In 1949, a discovery of rare minerals in California’s Mojave Desert altered the course of technological innovation. For decades afterward, minerals from the Mountain Pass Mine powered color televisions and energy-efficient light bulbs. The minerals paved the way for computers and even space exploration.
Now, as innovation increases demand for critical minerals, the United States and its partners are developing new ways to extract and refine the substances needed for technologies we use every day.
The United States works with countries to build secure and resilient supply chains to “ensure all of our citizens can enjoy abundant and affordable access to these critical minerals,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington. The ministerial convened officials from 54 nations and the European Union along with industry representatives to ensure continued development of technology.
So far, the United States has reached bilateral agreements with two dozen countries to show a commitment to diversify supply chains and spur critical minerals development. Additional agreements with other countries are in the works.
New approaches
The U.S. government deems 60 minerals critical to the economic or national security of the United States. While many are prevalent in the United States, extracting them can be challenging. Building a new mine, for example, can take many years. The Boston-area company Phoenix Tailings extracts critical minerals from debris left over from existing mines using a process that yields purified forms for use in modern technologies. Minerals extracted include neodymium for computers and automobiles, and samarium, commonly used in medical devices.
Manufacturers “want a supply chain that’s not reliant on one country and doesn’t” produce toxic waste, says Phoenix Tailings chief executive Nick Myers. Myers consulted industry experts from Australia to South Africa in developing the process alongside Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers.
Greater access
Private companies are working across borders to improve access. The Auckland, New Zealand, company Mint Innovation is building an electronic-waste recycling and metal-refining facility in Texas that will recover 1,000 metric tons (1,102 tons) of copper annually. Copper is prized by manufacturers for its ability to conduct electricity.
Innovative companies are also diversifying production processes to limit reliance on critical minerals. Niron Magnetics compresses nitrogen and oxygen to create heat-resistant magnets that are traditionally made using critical minerals.
The Minneapolis-based company, which has received support from the U.S. Department of Energy, partners with automobile and electronics manufacturers, says chief executive Jonathan Rowntree. Niron Magnetics plans to produce next-generation magnets for the aerospace and artificial intelligence industries.
The U.S. government and General Motors have supported the Canadian company Lithium Americas’ plan to open a new mine in northern Nevada in 2028. The Thacker Pass mine will supply lithium for use in batteries and create 2,000 jobs.
“Our goal is to have a global market that’s secure,” Rubio said, “a global supply that’s enduring and is available to everyone, every nation, at an affordable price.”
