When most people think about mining, they picture massive equipment, mineral deposits and materials moving across the globe.

Healthcare looks very different. It's measured in moments: a diagnosis delivered in time. A successful surgery. A patient taking a healthy breath.

These two worlds are more connected than most people realize.

Modern healthcare depends on materials, and those materials start in a mine. 

After over a century in mining, we see how deeply these supply chains connect to the outcomes the mining industry drives, and the outcomes people depend on.

Mining isn't separate from everyday life. It helps make possible the tools, technologies and systems people rely on when the stakes are highest.

Materials at the Foundation of Care

Before a doctor can diagnose, treat or monitor a patient, metals, ceramics and polymers are already at work in medical devices.  From surgical instruments to diagnostic equipment, these materials form the foundation of modern care. 

Medical imaging is a powerful example.

A 2023 report on critical minerals in healthcare found that radioisotopes support more than 40,000 imaging procedures every day in the United States. Those radioisotopes rely on materials produced through complex supply chains. The same report highlights helium's essential role in MRI systems and the importance of rare earth elements in advanced imaging.

When you see an MRI image, you're seeing more than a machine at work. You're seeing the result of an entire chain of expertise — from resource discovery and mining to manufacturing, engineering and clinical care.

Strength Where it Matters Most 

The same connection shows up in medical devices and implants — including solutions that can help people hear, move and live more fully. Titanium, stainless steel and cobalt-chrome alloys are commonly used because they deliver the strength, durability and performance these applications demand. Platinum, silver and tantalum play roles in technologies that help improve and extend lives. 

For Tommy, that connection is personal. His story is a dramatization that shows how the materials, technology and expertise behind critical healthcare solutions can help create outcomes that change everyday life. 

Watch Tommy’s Story to see how our impact reaches far beyond the mine site — all the way to the moments that matter most:

The Bigger Picture 

The connection between mining and healthcare isn't always visible, but its impact is. We see mining as more than an industry. We see it as part of something larger. 

The materials mined today support technologies such as MRI systems that help healthcare providers detects disease earlier. They power infrastructure serving remote communities, and even contribute to everyday items like toothpaste and pencils.