Mining For Our Future

Innovative technologies made possible through and employed by mining are providing the mineral and energy resources essential for a better life and a better future.

Minerals play a leading role in nearly every aspect of the modern American experience. Copper, zinc and other minerals are essential in electric and hybrid vehicles. Silver and copper’s natural antibacterial qualities make them ideal for medical applications. And copper’s high thermal conductivity makes it a preferred material for wiring homes and office buildings.

And when it comes to the energy that is powering today’s innovations, new technologies are making combustion of coal more efficient and cleaner. Dramatic reductions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter that have already been achieved show how advancements in emissions technology hold even more promise for the future.

    Member Feature Story

    Byproducts for More EV Batteries

    Innovation isn’t just about improving the current process; sometimes it’s about rethinking ‘waste’ and making it useful again. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have been working with Talon Metals on a new process to dramatically increase the number of electric... Read More

    July 23, 2024

    Mining For Our Future

    Better Batteries for Tomorrow’s Roads

    As our transportation sector includes a greater number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads, it’s important that we secure our supply chains to ensure we have the materials needed to make them. Nickel is a key component of EV batteries, and for good reason. Nickel in lithium-ion batteries gives a... Read More

    December 06, 2021

    Zero Emissions Vehicles on Site

    Zero-emission mining is the future of mining, and Rio Tinto and Komatsu are at the front-end of mining innovation. Komatsu has been developing zero-emission haul trucks, and Rio Tinto will conduct a pre-production trial of the new equipment on site. “We know that addressing climate change effectively... Read More

    October 20, 2021

    Modern Mining Rests on Innovation

    It’s important to innovate and grow, and the mining industry is no outlier for growth. Modern mining depends on powerful innovations as much as any other industry, from the mine all the way through the machinery manufacturers. Cummins, a manufacturer of engines, filtration and power generation products,... Read More

    June 07, 2021

    CONSOL Energy, Cleaner Plants for Tomorrow

    Innovations are constantly being developed to make coal-fired power plants operate cleaner than ever before. Today’s coal-fueled power plants emit 90 percent fewer emissions than the typical plant from the 1970s. Ongoing advancements in high efficiency, low emission (HELE) coal technologies and carbon... Read More

    May 07, 2021