US DOE awards $29.5M for 17 National Lab mining tech projects
Projects are focused on moving next-generation mining, extraction, and processing technologies from the laboratory toward field testing and commercial deployment.
The US Department of Energy has allocated $29.5 million to support 17 mining technology projects across 12 National Laboratories through the Mine of the Future Initiative, according to a recent announcement. These projects aim to decrease reliance on foreign supply chains, enhance national security, and promote technologies that will ensure America's long-term energy independence.
The initiatives focus on moving advanced mining, extraction, and processing technologies from the laboratory setting to real-world field testing and commercial deployment. Applications encompass a range of areas including underground recovery, autonomous exploration, secondary sourcing, and advanced beneficiation.
Five projects are concentrating on advancing in-situ extraction techniques. For instance, electric-hydraulic fracturing technology is being developed at Idaho National Laboratory, while Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is working on low-voltage lithium extraction from clay. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is creating a mobile robotics platform aimed at mapping underground mines and identifying mineral deposits in a matter of minutes, as opposed to weeks.
Other projects are centered around mine waste and secondary sourcing. Argonne National Laboratory is endeavoring to recover copper, nickel, and cobalt from mine tailings, whereas SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is developing a method to extract vanadium from aging oil and gas infrastructure. Additionally, Ames National Laboratory is developing a system that utilizes acoustic and magnetic energy to fracture rare earth ore, complemented by computer vision for real-time sorting.
Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson expressed enthusiasm about the investment, stating that it is designed to unleash the full innovative potential of the National Laboratories. She noted that these projects will advance President Trump's strategy to strengthen domestic mining, safeguard supply chains, and ensure the United States remains a global leader in critical mineral technologies. The complete list of laboratory projects selected for award negotiations is accessible through the provided link.
Written by urgent.news from Mining.com's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
