US reuses coal mines for rare metals
The article explained that the United States has begun repurposing abandoned coal mines in the Appalachian Mountains to extract rare metals essential for modern technology, such as strong magnets, electric vehicles, and wind turbines. This initiative aims to counter China's dominance in the production and refining of these minerals. Although California has only one mine extracting light metals, heavy metals—which are in higher demand and more difficult to extract—are primarily imported from abroad. Supported by the government, researchers have developed a process for treating acidic water resulting from old mine operations to extract rare metals and reduce environmental pollution. However, the current production capacity is limited and only meets a small portion of American demand, accounting for approximately 7-8% of industrial, military, and technological needs. Efforts are ongoing to expand sources and improve refining capabilities to ensure the United States’ economic and geopolitical security concerning critical minerals.
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