RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota Mines has been awarded a $3.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to lead a research effort aimed at developing advanced technologies for locating and mapping rare earth elements and other critical minerals more efficiently.
The project, known as RAPID-REE, is part of the Department of Energy’s $72 million ARPA-E initiative designed to strengthen domestic magnet manufacturing and secure critical mineral supply chains.
South Dakota Mines is one of 13 projects selected nationwide under ARPA-E’s ROCKS program. The university will collaborate with other universities, national laboratories and technology companies to advance critical minerals research and innovation.
Officials said the project could help improve the identification of key mineral resources needed for technologies ranging from electronics to renewable energy systems, while supporting the nation’s efforts to build a more secure domestic supply chain.
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