Episode 876
876: This Startup Is Reinventing Rare Earth Refining - Without New Mines
America’s about to make a big bet on critical minerals and rare earths. In case you missed it, the DOE just reorganized and announced a major initiative around the refining of this critical element in our energy and defense future. Why? Because the energy and defense sectors are dangerously dependent on China’s refining power; but, what if we could change that without opening a single new mine?
We recently covered a company that’s rethinking rare earth and critical mineral supply chains from the ground up. Mark LaVerghetta, VP at ReElement Technologies, explained that their secret weapon is a closed-loop chromatography-based refining system that can extract and purify vital materials from recycled batteries, magnets, and even coal waste, all on U.S. soil.
Mark shares how the leadership team pivoted from distressed coal assets to inventing a modular, small-footprint solution that could rewrite the rules of critical mineral processing and eliminate America’s reliance on toxic, capital-intensive Chinese methods and imports. It can also liberate us from the supply constraints imposed by the ever-growing trade war between the two countries for materials that are critical path to our clean energy future.
Expect to learn:
🔹 How chromatography replaces hundreds of toxic chemical stages in rare earths refining
🔹 What rare minerals are hidden in EV batteries, coal waste, and wind turbines
🔹 Why ReElement's tech is scalable in the nation’s abandoned strip malls, not megafactories
🔹 How they’re restoring U.S. supply chain independence through innovation
This is more than a conversation about minerals. It’s about resilience, security, and a cleaner future built right here at home.
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