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U.S. to Open Domestic Supply of Critical Minerals from Mine Waste
The U.S. government has taken a significant step towards strengthening its mineral independence by issuing an order to unlock federal dollars for recovering critical minerals from mine waste across the country. This move is aimed at reducing dependence on imports and bolstering national security.
Issued earlier this month, the five-page order emphasizes the need for a resilient domestic source of critical minerals to support key industries such as cellphones and computers. The U.S. has vast resources within its borders that can be harnessed to reduce reliance on imports while strengthening its economy.
Critical Minerals Found in Mine Waste
According to the Department of Interior, mine waste is an untapped source of critical minerals, including germanium, tellurium, rare earth elements, and zinc. These essential materials are required for defense technologies, and their recovery from waste can be a game-changer for the country’s economy.
Unlocking the potential of mine waste means not only recovering valuable resources but also leveraging groundbreaking research from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to identify promising sources of these minerals.
Source: www.forbes.com
