Processing plants, chemical supplies and logistics—not mines—are the most likely source of the next critical mineral supply shock, according to a GEM Mining Consulting study that challenges conventional mine-focused planning. “The next mining supply shock may start in a reagent tank, a furnace, a port, a laboratory or an equipment order book,” GEM said. The findings highlight a broader shift in how critical mineral supply risk should be assessed. GEM estimates that more than 15% of global primary copper production, or about 3.6 million tonnes annually, depends on acid-leach routes. The study concludes that future supply resilience will depend as much on strengthening processing networks, chemical supply and industrial infrastructure as on discovering new mineral deposits.