US rare earths reserve valued at $8.4 billion discovered, an opportunity to balance the scales with China: “from trash to treasure”

For a long time, the United States has lagged behind China and other Asian nations in the production of rare earth elements. But that could be set to change according to a recent paper published in the International Journal of Coal Science & Technology.

Demand for rare earth elements, lithium, nickel and other critical minerals is expected to multiply by between three and seven by 2040, according to forecasts by the International Energy Agency (IEA). One of the reasons for this, we are told, is the proposed move away from relying on fossil fuels to a more sustainable, lower-­carbon model - and rare earths are key components used in many of the current renewable energy technologies.

The world’s superpowers scramble for rare earth metals

Rare earths have become increasingly sought-after due to extraordinary magnetic and conductive properties, which make them valuable components in many advanced technologies. From smartphones to wind turbines and electric cars (EVs), REEs have played a crucial role in the ongoing miniaturization of electronic devices. They are also used in the production of lasers, glass, magnetic materials and are key ingredients in numerous industrial processes.

However, REE mining and production in the United States is limited - especially when compared to the world’s biggest producers: China, Vietnam, Brazil and Russia. Just one active US mine produces rare earths for the domestic market - the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine and Processing Facility in California.

Rock extracted at the Mountain Pass contains around 7 to 8 percent of bastnaesite ore, rich in rare earth elements including cerium, neodymium, europium and dysprosium.

Extracting rare earth elements from Coal ash

Back in September, Geologist Bridget Scanlon led a group of scientists from The University of Texas in a study to estimate the viability of extracting rare earth elements from coal ash deposits.

The report explains that approximately 52 gigatons (Gt) of coal were produced in the US between 1950 and 2021. One of the byproducts of coal combustion is coal ash (fly ash, bottom ash, clinker or slag) - millions of tons of it was disposed of in landfills and ponds.

And while coal ash production has declined since 2005, the old landfill sites could be now be a rich source of REEs. The Texas team estimate that around 70% of the deposited coal ash is potentially accessible for rare earth element extraction.

The biggest coal ash deposits in the United States

Median values of rare earth elements were highest in coal ash derived from the Appalachian Basin (median 431 mg/kg), Illinois Basin (282 mg/kg) and Powder River basins in Montana (264 mg/kg).

The value of potentially accessible ash in landfills, ponds, or storage is $41 billion. However, current REE extraction technology means yields will be lower - 30% for Appalachian and Illinois basin ashes and 70% for Powder River Basin ashes. The estimated total REE oxide market value has been calculated to around $8.4 billion.

When it comes to the technical and practical side of extracting rare earth elements from coal ash, it’s still early days. Extraction methodology and processing technologies are still relatively new and improvements need to be made in making the operation more efficient and more importantly, economically cost-effective.

The study concludes, “The potential for REE resource development from coal ash should be evaluated globally in nations where coal ash is available”.

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