Earth Exploration

New Mines research in Nature Geoscience shows how extreme global warming could reorganize rainfall into intense downpours and dry spells, based on geological "clues."

Colorado School of Mines licenses rare earth element tech to boost U.S. processing efficiency and support critical mineral supply chains.

A Colorado School of Mines researcher joins international team in Antarctica seeking clues in ice and mud to predict future sea-level rise.

Mines’ Walt Copan urges U.S. leadership in critical minerals innovation, calling for coordinated strategy and investment in advanced mining.

Mines PhD students win NASA grants to study ocean waves and Antarctic tides, uncovering new insights into Earth’s dynamic systems.

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.

Reza Hedayat, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Mines, sees mine tailings — the material left over from everyday mining operations — not as waste and a growing environmental concern but an opportunity.

Mines and the US Geological Survey are deepening their critical minerals partnership with a new shared research facility opening in 2027.

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.