#critical minerals

All articles tagged with "critical minerals"

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Health

Green Transition Revenues Could Help Finance Universal Health Coverage

Key Takeaways

Experts propose earmarking green-transition revenues for health systems.
The article cites $733 billion in global fossil-fuel subsidies in 2024.
International mechanisms may be needed because financing gaps are concentrated in lower-income countries.

DT Editorial Team·Oct 22, 2026·via medicalxpress.com

Pentagon Puts $450M Into Tungsten Mining to Break China's Grip

Key Takeaways

The Defense Department is investing $450 million in The Elmet Group to strengthen the U.S. tungsten supply chain.
A federal procurement rule banning tungsten mined, refined or processed in China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from defense applications takes effect Jan. 1.
The Pentagon said it chose Elmet because it is the only U.S.-owned, fully integrated producer of tungsten and molybdenum materials and components.
China controls roughly 85% of global tungsten supply and about 40% of molybdenum, while the U.S. has not mined tungsten since 2015.

DT Editorial Team·Sep 30, 2026·via defensenews.com

DRC Cobalt Exports Carry Unreported Uranium, Study Warns of Nuclear Risk

Key Takeaways

A peer-reviewed study in Nature Communications links Copperbelt cobalt production to likely unreported uranium exports from the DRC.
Uranium and cobalt occur together in the same rock and behave similarly during chemical processing, making separation difficult.
Researchers modelled ore grades from geologic maps, facility ore volumes and processing chemistry to derive the estimate.
Most likely scenarios suggest 2,000–5,000 tonnes of natural uranium are involved in the cobalt trade.

DT Editorial Team·Sep 11, 2026·via phys.org

Ottawa Greenlights Major Ontario Nickel Mine to Boost EV Supply Chain

Key Takeaways

Ottawa approves Canada Nickel's Crawford project near Timmins, Ontario.
Project expected to produce over 1.5 million tonnes of nickel over 41 years.
Nickel is a key component in EV batteries, boosting the supply chain.
Approval aligns with Canada's critical minerals strategy.

DT Editorial Team·Aug 12, 2026·via autonews.com

US Center Targets Gallium Recovery from Waste to Secure Critical Mineral Supply

Key Takeaways

MIT spinout Found Industries opens a new facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to develop gallium recovery from waste.
Gallium is a critical mineral used in semiconductors, LEDs, and military radar, with the US relying heavily on imports.
The center aims to create a domestic source of gallium, reducing supply chain vulnerabilities.
The technology focuses on extracting gallium from industrial and electronic waste streams.

DT Editorial Team·Aug 8, 2026·via interestingengineering.com

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Trump reveals $2B investment plan to boost US critical mineral supply

Energy

Trump Unveils $2B Plan to Strengthen US Critical Mineral Supply Chain

Key Takeaways

Over $2 billion in investments and deals announced
Involves Sila Nanotechnologies, Niron Magnetics, and scandium processing
Aims to reduce foreign dependence on critical minerals
Supports economic and national security goals

DT Editorial Team·Aug 8, 2026·via interestingengineering.com

Lockheed seeks US mineral deals as supply-chain pressure rises

Key Takeaways

Lockheed is negotiating for U.S. scandium and germanium supplies tied to defense manufacturing.
The talks follow stronger federal pressure to reduce reliance on Chinese mineral sources.
A preliminary scandium arrangement with NioCorp would cover 15 metric tons per year from a planned Nebraska mine.
The negotiations highlight how critical mineral sourcing is becoming a core defense-industrial issue.

DT Editorial Team·Aug 5, 2026·via defensenews.com

PNNL explores seawater as a vast source of critical minerals

Key Takeaways

PNNL is pursuing three separate seawater-related mineral recovery approaches.
The work targets magnesium, lithium, nickel, platinum-group metals and rare-earth metals.
Desalination brine could become a source of acids and bases for ore processing.

