Contemplate for a minute what that minicomputer in your pocket, your phone, is made of. How it works. Its complexity. What’s it made of and where it comes from. The origin story of, among other components—mobile phones, drones, electric cars and windmills involves an intricate life cycle. That cycle includes the discovery, extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earth elements.
And like any good story, there’s a narrative arc that moves through a beginning, a middle and an end. It's a story that the average American is only now beginning to learn about—even as policymakers have long been concerned that a single geopolitical actor dominates control of this crucial supply chain.
One takeaway is certain: if the U.S. doesn’t up its game in finding, securing, mining and processing materials from the earth that our modern civilization requires, we won’t be in a position to dictate the future direction of that civilization.
The College of Mines and Earth Sciences (CMES) at the University of Utah, along with its state, national and global partners, is poised to play a significant role. The college, made up of scores of researchers at the bench and in the field, offers a sequential through-line to get critical minerals and materials into the hands of manufacturers sooner than later.
Featured here are only a few of the dedicated scientists and engineers at the College of Science whose work is coalescing towards a common goal of critical mineral development and production.
Finding what's beneath: the geologist/geophysicist
The technology assembly line begins with discovery. Before materials can be mined, they must be located by geologists who employ methods from drilling cores to conducting different types of geochemical analysis. Lauren Birgenheier, who serves as both a faculty member in Geology & Geophysics and associate dean in the college, explains that the search for minerals has evolved significantly in recent years, now focused on a long list of elements that are considered critical, and found in many different minerals in a variety of geologic and geographic settings.
"We are trying to quantify the amount of critical minerals in the rock and which minerals are present," Birgenheier says. "Is there enough? Is it enough to be of interest rather than just a trace?"
This question of concentration is critical for the next phase of the continuum. Birgenheier notes that recent regional critical mineral characterization efforts provide a solid foundation of data across the Rocky Mountain Region that will be built into a more robust understanding of resource volumes in these key areas and settings.
Recent discoveries, like the treasure trove of critical minerals reported by Ionic Mineral Technologies near Utah Lake in Eureka, demonstrate the potential of the region. But discovery is only the beginning of a long journey.
Art and science of extraction: mining engineers
Once natural resources are located, mining engineers take over with the complex task of extraction. Mining isn't simply about digging—it requires careful consideration of economic, environmental and social sustainability from the outset.
"It's one thing to find critical minerals; it's another thing to be able to say, okay, how can we extract them?" says Pratt Rogers, Professor and Chair of the Department of Mining Engineering. "Are we able to set up mines and processes that can move material and extract it?" Rogers’ colleague Jessica Wempen applies hyperspectral imaging to assess stability in surface and underground mines. Simultaneously, she reminds us, “My goals as a researcher, educator and mining engineer are to mentor the next generation of mining professionals, advance responsible practices and leverage innovative technology to address technical challenges.”
“Deposits,” is a nebulous concept at best according to faculty member Rajive Ganguli who works with rock that is extracted and then undergoes initial chemical processing to create mineral concentrate. He uses systems engineering and artificial intelligence to help interpret data, collected under harsh conditions, and to quantify resources and optimize various mining processes while dealing with data issues. Denver-based Newmont, which mines gold, and other companies as well as federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of State are current or recent funders of his work.
"We'll mine it by developing earthwork infrastructure on the surface or underground," explains Rogers, "and then mineral processing experts will—once it's crushed—liberate those small minerals out of the ore." He is quick to point out the strong ethical framework for mining in the U.S. that enforces rules and regulations that minimize environmental impacts, including, eventually the need to return terrain to reclaimed state.
Separation and purification: metallurgical engineers
Mining delivers ore, but manufacturers need pure metals. This is where metallurgical engineering becomes crucial. Mike Free, associate chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), leads groundbreaking work that has secured major funding from the DOE as well as funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
"We're starting with unconventional resources to build a larger supply chain here in the U.S.," Free explains. "We are exploring new approaches that are more environmentally friendly. Some of the technologies we're developing, like our magnetic separation process, use no additional chemicals.”
The challenge of separation is immense. Prashant Sarswat, one of Free's collaborators, emphasizes the difficulty: "The properties of rare earth elements are so similar that existing methods and technologies are not very effective at separating them. With our methods, whether it's magnetic or physical separation or adsorption, we can handle that challenge."
The work of Xinbo Yang, also in the Department of Materials Science, focuses on extractive metallurgy. “I study how to extract, separate and purify critical materials from both primary resources and recycled or waste materials,” she says.” I see this as a continuum—building on fundamental extractive metallurgy knowledge while developing new, more efficient and sustainable approaches to strengthen the critical minerals supply chain.” Adjacent to her research, Yang acknowledges a growing talent gap. “Training the next generation of engineers and scientists is essential for sustaining innovation and advancing responsible resource development.”
Other faculty researchers, such as Zak Fang are working on the conversion of rare earth elements and critical minerals from oxides to metals so they can be used to make commercial products such as high power magnets.
The U’s critical minerals research involves students and mentoring. These research endeavors allow students to gain valuable experience in performing experiments, analyzing data, and developing and testing new technologies that can provide great benefits to society. "It's really cool to be at the cutting edge of this industry, sponsored by DARPA and the DOE, working on something crucial to our economy and the country's welfare," Easton Sadler, a metallurgical engineering Ph.D. student, reflects. "That makes me feel good; keeps me going in the lab."
The stakes: national security and economic independence
The urgency of creating a sustainable supply chain of critical materials extends far beyond academic research. "Right now, foreign countries are supplying 80 to 100% of many critical metals, which puts us in a vulnerable supply chain position. Some of the critical metals are strategic for the defense industry, making this a national security issue," Free notes. The U is leading a DOE-funded regional consortium worth $9.6 million to assess critical materials resources across the Rocky Mountain region, building on partnerships with the University of Wyoming, New Mexico Tech and the Colorado School of Mines.
Rogers and many others at the U recently participated in the Western Critical Minerals Summit where they explored collaborative opportunities that extend to advanced energy technologies and materials integral to national defense. "There's resources in Arizona, there's resources in Utah, Nevada, all across the West that we could potentially mine and go after," Rogers says. "They have skill sets that we don't have, and vice versa."
These projects require decades-long timelines, an aspect that both the Utah State Legislature and Governor Spencer Cox have acknowledged. In the 2026 legislative session, S.B. 254 established long-term state objectives to capture 20 to 25% of U.S. domestic critical mineral demand and to process 50% of minerals extracted within Utah inside the state. Among other initiatives and incentives, the legislature established the Minerals for Industrial, National, and Economic Security (MINES) center to support research, workforce training, and technology commercialization.
Political will of this sort in concert with ethical and environmental oversight will only further propel the University of Utah's College of Mines and Earth Sciences, already fronting the expertise, partnerships and vision necessary to help the nation secure its technological future—one element at a time.
By David Pace
Outside of CMES at the U, many other departments are working on critical mineral development. As an example, the Department of Chemistry is contributing to efficiencies, separation techniques and recycling. Read about Professor of Chemistry and Department Chair Aurora Clark’s research.
A new institute focused on building the future of critical minerals, The Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals, was approved by the Utah System of Higher Education on May 14, 2026 and is led by Dr. Mike Free. You can learn more at criticalminerals.utah.edu.