Materials used in AI data centers encompass a range of raw resources critical for constructing, powering, and operating facilities designed to support the high-density computational demands of artificial intelligence workloads, including structural materials like. Materials used in AI data centers encompass a range of raw resources critical for constructing, powering, and operating facilities designed to support the high-density computational demands of artificial intelligence workloads, including structural materials like. How to Read This: Here are key minerals used in each part of the data center, and the percent the U. imports to meet consumption for that mineral (based on the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025). Serverboards and Circuitry: Serverboards connect the essential electrical components of a server. From silicon and copper to lithium and steel — explore the key raw materials fueling the global AI boom and reshaping industrial supply chains. Artificial intelligence may be virtual — but its infrastructure is anything but. Behind every ChatGPT query, self-driving algorithm, and cloud training run. Extracted from quartzite and silica sand deposits—where it ranks as Earth's second-most abundant element after carbon—silicon undergoes extensive purification to achieve the ultra-high purity levels required for electronics.