During the first meeting of the Indiana Rare Earth Recovery Council, state, federal, and academic experts expressed the need for the United States to lead on the production and processing of rare earth elements – and Indiana’s role in this critical mission.
Braun
“Indiana and America’s future strength depend on our ability to lead in rare earth element production, which is essential to economic security and national defense,” Governor Mike Braun said. “With our long-standing position as one of the nation’s top coal-producing states, Indiana is uniquely equipped to reclaim rare earth elements from coal and coal byproducts. Through the Rare Earth Recovery Council, we are charting a bold course to position Indiana as a national leader in producing and processing these vital resources.”
The council was created by Executive Order 25-62, issued by Governor Braun in April. The council will work to spearhead efforts to reclaim rare earth elements and critical materials from legacy coal byproducts. Indiana is among the top coal producing states in the nation.
During the meeting, U.S. Geological Survey Director Ned Mamula, Ph.D., reinforced this critical mission.
“The rare earth elements that you hear about in the news are very important to our national security, our economic prosperity, and also our technological leadership ability,” Mamula said. “Unfortunately, we’re having to import the majority of these from China.”
Rare earth elements and critical minerals are the foundation of modern technology, and they are used in electronic, medical, military, and other applications.
China dominates production of rare earth minerals. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the world is dependent on China for 70 percent of production and 90 percent of processing of rare earth metals and compounds – and 100 percent of heavy earth element processing, which is of critical need.
Through the work of the council, Indiana will work to position itself as a strategic source of rare earth elements.
“It’s a race against time to bring American ingenuity and innovation into the equation, where we can set up and process these minerals, get the oxides and make the metals that are necessary to get injected into the supply chain,” Mamula said. “It’s exciting to hear that Indiana is charting a course toward being a significant contributor to this national effort.”
In addition to Mamula’s testimony, additional presenters discussed the history of Indiana coal mining in Indiana and the Indiana Abandoned Mine Land Program.
Maria Mastalerz, Ph.D. research geologist with the Indiana Geological and Water Survey, discussed how Indiana can provide a nontraditional source for rare earth elements through coal and coal-based materials.
Lanny Erdos, director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, discussed the importance of evaluating reclaimed coal sites nationwide and understanding their potential relevance to ongoing federal research on critical minerals.
“We really have a huge opportunity in today’s world and our country, and we have to think bigger than ourselves because this opportunity is a moment in time that I hope Indiana will really lean into,” said Suzanne Jaworowski, Indiana secretary of Energy and Natural Resources.
A video recording of the meeting is available at this link.