From Trace Element Biogeochemistry to Critical Minerals Resourcing: Lessons Learned and Opportunities for Innovation

Abstract

Critical minerals and materials, which are raw materials essential to modern technologies yet vulnerable to supply disruption, have emerged as a major focal point of research to diversify resources, advance processing technologies, and bolster supply chains. Many of these elements, however, have long been studied in the context of trace-element biogeochemistry, where decades of work have elucidated their speciation, transport, transformation, and biological interactions in natural and engineered systems. This Perspective article reaffirms these foundational principles as a powerful framework for advancing critical mineral resourcing. Principles studied for pollution mitigation, such as sorption, redox transformations, and biological uptake, can be reenvisioned as strategies for selective recovery from dilute and complex feedstocks, including industrial wastewater, solid residuals, and unconventional geological materials. Advances in molecular-scale characterization, geochemical modeling, and data science further link element speciation, extractability, and product quality. Such connections could offer new pathways for process design, such as biological approaches that would apply to low-energy and distributed recovery systems. Importantly, the viability of new processes extends beyond conventional economic metrics and must consider regulatory drivers, circularity goals, and societal impacts, as demonstrated in related sectors, such as phosphorus recovery and waste reutilization. By integrating concepts from biogeochemistry with advances in materials research, environmental sciences, and data analytics, the field is well positioned to contribute to a new paradigm for mineral resourcing─one that emphasizes sustainability, resilience, and environmental stewardship alongside technological innovation.