A geochemist at the Colorado School of Mines suggests that mine tailings in Papua New Guinea, particularly from sites like Lihir, may contain significant quantities of valuable copper, nickel, and other critical minerals sought by the United States. While initial analysis indicates potential for recovering metals like copper and nickel, extracting rare earth elements could prove more difficult due to their mineral composition. Professor Aaron Goodman offered to analyze samples from PNG to determine recoverable mineral content. However, the primary obstacle to commercial recovery is economic viability, as lab-scale success doesn’t always translate to profitable large-scale operations. The Colorado School of Mines possesses expertise in both mineral extraction technology and economic analysis to address these challenges. Further investigation is needed to determine if PNG mine waste can become a viable source of critical minerals.