Gold in the trash? Not quite. But some mine waste may hold valuable minerals we need today. 🪨 Many of these minerals are essential to modern technologies and are found alongside commodities like gold, zinc, and coal. Mineral production, however, requires moving a lot of rock to reach the minerals we want. “Mine wastes” are the minerals and other materials left behind after the targeted minerals have been mined, processed, and refined. Could mine waste, whether from legacy sites or current mining operations, become a new source of critical minerals and provide a way to help strengthen domestic mineral supply chains? USGS scientists study mine wastes to: ⛏️Understand their potential as a source of critical minerals and other commodities ⛏️ Inform reclamation of mine lands ⛏️ Improve current and future mining operations It’s part of a broader effort to strengthen domestic mineral supply chains and better understand the resources already present across the U.S. 🔗 Learn more: 📹 Video Description: The video shows historical and modern mining scenes, with aerial views of abandoned mine lands, scientists collecting samples in the field and in the lab, and close-ups of rocks and minerals. On-screen text and narration explain how USGS studies mine waste to identify valuable critical minerals. ▻