Supplying Critical Minerals at Home

As the U.S. reduces its reliance on foreign critical minerals, Utah is stepping up to rebuild the domestic supply chain—and the U’s expertise will help drive that effort forward.

This spring, the U’s Board of Trustees and the Utah Board of Higher Education voted in favor of the proposed Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals (ICSM). Through education, workforce development, and cutting-edge research, the institute aims to expand sustainable, domestic sources and production of critical minerals and rare earth elements—the raw materials vital for advanced technologies.

“With legislative support from state leaders, Utah is taking a decisive step to lead in critical minerals,” says U president Taylor Randall HBA’90. “Working with industry and government partners, the ICSM will position Utah as the nation’s hub for critical mineral production, processing, and research.”

ICSM supports the full lifecycle of critical mineral development—from geological discovery and responsible mining to processing and recycling—while addressing broader challenges, including community impact, market analysis, and environmental regulation.

“As the only Utah institution offering the combination of geology, mining engineering, and metallurgical engineering, the U can fully integrate crucial STEM fields with environmental research, supply chain analysis, and policy to advance critical minerals research from discovery to application,” says Michael Free BS’90 MS’92 PhD’94, professor of metallurgical engineering at the U and proposed ICSM director.

The U has built a long-standing reputation for preparing graduates to meet evolving demands of the mining and minerals sector.

“For more than a century, the U’s College of Mines and Earth Sciences has trained the engineers and geologists who powered the state’s mining industry,” says Mitzi Montoya, executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “ICSM builds on that legacy, advancing a modern, interdisciplinary approach that drives innovation responsibly and will benefit Utahns in the long run.”

Over the past six years, the U’s scientists have been awarded more than $20 million to lead critical minerals research—resources that ICSM will use to advance research, teaching, and public engagement across disciplines.