Oxford spinout raises $2.3M for deep-underground critical minerals tech
- •You can check it out here.
- •What really caught my eye is their claim that they can pull critical minerals straight out of volcanic glass.
- •We're all pretty aware of the scramble for critical minerals right now, especially with the push for EVs and renewable energy.
Hey everyone,
Just read this super interesting article about an Oxford spinout, Ascension, that's snagged $2.3M for their deep-underground critical minerals tech. You can check it out here. What really caught my eye is their claim that they can pull critical minerals straight out of volcanic glass. Volcanic glass! That's a resource I honestly never even considered, and the article specifically mentions it's been "historically untapped."
My initial thought is that this could be a game-changer if they can scale it. We're all pretty aware of the scramble for critical minerals right now, especially with the push for EVs and renewable energy. Existing mining operations are getting trickier, and environmental concerns are rightfully growing. If Ascension has found a way to access a new, abundant, and potentially less environmentally destructive source, that could seriously shake up the supply chain. I've been eyeing some of the copper and lithium plays for my retirement portfolio, but this kind of innovative tech is exactly what gets me excited about future opportunities. It's still early days, of course, but the concept itself is pretty compelling.
What are your thoughts on this? Does anyone have experience with these kinds of deep-tech mineral extraction companies? Are there any red flags I might be missing, or does this sound like a genuinely promising development? Always good to get some different perspectives from the community on these things!