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Reposted by @cookpj.bsky.social

Dr. Adam Stein @astein.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

If the US really wants to expand nuclear to 400GW nationwide by 2050, the US must secure enrichment ~5x-10x of current domestic capacity. This new report explores the potential future US + global nuclear fuel supply chain needs, from uranium enrichment to mining.🧵

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Reposted by @cookpj.bsky.social

Seaver Wang @wang-seaver.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Our new report explores potential future US + global nuclear fuel supply chain needs, from uranium enrichment to mining. If the US really wants to expand nuclear to 400GW nationwide by 2050, the US must secure enrichment ~5x-10x of current domestic capacity.🧵 thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...

thebreakthrough.org

Abundant Fuel for Abundant Reactors

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

So this article highlights the stringent practices that miners employ and the broad framework of environmental and labor laws that govern them. As they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Maybe some with this mentality actually picture an earlier era from before landmark laws like the Clean Water Act set hard thresholds for water pollutants or before agencies started requiring mines to reclaim their land. Maybe others are just not familiar with how mining works.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Reflexive backlash like lawsuits and unnecessary new regulations will only make it harder to source the minerals needed to build clean energy. The resistance can lead to tangible consequences like the cancelation of the Twin Metals Minnesota project.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

As the US debates how to secure critical minerals, some insist that we first must wholly reform mining before we embrace its role in decarbonization The latest @thebti.bsky.social article argues how the stringent standards miners already follow make that attitude counterproductive 🧵

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

I'd be interested in hearing other interpretations though. The outcrops straddle Twin Rocks Creek at about 39.80496708457175, -122.96868941625242 if you want to weigh in!

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Another possibility, California hosts the Coastal Range Ophiolite which outcrops along a north-south trend across Sonoma and Lake County, ending at the north end just about where I took the photo.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

The Clear Lake Volcanic field, for example, lies about 50 miles to the south and hosts the 4,300 foot Mount Konocti and the Geysers geothermal steam field.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

When most people think of volcanics on the west coast, they likely imagine the Cascade Range because of the iconic stratovolcanoes like Mount St. Helens or Mount Rainier, but the Coastal Range shows volcanics too.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

I went hiking in the Mendocino National Forest and think I spotted some volcanics. It's a little hard to see, but the two dark outcrops look like the nubs of a sill that I imagine eroded as the valley formed and cut through it.....🧵

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

@thebti.bsky.social has previously written about the origins of the U.S. uranium sector and how far regulations and protections have progressed since its inception. DISA's license approval marks the latest milestone thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...

thebreakthrough.org

History of U.S. Uranium Industry

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

The former represents a leap forward in tackling an enduring national responsibility while the latter could not come soon enough as the U.S. seeks to divest from the Russian-dominated nuclear fuel supply chain and re-shore domestic capabilities.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

License approval on this front will simultaneously benefit two major priorities: cleaning up abandoned mines left from a bygone, under-regulated era and introducing a new domestic source of uranium to fuel nuclear reactors.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

The technique is remarkably simple, essentially just washing and shaking old mine tailings to collect the lingering uranium ore that coats the waste rock. Here's an overview of how it works: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxW3...

youtube.com

Disa Gen Bravo - Continuous Unit

YouTube video by Disa Technologies, Inc.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

The NRC announced some exciting news for the U.S. nuclear sector on Tuesday DISA received an approval for their license application to collect uranium ore from abandoned uranium mine waste using a method called High-Pressure Slurry Ablation 🧵

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Reposted by @cookpj.bsky.social

Dr. Adam Stein @astein.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

The NRC issued a license today to DISA Technologies to use its system to remediate abandoned uranium mines. This is a very positive step toward addressing mines that were improperly handled decades ago, mostly for weapons production.

Letter from the NRC approving DISA's license application for license SUA-1605

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Geologists typically prefer puns, but today I thought I'd try a limerick: The famous geologist, Bryce just wanted a sample of gneiss. So he picked up a piece from the beaches of Nice and thought it incredibly nice. *not intended to necessarily be geologically accurate

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

I am very pleased to see @thebti.bsky.social cited and described as the optimistic perspective when it comes to critical minerals thought leadership in a new book by Thea Riofrancos called "Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism."

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Once production starts, Stibnite Gold could meet roughly a sixth of U.S. antimony demand over its 15 year lifetime. Starting from nothing, this is a huge leap forward.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Antimony sees use in batteries, semiconductors, and specialty alloys. Yet, the U.S. has up until now remained dangerously reliant on imports (Net Import Reliance ~85%).

