Canada and India talks on critical minerals

High-level meeting

Indian Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi recently met with Ranj Pillai the Premier of Canada’s Yukon territory (Government of Yukon) to discuss critical mineral cooperation. According to Josh’s X profile they: “deliberated enhancing cooperation in the mining sector, especially mining of critical minerals”. Moreover, Minister Pralhad Joshi added: “Together we resolved to strengthen the supply chain of critical minerals between both the nations”.

The Indian Mines Minister didn’t specify the critical minerals that were under discussion but only mentioned the most important Yukon deposits including pathways for Yukon resources to support Indian industry.

Yukon’s critical minerals

Yukon’s territory is located in the northwest of Canada. The region hosts several deposits containing critical minerals such as: copper, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, nickel and platinum group element.

Figure 1. Yukon critical minerals deposits. Source: YGS Miscellaneous Report 23. Yukon Critical minerals inventory 2021. L.L. Lewis And C. Relf. Yukon Geological Survey.

The brief aforementioned deposits were: copper, gold, silver, zinc, iron, and asbestos.