CRITICAL MINERALS

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is committed to building a resilient, sustainable, and transparent supply chain for lithium, rare earth elements, and other critical minerals essential to Canada’s clean energy transition. Recognized by the Government of Canada, these minerals form the foundation of Avalon’s diversified project portfolio — from lithium and cesium to rare earth elements and tantalum. They are vital to the technologies driving electric vehicles, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

 

For Avalon, developing critical minerals in Canada goes beyond resource extraction — it’s about strengthening Canada’s economic independence, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains, and supporting the nation’s net-zero industries.

What are Critical Minerals?

To understand Avalon’s role in shaping a sustainable critical-minerals ecosystem, it’s important to define what critical minerals are and why they matter.

Critical minerals are essential to a nation’s economic security, technological leadership, and clean-energy transformation. They are key inputs for electric vehicles, renewable-energy systems, defense technologies, and advanced electronics.

 

Each country defines its own list of critical minerals based on strategic priorities and supply-chain risks. The Government of Canada currently recognizes 34 minerals and metals as critical to its economic resilience and clean-energy future.

 

Avalon’s diverse portfolio includes several of these minerals — underlined in the list below.

The 34 Critical Minerals:

  • Aluminum
  • Antimony
  • Bismuth
  • Cesium
  • Chromium
  • Cobalt
  • Copper
  • Fluorspar
  • Gallium
  • Germanium
  • Graphite
  • Helium
  • High-purity iron ore
  • Indium
  • Lithium
  • Magnesium
  • Manganese
  • Molybdenum
  • Nickel
  • Niobium
  • Phosphorus
  • Platinum group metals
  • Potash
  • Rare earth elements
  • Scandium
  • Silicon metal
  • Tantalum
  • Tellurium
  • Tin
  • Titanium
  • Tungsten
  • Uranium
  • Vanadium
  • Zinc
Click here for Avalon's Full Diverse Portfolio

What Makes a Mineral “Critical” in Canada?

According to the Government of Canada, a mineral must meet both of the following criteria:

  • The supply chain is threatened; and
  • There is reasonable potential for production in Canada.

 

In addition, it must meet at least one of these conditions:

  • It is essential to Canada’s economic or national security;
  • It is required for the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon, and digital economy; or
  • It positions Canada as a strategic partner in global supply chains.

Rare Earth Elements

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group that includes 17 metallic elements: the 15 lanthanides on the periodic table, plus yttrium and scandium.

 

REEs are foundational to a wide range of modern technologies, from smartphones and electric vehicles to medical imaging equipment and defense systems.

Rare Earth Elements

21
Sc
Scandium
Scandium enhances aluminum alloys for use in aerospace and sports equipment, improves the performance of solid oxide fuel cells, and plays a role in high-end lighting technologies.
39
Y
Yttrium
Yttrium plays an essential role in ceramics, phosphors, and specialized alloys used in aerospace and energy industries. It also improves the performance of thermal barrier coatings and fuel cell systems.
57
La
Lanthanum
Lanthanum is essential for automotive systems and imaging technology. It helps protect EV batteries from corrosion, boosts efficiency in petroleum refining, and supports the development of high-performance lenses and optical systems.
58
Ce
Cerium
Cerium is instrumental in cutting emissions via catalytic converters, essential for polishing glass, and contributes to the performance of energy-efficient LED lighting. Its wide-ranging uses also include alloy production and water purification.
59
Pr
Praseodymium
Praseodymium is critical for producing powerful NdFeB magnets found in high-performance motors, imparts bright colors to pigments, and improves the effectiveness of catalytic reactions.
60
Nd
Neodymium
Neodymium is fundamental to the production of high-strength magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and precision electronics. It also advances laser technologies and is utilized in specialized glass and ceramic materials.
61
Pm
Promethium
Promethium is an extremely rare element that doesn’t occur naturally and is synthesized in laboratories. It has niche applications, particularly in atomic batteries.
62
Sm
Samarium
Samarium is used to produce heat-resistant magnets for aerospace applications, improves the quality of optical glass, and serves as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors.
63
Eu
Europium
Europium is essential for generating bright, vivid colors in screens and LED lighting. It also contributes to nuclear safety systems and is used in advanced phosphor materials.
64
Gd
Gadolinium
Gadolinium is a critical material for MRI contrast agents, magnetic refrigeration technologies, and high-strength alloys. It also has applications in nuclear shielding.
65
Tb
Terbium
Terbium is used for green phosphors in displays and LED lights, plays a key role in magnetostrictive materials used in sensors, and supports the operation of high-temperature fuel cells.
66
Dy
Dysprosium
Dysprosium is crucial for improving the thermal stability of NdFeB magnets, making them suitable for use in electric vehicles and wind turbines. It’s also used in magnetostrictive materials and plays a role in nuclear reactor systems.
67
Ho
Holmium
Holmium is used to produce intense magnetic fields and finds applications in sensors, actuators, and as a dopant in laser technologies.
68
Er
Erbium
Erbium is used in fiber optics for telecommunications, in polishing glass, and as a key material in high-performance lasers.
69
Tm
Thulium
Thulium is used in specialized applications such as portable X-ray equipment, acts as a dopant in solid-state lasers, and enhances the efficiency of fiber optic systems.
70
Yb
Ytterbium
Ytterbium is used in advanced alloys for aerospace applications and in optoelectronic components. It also supports cutting-edge scientific research and enhances fiber optic technologies.
71
Lu
Lutetium
Lutetium is one of the rarest rare earths, used in high-precision medical imaging, in phosphor technologies, and as a catalyst in petroleum refining.

