Nova Scotia expands list of critical and strategic minerals

Province issues RFP for uranium exploration

Nova Scotia has expanded its focus on critical and strategic minerals with a departmental decision to add four more minerals to its critical minerals list and created a new list of four strategic minerals. Notably, the government added uranium to the list.

Tory Rushton, Nova Scotia’s minister of natural resources, stated: “This update shows that we are moving forward to unlock the full potential of Nova Scotia’s abundant natural resources. We’ve lifted blanket bans and we’re targeting minerals that are in great demand for the clean energy transition in Canada and around the world. We’re also focusing on minerals that will help us grow our economy and create good-paying jobs for Nova Scotians.”

Companies used these kinds of critical minerals in areas such as clean energy, defence and healthcare. These additions to the critical minerals list bring the total to 20:

• high purity silica used for solar panels and semiconductors
• silver used for solar panels and thermoelectric devices
• tellurium used for solar panels and thermoelectric devices
• uranium used for nuclear energy and health applications.

The strategic minerals are:

• aggregate used for construction of roads, buildings, concrete and landscaping
• gold used for electronics, dentistry and finance (as currency or investment)
• gypsum used for drywall, plaster, cement and agriculture (as a soil conditioner)
• potash used in fertilizer and industrial applications.

The provincial government stated this update further aligns Nova Scotia with the Canadian critical minerals list and will help unlock the province’s full natural resource potential.  Moreover, the department has issued a request for proposals for experienced companies to help with exploration and research in areas with known uranium deposits.

The province has already expressed clear plans regarding uranium. “We are starting with exploration to learn about our uranium potential,” Natural Resources Minister Rushton told a news conference in Halifax, as reported in a news report by Canadian Press.

“Through a request for proposals we are opening up areas where we know that there are uranium deposits. We will engage with companies with a proven track record for safety and environmental responsibility to explore them.”

Each of the three sites are on private land and the minister said the government would begin talks with the landowners about its intent to explore the sites, continued the Canadian Press report. The locations are an 80-ha site in Louisville in Pictou County; a 64-ha site in East Dalhousie in Annapolis County; and a 2,300-ha site in Millet Brook in Hants County.

“The world is demanding critical minerals that are mined responsibly, ethically and sustainably,” Rushton said. “We need to move on these opportunities today.”

Local mining groups have praised the move.  Sean Kirby, executive director with the Mining Association of Nova Scotia, stated: “Nova Scotians know we need to create jobs, become more self-reliant and build a stronger province. The mining and quarrying industry is part of the solution. We have significant potential to contribute to global supply of the critical minerals that are essential to achieving climate goals. Many other minerals are also of strategic importance to the province’s economy and efforts to keep Nova Scotia and Canada strong and free.”

Kirby added, referring to a recently commissioned poll: “As President Trump threatens Canada’s economy and sovereignty, 75% of Nova Scotians agree that the mining and quarrying sector can play an important role in establishing Canadian economic independence. 76% of Nova Scotians support mining critical minerals in the province. That is an 11% increase in support for mining critical minerals compared to our spring 2024 poll.”

Nova Scotia launched its critical minerals list in December 2022 and its critical minerals strategy in March 2024. The department reviews the critical minerals list every two years; the new critical and strategic minerals will be added to the strategy.