US Coal Ash Revealed as Rich Source of Rare Earth Elements

A study by The University of Texas at Austin reveals that coal ash in the U.S. contains up to 11 million tons of rare earth elements, potentially boosting domestic supply without new mining. This discovery could reduce reliance on imports, mainly from China, and transform coal ash from waste to a valuable resource. The research highlights the potential for extracting these elements from coal ash, which is abundant and already processed, though challenges remain in developing the necessary extraction infrastructure.