West Virginia University announced on May 26 the launch of the WVU Rare Earth Elements Initiative, aiming to expand research and development in securing a domestic supply of critical minerals essential for technology and national security. The new initiative brings together researchers focused on rare earths and critical minerals, while also establishing Mission Critical Materials, a for-profit startup to commercialize the university’s AMDREE technology developed over the past decade.
Vice Provost Mark Gavin said, “WVU has been at the forefront of this work even before it became a national priority. For a decade, we’ve been proving we can extract rare earths from acid mine drainage at coal sites. The WVU REE Initiative aims to double down on our work to emphasize we can produce these critical materials domestically, clean up legacy mining pollution, and reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers.”
The university’s research began in 2016 through the West Virginia Water Research Institute and led to collaborations such as opening the A34 AMDREE Processing Facility in Mount Storm with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection in 2022. This facility is described as “the first integrated pilot-scale AMD rare earth recovery facility of its kind in the country” and demonstrates that acid mine drainage can serve as an ongoing source for heavy rare earth elements while aiding environmental cleanup.
Lance Lin, director for the WVU REE Initiative and chair of civil and environmental engineering at WVU’s Statler College, said researchers are now testing extraction methods with additional feedstocks like red mud, e-waste, and mine tailings: “WVU isn’t just leading in acid mine drainage. We are advancing our expertise to identify, characterize and extract critical minerals from a wide range of sources to address environmental challenges while building a broader, more resilient domestic supply chain.”
Steve Dunmead, CEO of Mission Critical Materials (MCM), explained that MCM will commercialize WVU’s technology: “The need for a domestic supply chain for rare earths has never been greater, and WVU researchers are innovating right at the forefront.” In early 2026, MCM partnered with REalloys Inc. to help develop U.S.-based supply chains focusing on defense and energy infrastructure.
West Virginia University encompasses a network of distinctive campuses; its alumni have secured prestigious scholarships such as Rhodes Scholars; it fosters an inclusive community; draws inspiration from its motto ‘Mountaineers Go First’; and aims to harness resources for future growth, according to the official website.
