A decade ago, West Virginia University researchers were among the first to find rare earth elements in acid mine drainage seeping from retired coal mines. Now, the University is ready to expand that work to help secure a domestic supply of the critical materials essential to modern technology, enhancing national security interests and economic innovation.
To support these efforts, the University is launching the WVU Rare Earth Elements Initiative , or WVU REE. The initiative unites researchers who focus on rare earths and critical minerals as they explore a growing range of U.S. feedstocks. In tandem, WVU has established the for-profit startup, Mission Critical Materials, to commercialize 10 years of the University’s proven AMDREE technology.
“WVU has been at the forefront of this work even before it became a national priority,” Vice Provost Mark Gavin said. “For a decade, we’ve been proving we can extract rare earths from acid mine drainage at coal sites. The WVU REE Initiative aims to double down on our work to emphasize we can produce these critical materials domestically, clean up legacy mining pollution and reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers.”
Rare earth elements power the technologies Americans rely on every day, from smartphones and MRI machines to wind turbines, fighter jets and missile defense systems. Of the 17 rare earth elements, those known as “heavy rare earths” are especially scarce and critical to advanced defense and clean energy technologies. The United States imports nearly all rare earth elements, mostly from China.
WVU research has historically focused on finding “heavies” in places close to home. Faculty and staff have discovered that acid mine drainage, the water that seeps from abandoned coal mines, contains significantly higher proportions of these essential heavies compared to conventional sources found in the U.S. Because acid mine drainage sites already exist and are permitted across the country, the University’s approach can scale quickly and cost effectively.
WVU rare earth discoveries began in 2016 through the West Virginia Water Research Institute . In 2022, the University collaborated with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to open the A34 AMDREE Processing Facility in Mount Storm, the first integrated pilot-scale AMD rare earth recovery facility of its kind in the country. A34 proves that acid mine drainage can serve as a continuous domestic source of heavy rare earths while supporting environmental cleanup.
Gavin explained that, today, those with the Water Research Institute are eager to concentrate on water research priorities and quality improvements, so WVU REE has been created to fully devote attention to rare earth research and technology development.
“Our researchers are already breaking new ground,” Gavin said. “The same AMDREE process has now been shown to work on hard-rock mine drainage from old metal mines.”
The recent discovery was made by the WVU research team in Montana at the Horseshoe Bend site. WVU used the same AMDREE process to produce rare earth-enriched concentrates from hard-rock, which can then be refined into materials manufacturers use to build wind turbines, electric vehicles and defense systems. The result shows WVU technology can move from one mountain range to another, without new mining or new environmental disturbance.
Lance Lin , director for the WVU REE Initiative and chair of the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources , said this breakthrough has opened the door to other unconventional sources.
“WVU researchers are now lab testing methods in conjunction with our process in several feedstocks, including red mud, e-waste and mine tailings,” Lin said. “WVU isn’t just leading in acid mine drainage. We are advancing our expertise to identify, characterize and extract critical minerals from a wide range of sources to address environmental challenges while building a broader, more resilient domestic supply chain.”
Mission Critical Materials, established in December 2025, is helping do just that.
“The University’s technology had advanced to the point where commercialization, scale-up and deployment efforts could begin,” said Steve Dunmead, CEO of Mission Critical Materials. “The need for a domestic supply chain for rare earths has never been greater, and WVU researchers are innovating right at the forefront.”
Dunmead explained that MCM serves as the commercial vehicle for moving WVU technology forward. In early 2026, Dunmead said the company partnered with REalloys, Inc. to help develop a domestic supply chain capable of delivering rare earth products derived from mine waste to U.S. manufacturers with a specific focus on defense and energy infrastructure.
“We’re eager to continue connecting the University’s technology with industry partners and watch how WVU refines, evolves and advances its expertise in this future industry for our country.”
Haidar Aldaach , a postdoctoral research associate focused on sustainable approaches to rare earth recovery, looks forward to continuing this work.
“WVU has already shown what’s possible when you look at waste and sustainability differently,” Aldaach said. “I truly value the opportunity to collaborate on an initiative that’s at the intersection of environmental, sustainable and critical solutions. I am excited to see where our research takes us, in the lab and around the world.”
Gavin added that’s the goal, to turn a waste problem into a resource opportunity on American soil. “By continuing to expand where and how rare earth elements can be recovered, WVU is not only advancing the science, we are shaping the future of the global rare earth elements landscape and positioning ourselves as a true leader in this space.”
Find more information about the WVU Rare Earth Elements Initiative.
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