Critical Mineral Resources for Future Green Energy: Understanding Formation Mechanisms and Processing Technologies—Introduction

Abstract

The global shift toward low-carbon energy technologies has significantly increased the demand for critical minerals such as lithium, rare earth elements (REEs) and helium. This special issue “Critical minerals” brings together 19 original research articles and review papers that address recent advances in both extraction technologies and the geological understanding of critical mineral deposits. The first section focuses on innovative recovery methods for lithium and REEs from sources such as electronic waste and salt lake brines, with promising industrial applications reported in China, Algeria and India. It also includes a study on optimising carbon capture and storage through improved source-sink matching. The second section investigates ore-forming processes and exploration strategies for hard-rock and brine-type deposits, including pegmatite-hosted lithium, carbonatite-related REEs, sandstone-hosted uranium, quartz-vein tungsten and porphyry copper deposits. Several studies from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau offer new insights into lithium enrichment mechanisms in geothermal and saline environments, using geochemical and isotopic methods. Additionally, a new model for helium accumulation in shale gas reservoirs highlights the structural controls on gas migration and trapping. Collectively, these contributions advance our understanding of mineralizing processes in diverse geological settings and support the sustainable development of critical mineral resources essential for the global energy transition.