U.S. discards critical minerals amid mining operations
U.S. discards critical minerals it mines, study finds.
Why it matters
- U.S. mines enough critical minerals annually but discards them as waste.
- Recovery could reduce reliance on imports and improve sustainability.
By the numbers
- Study examined 70 elements used in tech, defense, and energy.
- Recovering <10% of cobalt and <1% of germanium could meet U.S. needs.
The big picture
- Critical minerals discarded as byproducts in mining operations.
- Policy and research needed to make recovery economically feasible.
What they're saying
- Refining costly and environmentally challenging; future potential in landfill mining.
Caveats
- Economic feasibility of recovery remains a hurdle.
- Requires detailed analyses and policy incentives.
What’s next
- Research on recovery technologies and mineral-specific solutions.
- Policies to incentivize investment in recovery infrastructure.