Waste to Weapons: U.S. Mining Push | Concord News

Concord News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 6, 2026 · 1m

A New Hampshire startup, Phoenix Tailings, is revolutionizing defense supply chains by extracting critical minerals from mining waste using electricity—powered by a $500M Pentagon loan—to slash U.S. reliance on China. As military demand surges and new regulations ban Chinese sourcing, the company’s expansion could be vital for national security. Meanwhile, Arnold Magnetic Technologies is turning old French mining waste into samarium, a key mineral for high-tech weapons magnets, offering a costly but necessary alternative. Across industries, the race is on to diversify supply chains—fast—while…