vehicle batteries, wind turbine components, photovoltaic technologies, and advanced semiconductor systems, positioning them as strategic resources for countries seeking leadership in clean-energy and high-technology industries. Beyond their central role in renewable-energy infrastructure, critical minerals also underpin key national security and defense capabilities, supporting systems such as missile guidance technologies, satellite communication networks, and stealth platforms. Consequently, governments are increasingly recognizing these minerals as essential to economic resilience, technological competitiveness, and long-term geopolitical stability. Geochemical mapping represents an application of conventional chemical methods to the knowledge of the natural environment and is one of the main activities performed in national geological surveys and organizations like the Geological Survey of Spain (IGME-CSIC). Geochemical mapping is one of the main activities performed in national geological surveys and organizations. Following the recommendations in the Final Report of Project 259 for the International and National Geochemical Programs (Darlney et al., 1995), the Geological Survey of Spain achieved the Geochemical Mapping of Spain (Locutura et al., 2012). The main results accomplished with the data of the regional soil survey in the Iberian Pyrite Belt are presented below. Figure 1 - Critical and Strategic raw materials for UE The study zone corresponds to the Spanish part of IPB that covers an area of about 3.000 km2 in Huelva and Seville provinces. The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) is a well-known area for its 179
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