Last mentioned: Mar 15, 2026
Flow Sheet Pilot
Target for initial multi-mineral processing flow sheet implementation in corporate partnerships.
Strategic Target
Target date for significant reduction in Chinese mineral dependency through technological leapfrogging.
Output Target
Expected deadline for significant gains in domestic black mass and recycled material output.
24-Month Target
The deadline set by industry experts to significantly undo 30 years of strategic monopolization.
Output Target
Expected deadline for significant gains in domestic black mass recycling output.
Output Milestone
Expected surge in mineral output from domestic black mass recycling programs.
Projected Output Surge
Expected timeframe for significant gains in output from recycled black mass and battery materials.
New Fissures Detected
Reports emerge of significant new cracks as sea levels reach record highs.
CFR Briefing
Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson announces innovation-led strategy to counter China.
Strategy Reveal
Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson announces the 'leapfrog' strategy at CFR.
CFR Briefing
Assistant Secretary Robertson announces 'game-changing' innovations in recycling and refining.
CFR Strategy Briefing
Officials announce 'game-changing' recycling and refining innovations to counter China.
Office Formation
The DOE establishes the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.
Office Formation
DOE establishes the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.
Office Formation
The DOE establishes the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.
Office Formation
The DOE establishes the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation led by Audrey Robertson.
DOE Safety Report
US Department of Energy reports the dome is structurally sound despite minor cracking.
Compact of Free Association
Marshall Islands gains independence; US claims its nuclear liability is settled.
Dome Construction
US military gathers contaminated soil into a crater on Runit Island and covers it with concrete.
Nuclear Testing Era
The US conducts 67 atmospheric nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands.
New structural fissures have been detected in the Runit Dome, a legacy nuclear waste site in the Marshall Islands, as rising sea levels exert unprecedented pressure on the aging structure. The development reignites a long-standing geopolitical dispute over liability for the radioactive debris contained within the unlined concrete shell.
The US Department of Energy is pivoting toward advanced recycling and multi-mineral processing to break China's 30-year monopoly on critical minerals. Officials expect significant output gains from lithium-ion battery 'black mass' within the next 12 months as new domestic refining technologies come online.
The US Department of Energy is betting on advanced e-waste recycling and multi-mineral processing technologies to break China's decades-long monopoly on critical minerals. Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson anticipates significant output gains from 'black mass' recycling within the next 12 months, potentially transforming domestic supply chain resilience.
The US Department of Energy is pivoting toward advanced e-waste recycling and multi-mineral processing 'flow sheets' to break China's decades-long monopoly on critical minerals. Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson anticipates significant output gains from battery 'black mass' within the next 12 months, aiming to bypass traditional mining dependencies.
The US Department of Energy is pivoting toward advanced electronic waste recycling and multi-mineral processing technologies to bypass China's 30-year dominance in the critical minerals sector. Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson identified 'black mass' recycling and integrated refining flow sheets as the primary catalysts for achieving supply chain independence within the next 12 to 24 months.