Turning Waste into Wealth: How the U.S. Can Mine Critical Minerals Without New Mines
Every time you use your phone, open your computer, or listen to music on your AirPods, you’re relying on critical minerals—the tiny building blocks powering modern technology. From lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite in batteries to gallium in communication systems, these materials are essential to the digital and green economy.
Yet the U.S. remains heavily dependent on imports, sourcing up to 100% of key critical minerals from abroad in 2024. This rising dependency, coupled with geopolitical tensions, has turned critical minerals into a strategic national concern.
Can the U.S. meet this demand without opening new mines?
The answer may lie in waste mining—recovering valuable minerals from legacy tailings, such as kaolin mining residues in Georgia. These sites already contain rare earth elements, and thanks to innovations like bioleaching and electrochemical separation, these resources can be tapped more sustainably, quickly, and cost-effectively than opening new mines.
This strategy supports the circular economy, boosts supply chain resilience, and avoids the environmental and regulatory hurdles of traditional mining.
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