Conflict Minerals Definition
Conflict minerals are natural resources that can be mined, or extracted, in conflict zone areas and sold to perpetuate wars, fighting, or military conflicts. United States legislation includes the four most commonly mined metals of tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold. The SEC rules define these conflict minerals as 3TG metals and they can be extracted from multiple global locations including the Dominican Republic of Congo (DRC), Russia, Argentina, and Canada. One of the most prominent examples comes from the DRC, where armies, rebels, and other outside actors have profited from mining while contributing to exploitation and violence during wars in this region.
