In Zimbabwe, rolling blackouts hobble mining goals

Apr 5, 2023
The country has an ambitious goal to reach $12 billion in mining exports in 2023, but industry leaders say they can't get ahead without reliable electricity.
Zimbabwe has the largest African lithium deposits, a mineral crucial to electric vehicle batteries. Above, workers inspect an open-pit lithium mine in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe.
Tafadzwa Ufumeli/Getty Images

Coal under Trump: one miner’s perspective

Aug 18, 2017
"When somebody has something good to say about you, you’d say, 'You know what? That’s great.'”
Don Stahly, a third-generation coal miner, has been working underground in Colorado's West Elk Mine since 1999. He says he understands his job will not last forever, but is happy with what President Trump is doing to bolster the coal industry.
Dan Boyce

Why the US buys all its rare earth metals from China

Jun 26, 2017
The obscure minerals are much more costly to mine in America.
A rare earth refinery.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images