Search for rare earth elements to continue in central Appalachia

ABINGDON, Va. (WDBJ) - The U.S. is highly dependent on China and other countries for rare earth elements and critical minerals that go into all kinds of electronics and high-tech products.

But what if the coalfields of southwest Virginia could help develop a larger domestic supply? A study led by a Virginia Tech researcher is considering that possibility, and the work could have major implications, not just for national security, but for the region’s economy as well.

Southwest Virginia, and the rest of central Appalachia, have a long history of coal mining, and a legacy that includes tens of millions of tons of fly ash and waste coal.

Dr. Richard Bishop is a Professor of Practice in Mining and Minerals Engineering at Virginia Tech, and currently the Principal Investigator on the Evolve Central Appalachia Project.

Wednesday morning, he briefed members of the Southwest Virginia Energy Research and Development Authority on the team’s efforts to identify potential sources, that could include active mining, or the byproducts of past mining operations.

“Are you looking at old waste piles?” a member of the authority asked. “Absolutely,” Bishop responded. “One of the tasks we have right now… is try to do the best inventory we can of where the locations are, try to quantify the volume and tonnage associated with them.”

Bishop said more study is required, but the work could pay dividends in terms of environmental remediation and job creation. And he said central Appalachia has the mining history and the infrastructure that some other areas lack.

“We have the navigable waterways. We have access to internet. We have housing. We have things that could build a new industry that people could move back to this area and hopefully have new high-tech jobs to work in,” he said.

Bishop and his team are now working on the final report for the first phase of their project. They plan to apply for additional funding from the Department of Energy, and hope to begin the second phase of their study in 2025.

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