U.S. Already Has the Critical Minerals It Needs – But They’re Being Thrown Away, New Analysis Shows Published August 21, 2025 By Erich Kirshner, Media Relations Specialist, Colorado School of Mines --- Key Insight A new Science journal article by Colorado School of Mines researchers reveals that the United States currently mines all the critical minerals needed annually for energy, defense, and technology. However, many of these minerals are lost as waste in tailings from other mineral production streams. Recovering these minerals could reduce or eliminate the need for imports. Background Critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, gallium, and rare earth elements such as neodymium and yttrium are essential for: Renewable energy technologies Consumer electronics Defense applications (missiles, satellites, fighter jets) Medical devices These minerals are frequently byproducts in mining operations targeting other metals (e.g., gold, zinc). Research Highlights Lead author Elizabeth Holley, an associate professor of mining engineering, emphasizes the challenge: recovering these minerals economically is key. Researchers created a database using: U.S. federally permitted metal mines' annual production data Geochemical mineral concentrations from U.S. Geological Survey, Geoscience Australia, and Canadian Geological Survey Statistical methods estimated quantities of critical minerals mined but not recovered, ending up as tailings. Findings Recovering even 1% of certain critical minerals at specific U.S. mining sites could: Significantly reduce critical mineral import reliance. Example elements: Cobalt (Co): Key for electric vehicle batteries. Less than 10% recovery of discarded cobalt from nickel and copper mines could satisfy entire U.S. battery market demand. Germanium (Ge): Used in electronics and infrared optics. Less than 1% recovery from zinc and molybdenum mines could meet all U.S. industrial demand without imports. The study covers 70 elements across multiple vital industries. Benefits Economic: Reducing dependency on imports, stabilizing supply chains. Geopolitical: Strengthening national security with domestic sources. Environmental: Lowering mine waste volume, reducing contamination risk, enabling tailings reuse in construction and other sectors. Next Steps & Recommendations Conduct detailed mineralogical analyses of tailings to identify recoverable elements. Develop and test targeted recovery technologies suited to specific minerals and sites. Implement policies to incentivize mine operators to invest in recovery infrastructure, as current market values may not justify these investments alone. Co-Authors Karlie Hadden, PhD candidate, Geology Dorit Hammerling, Associate Professor, Applied Mathematics and Statistics Rod Eggert, Research Professor, Economics and Business Erik Spiller, Research Professor, Mining Engineering Priscilla Nelson, Professor, Mining Engineering Additional Information Full paper: "Byproduct recovery from US metal mines could reduce import reliance for critical minerals" (published in Science) For data inquiries or figures: contact Erich Kirshner (erich.kirshner@mines.edu) --- Visual Image of Colorado's Climax Mine, producing ~30 million pounds of molybdenum annually, was among those analyzed. --- Related Topics Critical Minerals Economics and Business Mining Engineering Applied Mathematics and Statistics Earth Exploration Faculty Research at Colorado School of Mines --- About Colorado School of Mines A public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, dedicated to innovation, research, and producing skilled professionals to serve industry and society.