A critical mineral is a metal or non-metal element that plays a vital role in modern technology, economic development, and national security, but faces potential supply chain disruptions(Australia, 2025).
Titanium’s high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance make it a vital material across strategic industries. It is essential in aerospace for jet engines and airframes, in defense for military aircraft and submarines, and in the medical field for surgical tools and bone implants, where its unique properties are difficult to replace(Game-Changing Titanium Find Could Dominate Critical Metals Market – Article | Crux Investor, n.d.).
Although titanium ore (ilmenite and rutile) is widely available globally, the processing into titanium sponge a crucial step in metal production is heavily concentrated in a few countries. China, Japan, and Russia dominate this stage, posing a notable supply chain risk.
Titanium has few viable substitutes in its most critical uses, making industries heavily reliant on a stable supply one of the key reasons it qualifies as a critical mineral. Thus, making it a critical element in this century(Bidoia, 2024).
How can a mineral that is abundant in the Earth’s crust still be considered critical and at risk of supply shortages?
References:
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Australia, G. (2025, March 26). Critical minerals at Geoscience Australia (Australia) [Text]. Geoscience Australia. https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/minerals/critical-minerals
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Bidoia, L. (2024, June 24). The case of titanium: Between abundance and criticality. PricePedia. https://www.pricepedia.it/en/magazine/article/2024/06/24/the-case-of-titanium-between-abundance-and-criticality/
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Game-Changing Titanium Find Could Dominate Critical Metals Market—Article | Crux Investor. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2025, from https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/game-changing-titanium-find-could-dominate-critical-metals-market
