Media tip sheet: Critical minerals extraction and processing

Mines Faculty Corby Anderson, and Payne Institute Faculty Fellows Elizabeth Holley, Priscilla Nelson, Nicole Smith, and Erik Spiller are featured in this article about modern life runs on critical minerals—rare earths, lithium, cobalt and other elements fuel smartphones, satellites, energy systems, medical devices, defense technologies and more.  However, raw minerals must be extracted and processed, creating myriad challenges from a technical, economic and geopolitical standpoint.  January 26, 2026.