A conflict mineral is a mineral or metal that is mined in an area affected by armed conflict or severe human rights abuses, and whose trade helps finance that violence. The term most commonly refers to the four minerals tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (often referred to as 3TG) as well as their ores (cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, wolframite and gold ore, respectively).
These minerals are used in an extensive range of products, especially electronics such as solder, capacitors, connectors, sensors, tiny vibration motors, and gold-plated connectors. They are also used in industrial and aerospace equipment (e.g., tungsten cutting tools, turbine blades, and high-stress components), gold jewelry and watches, and food and beverage cans with tinplate coatings. Additional applications include investment gold; decorative items made with tin-based alloys like bronze or pewter; incandescent, halogen, or specialty bulbs with tungsten filaments; power tools; kitchen utensils; roofing materials; window or glass products incorporating tin or gold coatings; and hardware such as nails, screws, cutting tools, fishing weights, golf club heads, and tungsten-weighted components.
3TG materials are closely linked to environmental damage, primarily through unsustainable mining and processing practices in high-risk regions. Open-pit and artisanal mining frequently causes deforestation, topsoil removal and habitat loss, permanently altering local ecosystems particularly in Central Africa, South America and Asia. These operations often trigger soil erosion, landslides and long-term land degradation, while releasing sediments and toxic chemicals that contaminate rivers, groundwater, fish, crops and drinking water. Heavy metals from gold and tin processing accumulate in the food chain, posing severe health risks to communities; meanwhile, energy-intensive industrial extraction generates greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Abandoned mine sites exacerbate the issue, as tailings and waste rock leach pollutants for years after operations cease.
A variety of strategies, often used in combination, can help reduce 3TG use. These include substituting "next best" materials when practical, miniaturizing electronics, reducing the number of parts requiring connections, redesigning products for greater longevity, designing for easier disassembly and material recovery, and maximizing the use of recycled materials.