US Strategy to Recover Critical Minerals from Mine Waste

Mining Mine Waste

The US moves to recover critical minerals from mine waste to reinforce domestic supply chains. The Department of the Interior will recover critical minerals from mine waste by streamlining rules and unlocking funding. As a result, agencies aim to recover critical minerals from mine waste while accelerating environmental cleanup.

Regulatory push and funding access

The Interior Department will simplify federal approvals for waste-to-minerals projects. It will extend eligibility for federal funding to mine waste recovery. The scope covers coal refuse, tailings, and abandoned uranium sites. This policy targets faster timelines and bankable project structures.

USGS targets in legacy sites

USGS identified promising waste streams for strategic minerals. Tar Greek near Picher, Oklahoma contains zinc and germanium in legacy lead-zinc wastes. Utah’s Bingham Canyon tailings hold recoverable tellurium. Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene site holds about $2.5bn in precious minerals. West Virginia surveys found rare earths in coal-hosted clays across two basins.

These efforts tie mineral security to remediation outcomes. Projects can reduce hazards while creating new US feedstock. Therefore, waste valorization may lower import dependence across clean energy and defense.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Waste-to-critical-minerals is moving from pilot to policy. Watch which flowsheets scale first: coal ash REEs, copper tailings tellurium, or zinc-germanium residues. Offtake contracts and federal cost-share will determine early project bankability.