What do electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and satellites all have in common?

They rely on a complex, often invisible web of elements – rare earths and critical minerals – pulled from the ground, refined across borders, and essential to our transition to a net-zero carbon future.

But here’s the catch – the term “critical” isn’t as clear-cut as it sounds. It depends on who you ask, where you’re standing, and what you need.

In this episode, we dig deep into the world of critical minerals:

• What makes a mineral critical?
• Who decides?
• And just how secure are the global supply chains we’re relying on to power a cleaner world?

We’re joined by Gavin Mudd, Director of the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre at the British Geological Survey – a leading voice in the field, and someone who’s been tracking the geology, the politics, and the pressure points for decades.

This is more than a conversation about rocks – it’s about geopolitics, sustainability, and the race for resources in the 21st century.

Things mentioned in the episode:

Gavin’s LinkedIn page: LinkedIn

Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre: CMIC Website

British Geological Survey: BGS Website

Interactive periodic table: Periodic Table - Ptable - Properties - State at - °C

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/
Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet