Draft:Geopolitical mining
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Geopolitical mining is a concept proposed by Marta Rivera and Eduardo Zamanillo in the 2025 book Mining Is Dead. Long Live Geopolitical Mining. It describes the convergence of geology, economics, diplomacy, and industrial strategy in the global contest for critical minerals.[1] The term frames mining not as a purely extractive industry but as a strategic pillar of technological innovation, energy transition, and national security.
Background
[edit]The concept emerged in the context of rising global demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, graphite and rare earth elements, which are central to renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and advanced technologies.[1] Governments and institutions have increasingly linked mineral supply chains to national security and foreign policy, creating a need for new frameworks to describe this shift.
Definition
[edit]According to Rivera and Zamanillo, geopolitical mining refers to the positioning of mining within a nation’s strategic architecture, combining natural resource endowment with industrial integration, governance, and international alliances.[1] The framework includes:
- Sovereign speed – the capacity of states to accelerate permitting and project development timelines.
- Symbolism and legitimacy – the role of narratives and collective meaning in sustaining mining’s public and political support.
- Industrial integration – the link between mineral production, processing, and advanced technologies such as defense, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence.
- Institutional resilience – governance and anti-illegal mining measures as determinants of legitimacy and competitiveness.
Reception
[edit]Amanda Van Dyke, an investment professional and member of the Critical Minerals Institute’s Critical Materials Hub, reviewed the book introducing the concept. She noted that it “insists that mining can no longer be understood as a neutral, technical sector—it is now a core driver of national security and energy strategy,” describing the framework as a novel way of understanding the role of minerals in global power.[2][3]
Relation to other concepts
[edit]- Resource nationalism
- Energy security
- Critical mineral
- Geopolitics of energy
- The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (for concept comparison)
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Rivera, Marta; Zamanillo, Eduardo (2025). Mining Is Dead. Long Live Geopolitical Mining. QM Books. ISBN 9781069610669.
- ↑ Van Dyke, Amanda (2025-09-01). "Mining Is Dead. Long Live Geopolitical Mining". Substack. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
- ↑ "Amanda Van Dyke – Critical Minerals Institute". Critical Minerals Institute. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
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