The Key to Winning the Hypersonic Arms Race Is Right Beneath Your Feet. It’s—Mud?

U.S. Critical Materials, a Utah-based rare earth exploration company, has launched a two-year research project called 'Mud to Metal' with Columbia University to extract scandium and gallium from red mud, a discarded byproduct of aluminum production. The initiative seeks to tap into the red mud’s hidden potential, as these metals are vital for U.S. defense manufacturing, including hypersonic missiles, radars, and semiconductors. The project follows a November 2025 Pentagon release highlighting the critical role of gallium and scandium in defense equipment. Mike Cadenazzi, assistant secretary of war for Industrial Base Policy, emphasized their importance, noting that 78% of Defense Department weapons depend on these minerals. Gallium is used in solar cells, electronic warfare systems, and semiconductors, while scandium, dubbed 'the miracle metal,' strengthens alloys for aerospace and military applications like pistols, lasers, and landing gear lamps. Currently, the U.S. lacks domestic sources for these minerals, leaving its defense industry vulnerable to supply disruptions. Both metals were included in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s 2025 list of critically needed minerals. Columbia University’s Greeshma Gadikota, leading the research, noted that rare earth minerals also enable precision-guided missiles, drones, and electric motors through strong permanent magnets. The 'Mud to Metal' project could help close this supply gap by transforming industrial waste into a strategic resource. If successful, it would reduce reliance on foreign sources, particularly China, which could restrict access to these minerals. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to secure domestic production of critical materials for national defense.