Conflict minerals are linked to funding armed conflicts and human rights violations in regions where they are mined.

Natural resources like tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold (3TG) that are extracted in armed conflict zones and used to finance exploitation, violence, and violations of human rights are referred to as conflict minerals. These resources are mostly found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its neighboring areas. These minerals are economically valued because they are necessary for the jewelry, automotive, and electronics sectors. However, their extraction frequently results in serious environmental harm, child exploitation, and forced labor. By compelling businesses to reveal their sourcing methods and encouraging ethical supply chains and responsible mining, initiatives such as the Dodd-Frank Act Section 1502 seek to lower the demand for conflict minerals worldwide.