Startup turns mining waste into critical metals for the U.S.

Phoenix Tailings, founded by MIT alumni, has developed a sustainable process for extracting rare earth metals and other critical materials from mining waste without toxic byproducts or carbon emissions. The company has received over $2 million in DOE grants and expects to produce 3,000 tons of metals by 2026, while expanding their technology to process nickel, magnesium, and iron from mining waste.