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  • Hands cupping ash over a background of coal.

    Ash to treasure: REEs found in coal waste

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Nov 25, 2024

    Coal ash waste stream might become feedstock for extracting much-needed domestic rare earth elements. The U.S. has relied almost entirely on imports for its supply of rare earth elements (REEs) – nearly 75% of which comes from China, whose geopolitical tensions with the West have put several critical mineral supply chains onto shaky ground. Meanwhile, at a special landfill in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, researchers have discovered massive potential for this suite of elements h... Full story

  • A close-up image of lumps of coal.

    DOE invests more in coal-derived REEs

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Aug 13, 2024

    Funding to support additional research in extracting rare earth elements from coal byproducts, enhancing sustainability and domestic supply. As part of ongoing efforts to bolster domestic supplies of critical minerals, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has announced an additional $10 million investment aimed at lowering costs and reducing the environmental impact of producing rare earth elements and other critical minerals from coal...

  • Michael Vanden Berg at a coal outcrop near Star Point mine.

    Rare earths found in Utah, Colorado mines

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Aug 6, 2024

    High concentrations of REEs occurring near coal could improve domestic supply. "The model is if you're already moving rock, could you move a little more rock for resources towards energy transition?" said co-author Lauren Birgenheier regarding a study of rare earth elements (REEs) found in conjunction with coal-producing regional mines across the Uinta coal belt of Colorado and Utah. This research seeking out alternative sources of rare earths was conducted in partnership... Full story

  • Aerial view of phosphor-gypsum stacks at the Phalaborwa project.

    Billions in rare earths for U.S. at risk

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated May 24, 2024

    Without investors, the future of South Africa's rare earth elements enriched Phalaborwa site may depend on Washington support. Bordering South Africa's renowned Kruger National Park stands Phalaborwa, a mine sporting two rare earths-enriched phospho-gypsum waste piles that could mean over a billion in critical minerals for the U.S. – if the project can get enough support to run. To challenge China's near monopoly on rare earths, Washington has committed funds to a little-known...

  • A large pile of raw, unused bituminous coal ores.

    DOE funds more REE from coal research

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 6, 2024

    Three projects that will advance coal-derived rare earths and critical minerals. Further attempting to strengthen America's critical mineral supply chain and by proxy its national security, the U.S. Department of Energy announced $17 million in funding for three projects focused on establishing a domestic supply of rare earth elements and critical minerals from coal-based resources. Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as part of President Biden's Investing in...

  • A freshly paved road cuts between mostly empty brick buildings in Virginia.

    Critical minerals from Appalachian coal

    K. Warner, For Metal Tech News|Updated Aug 23, 2023

    U.S. policymakers have become increasingly concerned about overreliance on China for the minerals and metals essential to clean energy technologies. Today China controls roughly one-third of the global market for critical minerals and rare earth elements, and several countries, including Australia, are making strides toward developing robust domestic resource extraction and processing industries of their own in response. To take advantage of recent federal tax credits for elec...