The Risk List 2015

The updated risk list provides a simple indication of the relative risk in 2015 to the supply of 41 elements or element groups that we need to maintain our economy and lifestyle. This is an update of a similar assessment carried out in 2011 and 2012. The position of an element on this list is determined by a number of factors that might affect availability. These include the location of current production and reserves, and the political stability of those locations. New for 2015 companion metal fraction production (i.e. the percentage of a metal that is mined as a by-product) has been incorporated into the analysis, whilst scarcity (previously based on crustal abundance figures) has been removed. Data sources used in the compilation of the list are internationally recognised and publicly available.