The United States depends heavily on rare earth elements (REEs) for both everyday products and national security. These materials are essential for items such as smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced military equipment. Concerns about the security and reliability of the U.S. REE supply chain have become a major policy issue in Washington. Greenland’s geology makes it especially interesting in this context. The island contains a wide range of critical minerals and holds some of the world’s largest undeveloped rare earth deposits. In other words, many of the minerals that are crucial for modern technologies could, in principle, be sourced from Greenland. At present, more than 60% of the world’s rare earths are mined in China, and China controls over 90% of the global processing capacity. This concentration creates a strategic vulnerability for Western countries, which depend on Chinese production and processing for these key materials. Greenland, by contrast, offers significant but largely untapped potential. In addition to rare earths, it is believed to host deposits of gold, copper, nickel, iron ore, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, and vanadium, along with graphite and diamonds. Greenland is also thought to have large reserves of oil and natural gas. While many of these minerals are currently produced in China and in several African countries, there are growing reasons to look for new sources. These include geopolitical tensions, concerns about supply disruptions, transportation costs, and the need to secure long-term access to critical resources. Despite its vast resource potential, Greenland’s mining sector is still in the early stages. Most activity remains focused on exploration and evaluation rather than large-scale production. As global demand for critical minerals continues to rise, however, Greenland is likely to draw increasing attention as a possible alternative or complementary source of supply. For mining companies and their advisors, Greenland’s resource potential highlights a broader reality: as demand for critical minerals intensifies, attention increasingly turns to jurisdictions with significant but undeveloped deposits. In such contexts, geological promise is only part of the equation. Regulatory frameworks, permitting processes, environmental and social considerations, and access to infrastructure often play an equally decisive role in determining whether and how projects advance.   In many respects, these dynamics will sound familiar to industry participants operating in Canada and Quebec, where strategic minerals, evolving policy priorities, and heightened expectations around responsible development continue to shape the mining landscape. Greenland therefore offers a useful point of reflection on how global supply chain pressures can create both opportunities and complexities for mining projects. Lavery’s Mining Law Group regularly assists clients in navigating these issues and is available to help assess how such developments may translate into practical considerations for their business.

What is natural hydrogen? Natural hydrogen, also called native hydrogen, does exist. It refers to hydrogen found naturally in the environment, often as a gas trapped underground. Unlike industrially produced hydrogen, which results from chemical processes, natural hydrogen is extracted directly from nature. This naturally occurring resource is generating growing interest as a potential source of clean, renewable energy. However, exploration and large-scale production are still in the early stages. Discovery of natural hydrogen The first major discovery of natural hydrogen occurred in 1987 in Bourakébougou, Mali, by the company Hydroma Inc. In this village, a well revealed naturally occurring hydrogen in the subsurface. This discovery sparked global interest in hydrogen’s potential as an energy source. The region continues to be studied to better understand and develop this promising resource. Regulation and exploration in Quebec n Quebec, natural hydrogen exploration is not currently covered by the Mining Act, which governs the exploration and exploitation of mineral substances. Because natural hydrogen represents an emerging resource, it will eventually need to be addressed through new regulations or incorporated into an existing legal framework. For now, since hydrogen is mainly studied in the context of renewable energy, it may fall under environmental or energy-related regulations. Legal framework in France In France, the legal status of natural hydrogen differs significantly. Natural hydrogen is classified as a mineral resource, meaning that its exploration and extraction are governed by the provisions of the French Mining Code. Initiatives in Quebec Although natural hydrogen exploration in Quebec is not yet covered by the Mining Act, several companies have obtained exclusive exploration rights (formerly known as “claims”) and are actively conducting fieldwork. Through their efforts, they are helping to advance the legal and regulatory framework surrounding this new energy resource. The Government of Quebec is currently examining potential legislative amendments to the Mining Act to include natural hydrogen, or the adoption of a new, dedicated law to regulate it

In a strategic move to bolster domestic production of critical minerals, President Donald Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA). He signed an executive order aiming to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources, particularly China, which dominates the global rare earth minerals market. This market dominance poses economic and security risks for countries reliant on these materials for advanced technologies, such as the U.S. and Canada. The executive order leverages the DPA to provide financing, loans, and investment support for domestic processing of rare earth elements (REEs) and critical rare earth elements (CREEs). REEs are profoundly valuable and are essential in the manufacture of electronics (e.g., microchips, semiconductors, and essentially any product with a computer chip).  This initiative seeks to enhance national security by ensuring a stable supply of materials essential for technologies ranging from batteries to defense systems. Standard NdFeB magnets, without terbium (Tb) or dysprosium (Dy), cannot be used in high-temperature applications such as in electric vehicles (EV) critical components.  The production of high-value pre-magnetic REE alloys, requires the purchase of separated Tb and Dy oxides from China. Recent concerns about future supplies of REEs have now narrowed chiefly to the heavy rare earth elements (HREEs). Essentially, all of the world's HREEs are currently sourced from the south China ion-adsorption clay deposits.  The ability of those deposits to maintain and increase production is uncertain, particularly in light of environmental degradation associated with some mining and extraction operations in the region. As the U.S. intensifies efforts to secure its mineral supply chains, Canada, rich in mineral resources, has an opportunity to strengthen its position as a key supplier. However, Canada must also navigate its own strategic interests, ensuring that domestic extraction and processing capabilities remain competitive. REE mineral deposits typically contain appreciable levels of radioactive elements such as thorium (Th) and uranium (U), making the extraction of REE values environmentally challenging.  Novel processes for the extraction and separation of REE values in high yield and purity, with an environmentally cleaner design and overcoming the technical and economic limitations of the existing commercial processes, are of commercial interest. Additionally, diversifying export markets beyond the U.S. could shield Canada from potential shifts in American policy while strengthening its role as a global player in the critical minerals industry. As the Trump administration’s directive underscores the strategic importance of CREEs and the necessity to develop resilient supply chains, we can expect more news in the upcoming months from the U.S. regarding its efforts to lessen its dependence on other countries in the mining industry. Stay tuned!