Vale explores recovering rare earths and gold from mining waste
Vale is studying extraction of rare earths, gold and other minerals from mining waste, with early results promising.
Brazilian mining giant Vale is investigating the recovery of rare earths, gold, and other valuable minerals from its mining waste, according to a senior company executive. The initiative forms part of the company's broader circular economy strategy, which aims to cut waste generation and maximise the reuse of materials already extracted from the ground.
Rafael Bittar, Vale's executive technical vice president, told journalists on Wednesday that the research is still in its early stages but that preliminary findings have been encouraging. He did not provide a timeline for commercial deployment or specify which sites are being studied.
The push comes as global demand surges for rare earth elements, which are critical components in electric vehicle motors, wind turbine generators, and various defence technologies. Securing alternative sources of these minerals has become a strategic priority for many countries and corporations.
Vale, among the world's largest iron ore producers, has already demonstrated progress in waste valorisation. Last year, the company produced over 20 million metric tons of iron ore from mining waste, Bittar noted, underscoring the potential scale of such recovery operations.