The go-to place for critical minerals solutions

Global demand for critical minerals continues to escalate, and with its deep expertise and longstanding leadership in minerals and materials solutions, Mines is emerging as a central authority in this space. We sat down with President Paul C. Johnson to better understand Mines’ critical minerals strategy and impact.

1. Everyone is talking about critical minerals right now. Why is Mines the university that everyone is looking to for the answers?

We are the university that has more components in the critical minerals space than any other university out there. We have the technical expertise in the whole value chain of critical minerals. We know how to find them. We know how to process them. We know how to use them. We have the folks who are the experts in the economics of minerals. And we have people who work on policy. On top of that, we’re located in a place where we’re surrounded by other entities like the USGS, which is going to have a huge operation here on campus. We have the National Lab of the Rockies close by, which is also working on critical minerals. And we have this giant alumni network with people who are experts all around the world on that topic.

2. What are some of the world-class investments Mines is making to ensure we stay the global leader in this space?

Two of the investments we’re making are infrastructure related. We’re building the Energy and Minerals Research Facility right now. All of the USGS’s experts in energy and minerals resources will be here on campus alongside our experts in this area. We’ll have the highest density of people with expertise on this topic anywhere in the country. We’ve also just acquired a new property off campus that’s going to allow us to create a solutions- focused critical minerals technology hub. We’re going to have some Mines faculty and their research activities there. We’re going to have startup companies and some large established companies there. All of those people will be working together on similar things. I think people are going to look at Golden, Colorado and say, “If I’ve got a question on critical minerals, I’m going to check out Mines and this technology hub.”

3. One of the things you talk a lot about is “impact beyond publication.” How are we making sure the critical minerals work in our labs reaches the market—and that our graduates are ready to lead on this challenge on Day 1?

Our experts are helping make policy decisions about critical minerals. Our faculty are testifying to Congress, telling them about critical minerals in our waste streams and how the U.S. can be less dependent on other countries and their supply of critical minerals because we already have them here in the country. We’re also hosting critical minerals-focused meetings through the Payne Institute. Some of our faculty have published editorials in national newspapers about the future of critical minerals and things that might affect policy decisions in the U.S.

In terms of making sure our graduates are ready to lead this challenge on Day 1, we’re bringing people here to campus that they can learn from. We make sure they get a lot of experiences and opportunities through internships, projects and being connected to our alumni network.

4. Mines alumni are everywhere—from exploration and mining to economics and policy to the tech companies who need these minerals. How do you see our Oredigger network helping us drive this national mineral strategy?

Our alumni network is one of the most compelling reasons why Mines is the place to go to. We have connections around the world and across many industries, from exploration and mining to economics and policy to the tech companies that need these minerals. It’s one of the reasons why people are so interested in what we have going on here because they’ve run into so many people in the world who are really driving things in the critical minerals space.

5. The supply chain for critical minerals is complex. Where is Mines leading the way in finally connecting all the dots—from the ground to the final product?

We’re probably the only university that plays in all aspects of the supply chain and the value chain. We are helping people develop the roadmaps for how to solve our nation’s critical minerals challenges. We know where they are, we know how to match those up with technologies and we know what policies are needed to make it economical and practical for the U.S. to have its own critical mineral streams. And, of course, we’re producing the workforce—fantastic engineers who are graduating from Mines prepared to go out there and work on the projects that are growing because of the nation’s recognition of the need for critical minerals.

Go Orediggers!

Paul C. Johnson
President and Professor