America’s shorelines hide a potential goldmine of critical minerals. No joke. The U.S. currently imports most of these essential elements, with China controlling half the global supply—talk about a security nightmare. Recent surveys found 37 of 50 critical minerals along our coasts, including rare earths needed for smartphones and fighter jets. Demand’s set to triple by 2040. These underwater treasures might just be America’s ticket to mineral independence.
While America obsesses over foreign oil dependency, a less-discussed national security threat lurks along its shorelines. The U.S. relies heavily on imports for most of its critical minerals—the backbone of everything from smartphones to fighter jets. And guess who controls more than half of them? China. Shocking, right?
America’s critical mineral dependence isn’t just a problem—it’s a crisis with China holding all the cards.
Those unassuming beaches along America’s Atlantic coast aren’t just vacation spots. They’re packed with valuable stuff. Dark-colored sands containing titanium, zirconium, and rare earth elements stretch from the coastline to over 100 miles inland. Some deposits are concentrated enough to mine. We’re literally walking on money.
It gets better. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management estimates that 37 of the 50 minerals designated as critical by the U.S. in 2022 can be found on the Outer Continental Shelf. They’re developing a National Offshore Critical Mineral Inventory, studying ferromanganese crusts, manganese nodules, phosphorites, and sulfides. Fancy names for potentially game-changing resources.
The U.S. Geological Survey isn’t sitting idle. Their Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, launched in 2019, is working with state surveys to modernize geological data. Developing these resources would lead to stronger environmental practices and generate numerous high-paying jobs compared to overseas operations. They’ve conducted high-resolution aeroradiometric surveys in South Carolina, giving scientists an unprecedented view of potential deposits. About time.
This matters because global demand for these minerals is set to double by 2030 and triple by 2040. They’re essential for clean energy tech, manufacturing, and defense. Yet America remains embarrassingly dependent on imports—completely reliant for 12 critical minerals and more than 50% dependent for 31 others.
The government is finally getting serious. Executive Order 14017 directs agencies to build resilient supply chains. There’s increased investment in domestic production and partnerships with allies. But moving away from Chinese dependency won’t happen overnight.
America’s shorelines could be the key to mineral independence. The treasure is literally washing up on our shores. We just need to grab it.