Light Rare Earth Elements vs. Heavy Rare Earth Elements

REEs are commonly categorized into two groups based on their atomic characteristics:

Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs):  

Include lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, and gadolinium. Scandium, though not a lanthanide, is often grouped with LREEs due to its similar properties.

Among the light rare earths, neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr) are especially critical. Together, they are used to produce high-performance permanent magnets, which power electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, medical equipment, smartphones, and defense systems. They are also essential in producing lightweight, high-strength alloys used in applications such as aircraft engines. 

Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs):

Include yttrium, dysprosium, terbium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium. Like scandium, yttrium is not a lanthanide, but it is considered a heavy rare earth element because of its similar ionic radius and geochemical behavior to the heavier lanthanides. HREEs are less abundant compared to their light counterparts, and many face increasing supply constraints due to rising demand from the clean energy and high-tech sectors.

Among the most critical heavy rare earths are dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb), and yttrium (Y). These elements are essential to modern technologies and they all form part of Avalon’s element portfolio:

  • Dysprosium is used alongside neodymium to enhance the heat resistance of permanent magnets found in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense systems.
  • Terbium plays a vital role in data storage and display technologies. 
  • Yttrium strengthens specialty alloys, phosphors, and polymer catalysts. 

Both light and heavy rare earths are essential to low-carbon technologies, digital infrastructure, and Canada’s leadership in the global critical minerals market.

Mark N.J. Ashcroft, P.Eng, is a seasoned professional in the mining, resource and finance sectors with a legacy as a sixth-generation miner, who first went underground at 12 years old. Beginning his career underground in Thompson, MB, he later earned an engineering degree and gained extensive experience across North and South America and Australia. He has held roles in mining operations, corporate development, and finance, including President and CEO of Stonegate Agricom, where he managed a pivotal $51.75 million IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Currently, he is the CEO of Aurelius Minerals Inc., focusing on gold projects in Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Mark’s background includes investment banking and corporate finance positions in London, New York, and Toronto at firms like Barclays Capital, Standard Bank, Versant Partners, and Toll Cross Securities, dealing primarily with resource companies. He has served on various public mining and exploration boards, advising on governance and capital markets. Mark is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario, and holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining Engineering from Laurentian University and a Master of Science in Finance, Regulation, and Risk Management from the University of Reading..

Cindy Hu joined Avalon in 2007. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Hu was a senior manager with the accounting firm Andersen & Company Professional Corporation. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of experience in public accounting practice and financial reporting, primarily for junior public companies and private wealth management portfolios.

MS. Hu earned her B.Com from Laurentian University in 1996.

Scott Monteith is an experienced CEO with a successful 30-year track record of moving clean and industrial technology from ideation to commercial success.  Mr. Monteith has extensive international experience in the areas of team building, biofuel refining, petrochemical refinery decarbonization, water treatment system manufacturing, research & development, strategic alliance formation, and government affairs.

 

Mr. Monteith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University and has been a member of the Young President’s Organization for over 20 years.