In a bold move to enhance national security and reduce reliance on foreign imports, the U.S. Department of the Interior has launched an initiative to extract critical minerals from existing mine waste. On July 23, 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order titled “Unlocking Critical and Strategic Minerals from Mine Waste, Cutting Red Tape, and Restoring American Dominance in Strategic Mineral Production.” This directive aims to recover valuable resources from functioning and abandoned mines, including coal refuse, tailings, and 111 abandoned uranium mines in the western U.S. The effort involves the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) creating public inventories and maps of mine waste to encourage private industry participation, in collaboration with state geological surveys like the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey.
This initiative not only addresses environmental legacies from past mining but also positions the U.S. to bolster its technological supply chain. As Burgum stated, “By unlocking the potential of our mine waste, we are not only recovering valuable critical minerals essential for our economy and national security, but we are also leveraging groundbreaking research from the U.S. Geological Survey that identifies promising sources of these minerals.” Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Scott Cameron echoed this, noting that recovering these minerals is “integral to strengthening America’s mineral independence while promoting economic growth and national security.”
Advantages in Time to Market for Ore Production
One of the primary benefits of sourcing critical minerals from mine waste is the accelerated time to market compared to developing new mining operations. Traditional mining projects can take 10 to 20 years from exploration to production due to permitting, environmental assessments, and infrastructure development. In contrast, reprocessing mine waste utilizes existing sites and above-ground resources, potentially slashing timelines to just a few years. This approach bypasses much of the regulatory red tape associated with new digs, as it focuses on remediation and reclamation rather than fresh excavation.
Moreover, the initiative streamlines federal rules for recovery, making data publicly available to spur innovation. By repurposing waste, companies can employ mature technologies already used in the mining industry, further reducing development time and costs. This not only turns environmental liabilities into assets but also enhances economic resilience by quickly bringing domestic supplies online, mitigating risks from global supply chain disruptions.
Minerals Targeted and Potential Replacement of Chinese Imports
The order specifically highlights minerals such as germanium, tellurium, rare earth elements (REEs), zinc, antimony, and arsenic, which are often found in mine waste across the U.S. For instance, legacy lead and zinc mining districts in Oklahoma contain zinc and germanium, while coal deposits in the Appalachian and Illinois basins hold REEs, and copper mining tailings in Utah yield tellurium. The Coeur d’Alene silver mining site in Idaho alone is estimated to contain approximately $2.5 billion worth of precious minerals, including antimony and arsenic.
These minerals are crucial for technologies like semiconductors, renewable energy systems, and defense applications. However, the U.S. heavily depends on imports, particularly from China, which dominates global production.
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Mineral
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U.S. Import Reliance from China (Percentage, Recent Data)
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Approximate Annual U.S. Import Volume from China
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Potential Domestic Replacement from Mine Waste
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|---|---|---|---|
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Rare Earth Elements (REEs)
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74% (2018-2021, remains similar in 2024)
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~15,000-20,000 metric tons (compounds and metals)
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Significant potential from coal waste in Appalachian and Illinois basins; USGS studies indicate recoverable REEs could offset a portion of imports, though exact estimates are under development.
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Antimony
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~63% (2024)
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~5,000-7,000 metric tons
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High potential from sites like Coeur d’Alene ($2.5B total value including antimony); could replace up to 20-30% of imports if fully developed, based on site-specific estimates.
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Germanium
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~54% (2024)
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~20-30 metric tons
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Recoverable from Oklahoma zinc mine waste; potential to cover 10-20% of needs, leveraging legacy sites.
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Tellurium
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~20-30% (estimated, as China is a major source but not dominant)
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~50-100 metric tons
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From Utah copper tailings; could replace a substantial share given targeted recovery efforts.
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Zinc
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<5% (China not primary source; overall import reliance low)
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Minimal direct imports from China
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Abundant in mine waste like Oklahoma districts; enhances domestic supply but minimal impact on China-specific imports.
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Arsenic
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High (part of critical list, mostly from China)
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~1,000-2,000 metric tons
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Included in Coeur d’Alene estimates; potential to reduce imports significantly from waste reclamation.
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The U.S. imports over half of its critical minerals from China overall, with vulnerabilities in REEs, antimony, and germanium being particularly acute. While exact replacement volumes depend on ongoing USGS inventories, the initiative could unlock billions in value and reduce import dependence by 10-50% for key minerals, depending on investment and technology deployment. This is especially timely amid recent Chinese export restrictions on antimony, gallium, and germanium in 2024, which have driven up prices and highlighted supply risks.
Broader Implications
By focusing on mine waste, the U.S. can achieve mineral independence faster, support clean energy transitions, and address historical environmental issues, such as those at abandoned uranium mines on Native American lands. This initiative represents a strategic pivot toward sustainable resource management, potentially transforming the global critical minerals landscape. As USGS continues its assessments, the full scale of recoverable resources will become clearer, paving the way for a more secure domestic supply chain.
