Critical minerals are being sourced from former coal mines and ancient seabeds in Nova Scotia.

An Earth and Environmental Sciences professor at St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) is leading innovative research to secure sustainable sources of metals used for clean energy technologies, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.

Geologist Dr. Celeste Cunningham says a lot of these materials can be used in things like cell phones, laptops, medical technologies, windmills and electric vehicle batteries.

“By using these technologies, we can replace or reduce the reliance we have on fossil fuels and transition to a more renewable dominant energy source,” she says.

She’s finding minerals including nickel, cobalt, zinc, copper, and manganese with the goal to develop a local and environmentally responsible supply chain.

“When I was studying these ancient seabeds in Nova Scotia, I found some of these critical minerals like the cobalt and the nickel. And so, that began my research into critical minerals as a whole,” expressed Cunningham.

She says we use them in just about everything and she wants to make a continuous supply of these, especially as we move forward with the development of clean green energy.

Since 2023, she has identified critical minerals in seabeds and is now expanding the project after receiving funding from the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, the Canada Foundation for Innovation and Research Nova Scotia.

Her field sites currently include Sydney, New Glasgow, Liscomb, and Bridgewater.

This work has already provided hands-on research opportunities for six of her undergraduate students.

Cunningham’s aim is to identify sources in Nova Scotia and determine how they can be accessed sustainably.