Critical mineral raw materials

Critical mineral raw materials are things that we need to make lots of stuff that we use in our everyday lives. For example, they are needed to make phones, computers, and cars. They are called "critical" because if we don't have enough of them, it can be hard to make these things and it can be hard to get supplies. Some of these materials come from the ground (called mining) or some of these materials are made in factories. We need to use these materials very carefully so that we don't run out.