Operating since 1903, Rio Tinto's Kennecott Mine near Salt Lake City remains one of the most productive mines in the world, where workers pulled 134,000 metric tons of copper from the earth last year, along with significant amounts of gold, silver and molybdenum.

That doesn't come close to keeping up with demand, though. Prices of copper and other critical minerals surged to record highs last year, driven by supply shortages and aggravated by trade wars. The shortages show no signs of easing. According to J. P. Morgan, the global refined-copper shortfall will hit 330,000 tons this year and could widen to as much as eight million tons by 2035. The United Nations predicts that demand for critical minerals could triple by 2030. To meet its Net Zero 2050 goals, the International Energy Agency estimates that annual production of these minerals will need to increase sixfold.