It is not new that the white gold has become a central piece of the energy and technological debate. And the growing demand for batteries, electric vehicles and storage systems has put this mineral at the center of industrial strategies, while countries seek to reduce their foreign dependence.
Given this context, USA faces a paradox: large volumes of white gold and other critical minerals They are present in mining waste that is discarded every year. The issue is not only geological, but also economic and political, and directly affects security of supply and resource management.
A waste of ‘white gold’ that alarms the scientific community
Table of Contents
- A waste of ‘white gold’ that alarms the scientific community
- Lithium and critical minerals hidden in mining waste
- The situation in the US: the supply chain in tension and its external dependence
- Why does white gold end up in mine dumps?
- The political and environmental decisions that the US must address.
A study published in the journal Science analyzed waste from 54 active metal mines in the United States and set off alarms in the research community. The work indicates that, in just one year, mining waste contains enough white gold (lithium) to supply some 10 million electric cars.
The research was led by Elizabeth Holleymining engineer at the Colorado School of Mines, specializing in the recovery of critical minerals from already mined materials.
According to the analysis, these residues not only concentrate white gold, but also cobalt, nickel, gallium, tellurium and rare earths.
Holley highlights in the study that “a recovery of 90% of byproducts from existing domestic metal mining operations could cover almost all of the critical mineral needs of the United States.”
Even a 1% recovery of these byproducts would significantly reduce dependence on imports for most of the elements analyzed.
Most mines are designed to extract a single main metal, such as copper o hierro. The rest of the elements present in the mineral are crushed and processed until they become waste, although they include white gold and other strategic materials.
These elements are part of the so-called critical mineralsessential for current technologies, but with supply chains vulnerable to conflicts, trade disputes or peaks in demand.
In the case of lithium, Its role in batteries makes it a sensitive resource for the energy transition.
The study identified that many rare earths (17 metals used in advanced magnets and electronics) They already appear on official US lists of high-risk materials. Added to them is lithium, whose demand is constantly growing in the energy storage industry.
The situation in the US: the supply chain in tension and its external dependence
As previously mentioned, the minerals present in mining waste are used in diesel engines. electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and military guidance systems. They are also in small quantities in mobiles, computers y electronic devices for everyday use.
China concentrates around 90% of the world’s production of rare earths and has tightened controls on the export of some of these materials. This situation has prompted the United States and Europe to look for alternative sources of supply and to rethink their relationship with lithium.
Currently, the United States ranks 60 substances as critical minerals, including 15 rare earth elements. This growing list reflects concerns about energy and national security, as a shortage of a single element can delay battery factories, make renewable projects more expensive or affect the aerospace industry.
Why does white gold end up in mine dumps?
One might ask: Why don’t they recycle it? But the recovery of white gold and other metals from waste it is not simple. Each additional element requires specific processes, new infrastructure and increased costs in operations that already operate with tight margins.
This process, known as by-product recovery, usually considered less profitable than the sale of the parent metalespecially when prices are volatile.
For this reason, many companies avoid introducing changes that could slow down production or generate financial uncertainty.
Holley’s analysis identifies, however, two cases with clear potential:
- Zinc mines in Alaska with possibilities of recovering germanium.
- Exploitations in Montana where nickel-rich byproducts could be used.
In all of them, white gold appears as a secondary resource that is today lost in waste streams.
The political and environmental decisions that the US must address.
The metals are trapped in the so-called tailings, the fine material that remains after processing the ore. These wastes are stored in dams or large accumulations that require monitoring for decades to prevent leaks and structural failures.
Extracting more white gold and other minerals could improve the chemical stability of this waste and make it easier to manage. In some cases, the remaining material could be reused as aggregate in construction, reducing long-term environmental risks.
The research suggests that the recovery of byproducts is an efficient way to ensure supplies of white gold and critical minerals, while reducing environmental impact and geopolitical exposure.
That said, the final challenge is not underground, but in the industrial and political decisions that determine whether this resource continues to be treated as waste or as a strategic asset.
