Critical Minerals in U.S. Mines: A Hidden Resource
- A new study reveals significant quantities of valuable minerals are currently discarded as waste from active U.S.
- The United States may already be producing moast of the critical minerals it needs, but much of that material is currently going unused.
- critical mineral byproducts are elements that occur naturally alongside metals like copper, gold, zinc, or nickel.These secondary minerals are not the main target of mining operations, so they...
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Untapped Potential: U.S. Mine Waste as a Critical Mineral Source
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A new study reveals significant quantities of valuable minerals are currently discarded as waste from active U.S. mines, offering a pathway to reduce reliance on foreign imports and bolster domestic supply chains.
The United States may already be producing moast of the critical minerals it needs, but much of that material is currently going unused. A new statistical study led by Elizabeth Holley and her research team at the U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) shows that valuable minerals could be recovered as byproducts from active U.S. metal mines, sharply reducing the nation’s reliance on foreign imports. The study was published in the journal Geology in January 2024.
critical mineral byproducts are elements that occur naturally alongside metals like copper, gold, zinc, or nickel.These secondary minerals are not the main target of mining operations, so they are frequently enough separated out and discarded during processing. According to the researchers, recovering even small amounts of these overlooked materials could have a major impact on U.S. supply chains.
The researchers found that if 90 percent of these byproducts were recovered, they “could meet nearly all U.S.critical mineral needs; one percent recovery would substantially reduce import reliance for most elements evaluated.” This means that even modest improvements in recovery technology could substantially reduce dependence on overseas sources. The study specifically examined 17 critical minerals, including rare earth elements, cobalt, lithium, and platinum group metals.
What Are Critical Minerals and Why They Matter?
“Critical minerals” are defined by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as minerals essential for economic and national security, with supply chains vulnerable to disruption. These minerals are crucial for manufacturing a wide range of products, including:
- Clean Energy Technologies: electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, solar panels.
- Defense Applications: Missiles, aircraft, and othre military equipment.
- High-Tech Manufacturing: Smartphones, computers, and semiconductors.
Currently, the U.S.heavily relies on imports, particularly from China, for many of these critical minerals. According to the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024, in 2023, the United States imported over $88 billion worth of mineral and metal commodities, with China being a significant source for many.
Reducing this import dependence is a key goal of the Biden administration’s