UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pennsylvania has a long history of mining and metallurgical activities dating to the Industrial Revolution that helped fuel the economy of the commonwealth and the nation. Coal markets have waned recently due to the transition away from coal to other energy sources, leading to many economically distressed areas in the state. New findings by a team led by Penn State researchers suggest potential economic opportunities from the domestic production of critical minerals. The team evaluated cobalt and manganese from the byproducts of mining and metallurgy from past industrial activities.
“The recovery and sale of cobalt and manganese from these materials can provide economic opportunities in distressed areas of Pennsylvania and revenues, when integrated with the reclamation of mines and industrial sites hosting the materials, to help cover reclamation costs,” said Pete Rozelle, lead author on the report and adviser on mineral resources to Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and retired headquarters programs manager for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Critical minerals are vital components in powering the clean energy economy, where supply chains are transformed to meet the demand for low-carbon energy technologies. The shift to a clean energy economy is expected to cause a massive increase in the demand for critical minerals.
“Cobalt and manganese are two battery metals that are crucial to battery performance, longevity, and energy density...
Read Full Story: https://www.psu.edu/news/earth-and-mineral-sciences/story/battery-metals-mine-waste-potential-economic-benefits-commonwealth
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