Summary:

- The article discusses a startup called Phoenix Tailings that is developing a technology to extract critical metals from mining waste, known as tailings.
- The startup's process uses a combination of physical and chemical methods to recover metals like copper, nickel, and rare earth elements from tailings, which are typically left behind after the initial mining and processing of ores.
- By recovering these valuable materials from waste, Phoenix Tailings aims to create a more sustainable and circular approach to mining, reducing the environmental impact and providing a new source of critical metals needed for technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.