America’s next big critical minerals source could be coal mine pollution – if we can agree on who owns it

Coal mines are notorious sources of acid mine drainage, but the orange sludge that threatens water supplies and wildlife also contains valuable rare earth elements.

By: Hélène Nguemgaing, University of Maryland and Alan Collins, West Virginia University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 21, 2026

Words: 1,258

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

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By Hélène Nguemgaing, University of Maryland and Alan Collins, West Virginia University

Across Appalachia, rust-colored water seeps from abandoned coal mines, staining rocks orange and coating stream beds with metals. These acidic discharges, known as acid mine drainage, are among the region’s most persistent environmental problems. They disrupt aquatic life, corrode pipes and can contaminate drinking water for decades.

However, hidden in that orange drainage are valuable metals known as rare earth elements that …

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