The United States could soon decrease its dependence on importing valuable rare earth elements by extracting it from coal.
Rare earth elements are widely used in electronics, such as smartphones and computers, and in many other industries.
China produces more than 85 percent of the world's rare earth elements (REEs), and the US produces the second most at just over 6 percent, according to the United States Geological Survey, which estimates worldwide demand for REEs to grow more than 5 percent annually through 2020.
"We have known for many decades that rare earth elements are found in coal seams and near other mineral veins," says Sarma Pisupati, professor of energy and mineral engineering at Penn State. "However, it was costly to extract the materials and there was relatively low demand until recently.
A Study on Removal of Rare Earth Elements from U.S. Coal Byproducts by Ion Exchange (DOI: 10.1007/s40553-015-0064-7)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 06 2016, @09:54AM
Afghanistan also has rich rare earth elements. Don't they owe us something for us "liberating" them? I'm sure we could strike a good deal with them... Unless the country just likes being Shock and Awed.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 06 2016, @10:34AM
Afghan girls are cute often:
They're kind of cute... real cute. Must be awsome to have them as nice
little brides.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marine_gives_Afghan_girl_candy.jpg [wikimedia.org]
http://media.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/images/2010/jan10/afghan_sm/afghan14.jpg [sacbee.com]
http://northshorejournal.org/LinkedImages//2010/04/Afghan-girl-and-Marine.jpg [northshorejournal.org]
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An Afghan girl stares at Warrant Officer Troy D. Anstine, executive officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, as he explains her coloring assignment at the school near Forward Operating Base Geronimo March 31. She cautiously entered the school compound after the dodgeball game and is the first girl to attend class at the school. Marines said they hope to encourage more girls from the area to attend class in the future. Photo by Sgt. Brian Tuthill
Just before the game had finished, an 8-year-old girl arrived to the school with three other young boys, who quickly joined the group of students while she kept her distance outside the compound.
After the game, the school\u2019s Pashto interpreter returned and students went back to their studies. They recited and wrote Pashto numbers and then took on coloring assignments requiring them to pair the numbers to colors and color in the appropriate areas. The girl slowly and cautiously made her way into the compound and joined the class already in session.
\u201cWe were so excited to have our first female student,\u201d said Anstine. \u201cShe was scared at first, but I think she had a good time. I hope we will see more girls come to school and start their education.\u201d
"
(Score: 4, Insightful) by M. Baranczak on Saturday February 06 2016, @06:14PM
(Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 06 2016, @12:14PM
So to end U.S. dependence on exploitative mining of rare earth elements in places like China and Africa, we'll have to ramp up domestic mining of environmentally horrible coal.
This is how you make liberal SJWs' heads explode. :D
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 06 2016, @02:47PM
THE THORIUM PROBLEM - Manufacturing & energy sector hobbled by thorium. [youtube.com]
(Score: 2) by Scruffy Beard 2 on Saturday February 06 2016, @03:04PM
Oops accidentally posted as AC.
Essentially, the problem is that you can't touch thorium because it is heavily regulated under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty. As a result, the US mining industry throws out rare-earth minerals to avoid paper-work.
(Score: 2) by Hyperturtle on Saturday February 06 2016, @05:28PM
I think that problem is not unique to the mining industry.
It seems that everything is cheaper for industry and corporations and politicians when they do not have to be accountable for much.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Gravis on Saturday February 06 2016, @08:19PM
"We have known for many decades that rare earth elements are found in coal seams and near other mineral veins," says Sarma Pisupati, professor of energy and mineral engineering at Penn State. "However, it was costly to extract the materials and there was relatively low demand until recently.
the US has environmental regulations to protect use from the disastrous and lethal effects of mining and chemical dumping without concern. we used to have rivers that caught fire but environmental regulation has stopped a lot of bad practices of the past. regulations require the proper treatment and disposal of byproducts in the US which is actually enforced. China has their own environmental regulations but they are weak and not enforced because they are trying to become an economic super power at [news.com.au] any [contextchina.com] cost [theguardian.com].
we could get our own REEs but it costs more money to that while following all the regulations than let another country trash the environment. if politicians wanted to protect the environment or even the livelihood of their their own countrymen, they would put heavy tariffs on goods coming from polluting countries. unfortunately, what they care about is getting re-elected via campaign donations be it from companies that do the polluting or companies that sell weapons to our enemies.