U.S. Geological Survey Funds Critical Minerals Research in Mine Waste

On May 12, 2025, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced a $5 million funding opportunity aimed at supporting state geological surveys in identifying critical minerals embedded in mine waste across the United States. This initiative is part of the broader Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)—a collaborative effort involving state agencies, academia, private industry, and federal institutions—designed to strengthen the country’s mapping and assessment of mineral resources. The goal is to systematically evaluate legacy mine waste materials, such as tailings and waste rock, to identify valuable minerals like germanium that were previously unextracted or underreported.