21 FEBRUARY 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Examining the Impacts of Vertically Integrated Mining Operations Adapted from Information by the Colorado School of Mines According to the Department of Energy’s Critical Minerals Program, the demand for critical minerals is expected to skyrocket in coming years. Current U.S. production of these minerals lags behind China, which produces nearly 60% of the world’s critical minerals. It seems clear, if the U.S. wants to remain competitive in the clean energy market, increasing domestic production of these minerals will be crucial, which means the country needs more mines. “We know we need these minerals for the energy transition and to address climate change,” said Nicole Smith, a Cultural Anthropologist and Associate Professor of Mining Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM). “The question is, can we produce these minerals in a way that ensures environmental and social injustices are not repeated or new ones aren’t created?” Smith is focusing on this question as part of a new three-year research project through CSM in collaboration with Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. As lead investigator, Smith will be joined by Associate Professor Elizabeth Holley and Research Assistant Professor Aaron Malone, both in Mining Engineering, as well as Jihye Kim, Assistant Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at CSM. The project is supported by a $750,000 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. To reduce supply chain risks while maintaining efficiency, mining companies in the U.S. are taking a closer look at vertically integrated operations - combining the mining and refining processes. Smith and her team will investigate the social and technical factors related to the development of these operations and how they impact local communities and Indigenous populations. Research will look specifically at projects for nickel and cobalt refining. These minerals are often mined together and play a critical role in clean energy technologies, like lithium-ion batteries. According to the Payne Institute for Public Policy’s 2024 State of Critical Minerals Report, demand for nickel and cobalt is expected to double over current demand. Collaborators from Fort Lewis include Michelle Larkins, Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability; Kathleen Hilimire, Associate Professor of Environment and Sustainability; and Carma Claw, Assistant Professor of Management. Fort Lewis is a Native American-serving nontribal institution. Faculty from Fort Lewis will be particularly important to gain a better understanding of environmental justice and how the mining and refining operations may impact Indigenous stakeholders. “Are these projects incorporating the concerns of Indigenous and other communities? Are decisions about these projects being made in collaboration with tribal and local government officials, and to what extent?” Smith asked. “Historically, production on or near tribal lands has not taken those populations into consideration. That’s where some of the tension lies that we’re trying to understand.” The project is underway, with the research team conducting site visits in multiple states. The project is expected to produce several academic papers, a database of the mining and refining facilities studied, as well as presentations for conferences and government officials. In the project’s final year, Fort Lewis College will hold a symposium on Indigenous communities and the energy transition. MIN 58th Annual Shallow Exploration Drillers Clinic April 8 - 10, 2025 Sioux Falls, South Dakota Registration Details Coming Soon! Trade Show Exhibits Networking Opportunities Educational Seminars HEADS UP! Space Reservation for APRIL issue is HERE - February 25th, 2025. CONSTRUCTION is the focus!
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