarcity.
This guide covers minerals found in Canadian mines and deposits — including Canada's critical minerals, common by-product metals found alongside them, and the rock types that host them. Each entry includes identification characteristics, where to find them in Canada, what other minerals they're typically found with, handling notes, and the cultural and historical significance attached to each.
Entries are added regularly. Search by name or filter by province.