Mining

The 2025 State of Critical Minerals Report from the Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines underscores opportunities to strengthen U.S. mineral security through smarter investment in refining, processing, byproduct recovery and recycling.

Student researchers in Mines' Mineral and Energy Economics Program are delving into topics from geopolitics and supply chain risks to artisanal mining and responsible sourcing related to the global critical minerals landscape.

At Colorado School of Mines, researchers are transforming mine tailings into construction materials, creating new possibilities for recovering critical minerals and reducing mining’s environmental impact.

With expertise in critical minerals mining, policy, economics and community engagement, researchers at Colorado School of Mines are helping chart a path to strengthened national resilience and resource independence.

The findings, published in the journal Science, show that improved recovery of critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium and rare earth elements currently being discarded as tailings of other mineral streams could meet the U.S. demand for energy, defense and technology applications.

As demand for critical minerals grows, Mines is driving innovation in sustainable mining through research, education and hands-on training.

CURIE – short for Colorado Underground Research Institute – will allow researchers to test quantum sensors and more in a very low background environment.

The Center for Mining Sustainability will fund four new research projects focused on rare earth minerals, aquifer management, nature-based water treatment and the repurposing of mine tailings.

Bill Zisch '79 served as the president of Mines Alumni Board before taking on his new role leading Mining Engineering Department.