A groundbreaking analysis reveals that the United States is literally throwing away its path to critical mineral independence. Researchers at Colorado School of Mines have discovered that all the cobalt, lithium, gallium, and rare earth elements the country needs are already being mined domestically - but ending up in waste piles instead of supply chains.
The Hidden Treasure in Tailings Piles
The study, published in Science journal, shows that 68 out of 70 critical minerals needed for everything from smartphones to fighter jets could be recovered from existing US mining operations. These valuable materials are currently discarded as tailings - the leftover material after extracting primary metals like gold and zinc. For cobalt, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, recovering less than 10% of what's currently being wasted would supply the entire US battery market.
The discovery challenges the common assumption that only countries like China can economically produce these materials. Community discussions reveal the real barriers aren't geological - they're regulatory and economic. Mining experts point out that most US mines operating today were grandfathered into current environmental rules and would likely never get approval if proposed now.
Critical Minerals Recovery Potential
| Mineral | Primary Use | Current Source | Recovery Needed for Independence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt | EV batteries | Nickel/copper mining byproduct | <10% of current waste |
| Germanium | Defense sensors, satellites | Zinc/molybdenum mining byproduct | <1% of current waste |
| Lithium | Batteries | Various mining operations | Data not specified |
| Gallium | Electronics | Various mining operations | Data not specified |
| Rare earth elements | Magnets, electronics | Various mining operations | Varies by element |
Why China Dominates Despite US Resources
The conversation around rare earth production reveals uncomfortable truths about global supply chains. China doesn't control 90% of the rare earth market because they have better geology - they're simply willing to accept the environmental costs that Western nations won't.
They're the only ones willing to ignore and cover up the insane pollution it causes. Rare earth is somewhat synonymous with 'exceptionally toxic.'
This creates a strategic vulnerability that has already impacted US defense programs. Former defense contractors describe writing monthly risk assessments about China potentially cutting off supplies to $10 billion USD programs, knowing that Congressional requirements to choose the lowest-cost supplier would always favor Chinese sources.
US vs China Rare Earth Production Context
- China's market share: 90% of global rare earth production
- US production: Mountain Pass mine supplies 15.8% of world production (2020)
- Total addressable market: Small in dollar terms but strategically critical
- Key challenge: China uses state-owned enterprises while US relies on private companies
- Strategic vulnerability: US defense programs already impacted by supply dependencies
The Economics of Recovery
The technical challenge isn't trivial - researchers compare it to getting salt out of bread dough. However, the potential impact is enormous. For germanium, used in missile sensors and defense satellites, recovering less than 1% of what's currently mined and discarded would eliminate all import needs.
The real obstacles are economic incentives and processing infrastructure. Even when these critical minerals are present in sufficient quantities, their market value alone may not justify the additional processing equipment and operational changes required. This is where targeted government policy could make the difference between continued dependence and domestic security.
Environmental and Strategic Implications
Recovering these minerals would serve multiple purposes beyond supply chain security. Instead of creating new environmental damage, it would reduce the footprint of existing mining operations while decreasing the volume of toxic tailings that must be monitored indefinitely.
The timing is critical as geopolitical tensions continue to rise. With China having active territorial disputes with US allies Japan and the Philippines, relying on Chinese mineral exports for defense applications represents an increasingly risky strategy. The Biden administration's Minerals Security Partnership with allies represents one approach, but domestic production offers more reliable long-term security.
The research provides a roadmap for achieving critical mineral independence without opening new mines or creating additional environmental damage. The question now is whether policymakers will act on this opportunity before the next supply chain crisis forces their hand.
Reference: U.S. already has the critical minerals it needs - but they're being thrown away, new analysis shows