Could Mining Waste Solve America’s Clean Energy Supply Chain Crisis?

The United States is racing to develop its critical minerals industry to reduce reliance on China for metals and minerals, even through controversial actions such as deep-sea mining activities. However, a recent study suggests that it may be easier for the U.S. to access critical minerals than once thought, by developing new operations in existing mines. An analysis of active U.S. mines, published in New Scientist in August, shows that accessing the leftover ore discarded in many U.S. mines is packed with a wide range of critical minerals. The…