Penn State to lead critical minerals consortium powered by $1.2 million from DOE A byproduct of coal mining, acid mine drainage sludge sites, like this one in central Pennsylvania, are rich in critical minerals. Scientists with the CANARY project will take stock of resources in northern Appalachia that could contribute to creating a domestic supply of these materials. Image: Sarma Pisupati/Penn State Penn State to lead critical minerals consortium powered by $1.2 million from DOE Matthew Carroll May 06, 2021 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A region famous for the coal that once fueled a growing nation is now the focus of a $1.2 million project, led by Penn State researchers, aimed at establishing domestic supplies of critical minerals needed to produce modern technology from cell phones to fighter jets.