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The global demand for critical minerals is projected to rise dramatically, with expectations of a 400%–600% increase over the next several decades. To meet ambitious goals like achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, the world will require a significant number of new mines for essential minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, and cobalt. These minerals are fundamental to numerous technologies across various sectors, including energy, defense, healthcare, and electronics, making their supply critical for national security and economic stability. Addressing this burgeoning demand necessitates both the discovery of new mineral deposits through exploration and the development of innovative ways to secure existing resources. A promising strategy involves tapping into domestic nontraditional sources of critical minerals, such as hardrock mining wastes, waste materials from coal-fired power plants, and brines from geothermal operations. Effective exploration relies on various methods, including geophysics, which measures physical properties like density or electrical conductivity to identify potential mineral anomalies, and geochemistry, which studies the chemical composition of earth materials. Research projects are actively characterizing the critical mineral content within existing mine wastes, recognizing that these materials, often generated during the extraction of other metals, may contain valuable critical minerals. Technologies like hydrometallurgy, which utilizes chemical solutions or microorganisms for extraction, are being explored and tested to recover metals from these waste streams. Recovering minerals from these nontraditional sources not only helps to increase domestic supply but can also offer environmental benefits by potentially cleaning up waste sites. P. Geo. Ricardo A Valls, M. Sc. and Geo Gadfly Valls Geoconsultant ORCID ID- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5421-0914 Scopus Author ID: 7003369619/35335510700 ResearcherID: S-6604-2018 If you like this content, please "buy me a coffee" https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goldendroplets