What US rare earth dependence does this project aim to reduce?

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This Project Aims to Reduce US Dependence on China for Rare Earth Elements, Particularly Heavy Rare Earths

This initiative seeks to lessen the United States' reliance on China for critical rare earth elements, which are essential for advanced technologies. The project focuses on extracting these valuable minerals from polluted water originating from abandoned coal mines in West Virginia, a source that could significantly bolster domestic supply chains, especially for heavy rare earths that are currently largely imported.
Extraction from Polluted Mine Water

Acidic, heavy metal-laden water flowing from abandoned coal mines in West Virginia, previously considered toxic environmental hazards, has been identified by West Virginia University (WVU) researchers as a viable source of rare earth elements. These elements are crucial components in the manufacturing of smartphones, electric vehicles, drones, and fighter jets.
Addressing a Critical Supply Gap

The United States currently operates only one rare earth mine in California, which primarily yields "light" rare earth elements. The more valuable "heavy" rare earth elements, vital for high-performance magnets and other critical applications, are predominantly sourced from overseas, with China dominating the global market. The WVU project aims to bridge this gap by recovering these essential materials domestically.
Pilot Project Demonstrates Recovery Potential

WVU researchers discovered the presence of rare earths in mine wastewater approximately a decade ago and subsequently developed a pilot project to demonstrate their recovery. At a retired coal mine in Mount Storm, West Virginia, contaminated water is collected and processed to remove pollutants while extracting rare earths. This facility has the capacity to produce around four tonnes of rare earth oxides annually, with approximately 45% consisting of the sought-after heavy rare earths.
Potential for Significant Domestic Contribution

Estimates suggest that scaling up production to 300 tonnes per year could fulfill a substantial portion, around 7-8%, of the global demand for specific rare earths like terbium and dysprosium. While the extracted concentrate requires further separation and refining—processes where US capacity is currently limited—preliminary agreements are in place with companies like REalloys to process these recovered rare earths, potentially adding a significant amount of heavy rare earth elements to the domestic supply chain for magnets.

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What US rare earth dependence does this project aim to reduce?

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