The discovery of rare minerals in coal mines has sparked renewed interest in the international mining industry. Studies focusing on the coal basin have revealed significant reserves of elements needed for the production of batteries, wind turbines and electric vehicles. This discovery is part of the national strategy to secure critical resources for the energy transition. The rare minerals needed for modern technologies represent one of the most vulnerable links in the global supply chain. Which depends largely on Asian imports, is now looking for domestic alternatives.
Here are the rare minerals found in coal mines
The U coal basin could become an unexpected source of rare minerals needed for the technological future. This was the conclusion reached by a group led by the University’s Department of Geology and Geophysics after analysing more than 3,500 samples from ten working mines. Although coal itself contains few valuable elements, the surrounding rock layers (especially lutite and siltstone formations) showed a concentration of rare minerals exceeding 200 parts per million.
In this context, the Ministry of Energy considers that the threshold for economic viability of extraction is reached at a concentration of 300 parts per million. These data place several regions close to the viability level, which could make them additional sources of extraction within existing coal companies. The approach is pragmatic: ‘If minerals are already being extracted, why not use this process to obtain the resources needed for the energy transition?’ This approach would allow the use of existing infrastructure, minimising the costs and environmental impact associated with new developments.
It is important to note that rare minerals are not the same as ‘rare earth elements.’ Remember that ‘rare earth elements’ is a term used to classify 17 chemical elements (scandium, yttrium, and 15 lanthanides) that are present in minerals such as monazite. In turn, “rare minerals” is a broader term that includes other minerals that are truly rare in nature, such as tantalum, niobium, indium and gallium, which are not part of the rare earth elements group.
