Dave Hoffman of West Virginia University's Water Research Institute holds up a vial of light rare earth oxides at a facility that separates them from acidic groundwater draining from an abandoned coal mine, June 25, 2024, in Mount Storm, W.Va. Researchers are finding that groundwater pouring out of this and other abandoned coal mines contains the rare earth elements and other valuable metals that are vital to making everything from electric vehicle motors to rechargeable batteries to fighter jets smaller, lighter or more powerful. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
West Virginia University's Water Research Institute runs this facility where rare earth minerals are separated from acidic groundwater draining from an abandoned coal mine, June 25, 2024, in Mount Storm, W.Va. Researchers are finding that groundwater pouring out of this and other abandoned coal mines contains the rare earth elements and other valuable metals that are vital to making everything from electric vehicle motors to rechargeable batteries to fighter jets smaller, lighter or more powerful. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
Dave Hoffman, left, and Paul Ziemkiewicz of West Virginia University's Water Research Institute check on clarifying pools at a facility they run where rare earth minerals are separated from acidic groundwater draining from an abandoned coal mine, June 25, 2024, in Mount Storm, W.Va. Researchers found that groundwater pouring out of this and other abandoned coal mines contains the rare earth elements and other valuable metals that are vital to making everything from electric vehicle motors to rechargeable batteries to fighter jets smaller, lighter or more powerful. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
Groundwater carrying iron, aluminum, rare earth elements and other metals from an abandoned coal mine pours into a retention pond at a facility run by West Virginia University's Water Research Institute, June 25, 2024, in Mount Storm, W.Va. Researchers found that groundwater pouring out of this and other abandoned coal mines contain the rare earth elements and other valuable metals that are vital to making everything from electric vehicle motors to rechargeable batteries to fighter jets smaller, lighter or more powerful. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
Dave Hoffman of West Virginia University's Water Research Institute holds up a vial of light rare earth oxides at a facility that separates them from acidic groundwater draining from an abandoned coal mine, June 25, 2024, in Mount Storm, W.Va. Researchers are finding that groundwater pouring out of this and other abandoned coal mines contains the rare earth elements and other valuable metals that are vital to making everything from electric vehicle motors to rechargeable batteries to fighter jets smaller, lighter or more powerful. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)