Untapped potential: U.S. Mines Already Yield Critical Minerals, Study Finds
A new analysis published in the journal science reveals that the United States already mines all the critical minerals it needs annually for energy, defense, and technology – the challenge lies in recovering them. Currently, valuable minerals like cobalt, lithium, gallium, and rare earth elements are being discarded as tailings, byproducts of mining operations focused on metals like gold and zinc.
“It’s like getting salt out of bread dough – we need more research, advancement, and supportive policies to make recovery economically viable,” explains Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering at Colorado School of Mines and lead author of the study.
Holley and her team created a thorough database combining annual production data from U.S. mines with geochemical concentrations of critical minerals, compiled by geological surveys from the U.S., Australia, and Canada. This allowed them to estimate the amount of these valuable minerals currently being mined and lost as waste.
The study identifies “low-hanging fruit” – specific sites were recovering even a small percentage of a critical mineral could substantially reduce or eliminate the need for imports. The analysis, covering 70 elements vital to everything from smartphones to fighter jets, shows that U.S. mines could meet the demand for all but two minerals: platinum and palladium.
Examples of potential recovery:
* cobalt: Less than 10% recovery of currently discarded cobalt, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, would satisfy the entire U.S. battery market.
* Germanium: Recovering less than 1% of germanium, used in electronics and defense technologies, would eliminate the need for U.S. imports.
Beyond economic and geopolitical benefits, enhanced recovery would also lessen the environmental impact of mine waste and create opportunities for reuse in industries like construction.
Holley emphasizes the next steps: detailed mineral analysis at key sites, testing of appropriate recovery technologies, and crucially, policies that incentivize mine operators to invest in the necessary infrastructure. “While these elements are vital, their market value alone may not be enough to drive investment without the right policy support.”
