U.S. government researchers visit a Korean mine as the race against China for critical minerals heats up

U.S. government researchers recently visited a South Korean mine to assess progress towards boosting supply of a critical metal called tungsten from areas outside China, according to the mine operator. The Sangdong Mine, owned by a subsidiary of Canada-based Almonty Industries, is set to resume operations this year. Almonty claims the mine could potentially produce 50% of the rest of the world’s supply of tungsten, which is used for making weapons, semiconductors, and industrial cutting machines. With China dominating over 80% of the metal’s supply chain, this move is part of the U.S. government’s effort to bolster national security and reduce dependence on foreign sources.