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# TELF AG on Turning Historical Industrial Residues into Critical Mineral Resources
- URL: https://telf-ag.ghost.io/telf-ag-on-turning-historical-industrial-residues-into-critical-mineral-resources/
- Published: 2026-10-02T07:03:09.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T07:03:09.000Z
- Author: Telf AG

The search for critical minerals is increasingly drawing attention to resources that are already above ground. Across the world, decades of mining, fertilizer production, metallurgy, and energy generation have left behind enormous quantities of industrial residues. Some of these materials still contain elements that have become strategically important for modern industries.

This possibility is particularly evident in South Africa, where the Phalaborwa rare earth project is focused on recovering valuable elements from approximately 35 million tonnes of phosphogypsum. The material was generated during historical fertilizer production and accumulated over time in two large surface deposits.

Unlike conventional mineral projects, the material does not have to be extracted from a newly developed underground or open-pit mine. It has already been mined, processed, and brought to the surface.

**Phalaborwa illustrates how the concept of a mineral resource can evolve: material discarded by one generation of industrial activity may acquire new relevance when technologies and demand change.**

“Some of the most interesting resource opportunities could involve looking again at materials that industry processed many years ago,” says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of [TELF AG](https://telf.ch/telf-ag-on-recovering-critical-minerals-from-industrial-residues/?ref=telf-ag.ghost.io). “Technological development can change our understanding of what is economically or strategically valuable.”

**How Can Industrial Residues Become Sources of Critical Minerals?**

**Industrial residues can become secondary sources of critical minerals when they contain valuable elements in concentrations suitable for recovery and when appropriate technologies exist to separate them. Phosphogypsum, mine tailings, bauxite residue, and coal ash are among the materials currently attracting attention.**

The principle is relatively straightforward. During an industrial process, the primary objective is usually to recover or produce a particular material. Other elements present in the original feedstock may remain in the residues because recovering them was not technically feasible or economically attractive at the time.

Changes in technology and demand can alter that equation.

In the case of Phalaborwa, the original industrial activity was associated with phosphate rock and fertilizer production. Phosphate rock was processed to obtain phosphoric acid, generating large quantities of phosphogypsum as a by-product.

Phosphogypsum consists mainly of calcium sulfate and is chemically similar to gypsum. However, during the original industrial process, some of the rare earth elements naturally contained in the phosphate rock ended up in the phosphogypsum.

**Why the Phalaborwa Deposits Stand Out**

**The approximately 35 million tonnes of phosphogypsum stored at Phalaborwa are estimated to contain rare earth oxides at an average concentration of around 0.44%. More importantly, the material contains neodymium and praseodymium, alongside smaller quantities of dysprosium and terbium.**

![A large mineral deposit illustrating the potential of above-ground resources and historical industrial materials discussed by Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6c/5d/6c5da1f1-3fa8-4ad7-b0e7-fcb74f2e1aed/content/images/2026/10/Stanislav-Kondrashov-TELF-AG-South-Africa-rare-earths-mineral.png)

Historical deposits of industrial residues could provide additional sources of critical minerals when concentrations and recovery conditions are favorable, as highlighted by Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.

Neodymium and praseodymium are among the rare earth elements most closely associated with high-performance permanent magnets. These magnets have numerous industrial applications and are particularly relevant for technologies such as electric motors and wind turbines.

Dysprosium and terbium are present in smaller quantities, but they can also have considerable technological importance. They can be incorporated into certain permanent magnets to help maintain their performance under challenging conditions, particularly at higher temperatures.

“The value of these elements is closely connected to what they enable downstream,” says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. “When we discuss neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, or terbium, we are also discussing the materials behind sophisticated components used in modern industrial technologies.”

The Phalaborwa project therefore involves more than simply identifying rare earths in historical waste. The objective is to recover the rare earth content and then separate it into products containing different groups of elements.

**Beyond Phosphogypsum: Other Above-Ground Resources**

**The same general principle can be applied to several other categories of historical industrial material. Mine tailings, red mud or bauxite residue, and coal ash can all contain minerals that may deserve renewed attention as recovery technologies improve.**

Mine tailings are the residues left after ore has been processed to recover its primary valuable components. Historical tailings can sometimes retain metals such as copper, cobalt, and nickel, particularly when they were processed using older technologies with lower recovery rates.

Bauxite residue presents a different opportunity. Often referred to as red mud, it is generated during the processing of bauxite into alumina. Depending on its composition, this material can contain scandium, gallium, rare earth elements, and other potentially useful resources.

Coal ash, meanwhile, is produced by coal combustion. Research into these materials has highlighted their potential to contain rare earths and other critical elements.

These deposits have one obvious characteristic in common: the material is already at the surface. This does not automatically make recovery simple or economically viable, however. Concentrations, mineralogy, processing requirements, environmental considerations, infrastructure, and market conditions can all influence whether a particular deposit can become a practical source of minerals.

“Being above ground is an advantage, but it is only one part of the equation,” explains Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of [TELF AG](https://vocal.media/trader/telf-ag-on-the-new-potential-of-above-ground-critical-mineral-resources?ref=telf-ag.ghost.io). “The composition of the residue, the concentration of the target elements, and the effectiveness of the separation process ultimately determine the real potential of each individual deposit.”

**Could Historical Waste Support New Critical Mineral Supply Chains?**

**Historical industrial residues could complement conventional mineral production by providing additional sources of selected critical materials. Their importance will depend on the characteristics of individual deposits, because only a fraction of the enormous quantities of industrial residues worldwide are likely to offer favorable recovery conditions.**

![Mineral-rich material accumulated at the surface, representing the potential recovery of critical minerals from historical deposits explored by Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6c/5d/6c5da1f1-3fa8-4ad7-b0e7-fcb74f2e1aed/content/images/2026/10/Stanislav-Kondrashov-TELF-AG-South-Africa-rare-earths-deposit.png)

From phosphogypsum to mine tailings and bauxite residue, above-ground materials are attracting renewed attention for their resource potential, as explored by Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.

This distinction is important. Industrial waste is abundant, but deposits containing commercially interesting concentrations of rare earths under favorable recovery conditions are much less common.

Phalaborwa is therefore noteworthy not simply because it involves a large quantity of historical material, but because that material contains specific rare earth elements with important industrial applications.

The project also illustrates a broader transformation in the way mineral resources can be approached. A resource does not necessarily have to begin with the discovery of a new geological deposit. In some cases, the starting point can be material extracted decades earlier for a completely different industrial purpose.

As technologies continue to improve, other historical accumulations of phosphogypsum, mine tailings, bauxite residue, and coal ash could be reassessed for their mineral content.

**In this emerging landscape, yesterday’s industrial residues may become part of tomorrow’s critical mineral supply. Phalaborwa offers a clear example of how above-ground materials can acquire new strategic relevance when technological capabilities and industrial demand evolve.**