DT Editorial Team·Jul 27, 2026·via newatlas.com

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Pentagon inks pair of rare earth mineral loans for $1.2 billion - Breaking Defense

Military

Pentagon Backs Rare Earth Buildout With $1.2 Billion in Conditional Loans

Key Takeaways

The Defense Department signed conditional loans of $725 million for Energy Fuels and $500 million for Phoenix Tailings.
Energy Fuels plans US rare earth separation and metallization capacity, while Phoenix Tailings aims to open its Freedom Facility by 2028.
The financing highlights how critical minerals are being treated as a national security supply chain priority.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 19, 2026·via breakingdefense.com

Copper startup bets on mining waste instead of ore

Key Takeaways

Red Metals is building a business around recovering copper from scrap and old products.
The source text cites forecasts of 50% demand growth and a 10 million metric ton shortfall by 2040.
Data centers, electrification, and supply disruptions are all contributing to copper pressure.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 5, 2026·via fastcompany.com

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US backs rare earth processing plant with $19.3M DOE funding

Innovation

DOE Backs Rare Earth Separation Project In Latest Supply Chain Push

Key Takeaways

The DOE selected a rare earth separation project tied to USA Rare Earth.
The project carries $19.3 million in backing.
The stated goal is reducing U.S. reliance on China.

DT Editorial Team·May 26, 2026·via interestingengineering.com

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Sunset viewed from the summit of Hawksbill Mountain in Shenandoah National Park. We see mountains in the distance and rocks in the foreground.

Science

USGS Finds Major Lithium Potential in the Appalachians

Key Takeaways

USGS researchers estimate the Appalachians contain about 2.5 million tons of lithium.
The deposits occur in pegmatites across a broad region from Alabama to Maine.
The finding could strengthen domestic supply options while intensifying environmental and land-use debates.

DT Editorial Team·May 20, 2026·via livescience.com

Pentagon Backs E-Waste Mineral Recovery Push With Phase II SBIR Award

Key Takeaways

Metallium received a Phase II SBIR contract tied to recovering critical minerals from e-waste.
The award is linked to the U.S. Department of Defense through the Defense Logistics Agency.
The contract highlights growing interest in domestic, circular supply sources for strategic materials.

DT Editorial Team·May 20, 2026·via interestingengineering.com

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The Greenbushes lithium mine in Western Australia

Innovation

Earth AI bets mineral exploration can be sped up by the same AI boom driving demand

Key Takeaways

Earth AI says AI can help identify overlooked regions with high mineral potential.
The company targets minerals such as lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earths.
Its process combines predictive software with proprietary low-disturbance drilling to verify sites.
The pitch comes as demand for critical minerals rises with AI infrastructure and clean-energy expansion.

DT Editorial Team·May 9, 2026·via newatlas.com

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A pair of chalk covered hands hold small stones full of cobalt over a pile of blurry dark stones in the background.

Science

Critical Mineral Mining Is Expanding the Green Economy’s Human Cost

Key Takeaways

Researchers at the United Nations University warn that critical mineral mining is creating 'sacrifice zones.'
The article links extraction to polluted water, poorer health, and labor abuses in vulnerable communities.
Demand from AI, clean energy, defense and consumer tech is intensifying pressure on mining regions.
The authors argue supply chains need stronger monitoring and regulation to avoid worsening inequality.

DT Editorial Team·May 3, 2026·via livescience.com

Cheap deep-sea robots are about to test whether ocean exploration can scale

Key Takeaways

NOAA’s Rainier is using Orpheus Ocean vehicles during a Pacific seafloor-mapping mission.
The robots are far cheaper than conventional deep-sea systems and can both image and sample the seabed.
Success could expand access to deep-sea science while also accelerating interest in mining.

DT Editorial Team·May 1, 2026·via technologyreview.com

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North America just got its first new kind of lithium refinery

Energy

North America’s First Commercial Electrochemical Lithium Refinery Opens in British Columbia

Key Takeaways

Mangrove Lithium says it opened North America’s first commercial electrochemical lithium refinery.
The facility is located in Delta, British Columbia.
The plant is described as having 1,000 tonnes per year of capacity.
The project is aimed at strengthening North American battery-material supply chains.

DT Editorial Team·Apr 18, 2026·via electrek.co

Germany Opens New Push to Assess Lithium Potential in the Ancient German Basin

Key Takeaways

Germany has launched a research initiative focused on lithium in ancient saline waters
The effort targets the 300-million-year-old German Basin
The basin could represent a major domestic European lithium resource, though assessment is still underway

DT Editorial Team·Apr 17, 2026·via interestingengineering.com

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Science Archives - Interesting Engineering

Innovation

Sparse-source innovation story: lithium recovery claim points to the next battle in battery supply

Key Takeaways

An Interesting Engineering candidate reports a new lithium-recovery method from mining waste.
The excerpt says the process uses hygroscopic salt and humid air and claims 96% recovery.
The broader significance is the search for less water-intensive critical-mineral supply.

DT Editorial Team·Mar 31, 2026·via interestingengineering.com

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