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

The Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho got its Notice to Proceed from the U.S. Forest Service and can soon start construction of the first antimony mine the U.S. has hosted in years.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

The U.S. got some great news today and will soon close an essential gap in critical mineral supply chains: antimony mining.🧵 www.investors.perpetuaresources.com/investors/ne...

investors.perpetuaresources.com

Perpetua Resources Receives Notice to Proceed from U.S. Forest Service Authorizing Project Development — Perpetua Resources | Corporate

View PDF

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

You can ski on Mt Shasta though activity over the last 10,000 yrs suggests that it averages an eruption every ~700 yrs. Thankfully minimal earthquake activity and ground deformation as monitored by the @usgs-quakebot.bsky.social suggests we should at least be alright for the 2025/2026 season.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

As the wet dense oceanic plates dive under the relatively buoyant continent they release water which melts the surrounding mantle to create magma. That magma works its way to the surface to give us peaks along the northern west coast like Mt St. Helens which erupted in 1980.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Part of the Ring of Fire, the Cascades host a number of volcanoes that formed by the Juan De Fuca, Explorer, and Gorda plates of the Pacific ocean subducting under the North American continental plate.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Traveling to Seattle last week, my flight from San Francisco flew north along the Cascade Range and treated me to a great view of Mount Shasta - a 14,163 foot high stratovolcano. 🧵

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

@thebti.bsky.social released a report in July on how stockpiling could fit into a critical mineral strategy and recommendations on which forms of each commodity it should prioritize given the current capabilities of U.S. supply chains thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...

thebreakthrough.org

Taking Inventory of Critical Mineral Stockpiling

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

An economic stockpile presumably could, say, increase the liquidity of niche, emerging critical mineral markets by acting as a buyer of last resort or protect domestic operations from closing during market crashes by guaranteeing price minimums. Hard to say without more detail

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

I’ve read that the program will involve storage, refining, recycling, and AI demand forecasting, which could support either purpose.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Details are scarce and it remains unclear if this constitutes an expansion of the National Defense Stockpile program or an entirely separate initiative that will serve more of an economic purpose to help build out critical mineral supply chains.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

I am seeing announcements of a Strategic Mineral Reserve for critical minerals that the Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada will host as a public-private partnership with M2i Global and Volato Group 🧵 www.mining.com/nevada-army-...

mining.com

Nevada army depot to serve as base for first US strategic minerals stockpile

The initiative will be spearheaded by critical minerals pioneer M2i Global and aviation solutions provider Volato Group.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Digging through some photos from my time at Nyrstar and found this one of the barite brain Nyrstar had so many great samples in their collection from years of mining. Gem hunters know it as the Elmwood Mine, famous for its fluorite with irregular etching called Carthage Corners

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

H.R. 4090 (Rep. Stauber), To codify certain provisions of certain Executive Orders relating to domestic mining and hardrock mineral resources, and for other purposes. www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

congress.gov

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

H.R. 4068 (Rep. Collins), “Streamlining NEPA for Coal Act” www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

congress.gov

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

H.R. 4018 (Rep. Ezell), To unleash America’s offshore critical minerals and resources. www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

congress.gov

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

H.R. 3872 (Rep. Fallon), “Mineral Extraction for Renewable Industry and Critical Applications Act of 2025” or the “MERICA Act of 2025” www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

congress.gov

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

H.R. 280 (Rep. Hageman), “Combatting Obstruction Against Leasing Act of 2025” or the “COAL Act of 2025” www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

congress.gov

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Congress is back from recess and it looks like the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is wasting no time discussing proposals related to mining. Here's what was on the docket for the legislative hearing yesterday (9/3) 🧵 naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eve...

naturalresources.house.gov

Hearings | House Committee on Natural Resources

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Heading to DC for the Abundance event to join my @thebti.bsky.social colleagues and Im already excited to hear what more the Anthropocene has in store But if you are ever pessimistic, a dose of the New York City skyline is always a great reminder of what the human-built world can be like

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Add to this the imperative to diversify from Russian enrichment services and there appears to be some challenges ahead in building out nuclear supply chains. Time to start drilling.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Without knowing more detail, the rationale for production cuts seems suspicious. Kazakhstan already boasts a large amount of low-cost reserves and it doesn’t seem like market conditions have worsened in recent years.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Production cuts could significantly drive up uranium prices which have already been steadily increasing since 2017 - levels not seen since the 2000s

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

It’s great to see the momentum in nuclear energy grow, but we will need uranium to fuel it and Kazakhstan is consistently the world's largest natural uranium producer, accounting for 43% of global production in 2022.

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Kazakhstan has issued some unfortunate news with some concerning implications for nuclear energy. Apparently, Kazatomprom (Kazakhstan’s national company) will lower uranium mine production by 10% in 2026 due to insufficient returns, as they say🧵 www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/kaz...

world-nuclear-news.org

Kazatomprom to lower uranium production in 2026

The national atomic company of Kazakhstan has announced plans for a roughly 10% cut in its uranium production in 2026, saying it does not view the current supply-demand balance and existing uncovered ...

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Reposted by @cookpj.bsky.social

Seaver Wang @wang-seaver.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

New from me: political thinkers debating America’s future should avoid too narrowly conflating solar success with good energy policy. The political and technical messiness of the grid will pose complex challenges to both the abundance camp and its critics. 🧵 thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...

thebreakthrough.org

The Solarmaxxing of Abundance and Its Critics

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cookpj.bsky.social @cookpj.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

I will be very interested to see how these factors play out while the world develops a rare earth element market outside of China.

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