In U.S., rare earths extracted from coal mine wastewater

Mount Storm, West Virginia – In the Appalachian region stretching through the U.S. state of West Virginia, the reddish water flowing out of retired coal mines is acidic, full of heavy metals and toxic for the environment. But that water is also rich in rare earths, the highly coveted minerals needed for many high-tech products such as smartphones and the clean energy industry that have become a focus of geopolitical competition. Some believe this acid mine drainage could help the United States improve its position in the increasingly vital rare earths market.