Critical Minerals: Mining for the Industrial Future

It can take more than 15 years to permit and build a new mine in the United States - yet nearly every modern technology we rely on, from smartphones to fighter jets to AI data centers, depends on a steady supply of critical minerals. In this episode, Erik Torenberg is joined in the studio by Turner Caldwell, founder of Mariana Minerals, along with American Dynamism general partner Erin Price-Wright and partner Ryan McEntush. Turner spent nearly a decade at Tesla, working his way upstream from factory design to battery materials and mining. Now, he’s building a new kind of mining and refining company - vertically integrated and software-first- designed to meet the demands of our industrial future. We get into why the industry is so broken, what it actually takes to turn rocks into usable materials, and how the U.S. can rebuild its capacity to mine, refine, and manufacture the things that matter most.   Timecodes:  00:00 Introduction to Critical Minerals 00:45 The Importance of Mining in Modern Technology 00:58 Meet Turner Caldwell and Marianna Minerals 03:02 The Mining and Refining Process 05:10 Challenges in the Mining Industry 07:11 Turner's Journey from Tesla to Marianna 15:31 The Role of AI and ML in Mining 22:00 Geopolitical and Talent Pool Dynamics 23:46 Challenges in Junior Mining Exploration 25:30 Mariana's Product and Approach 25:47 Leveraging Technology in Mining and Construction 28:29 Optimizing Refining Processes with AI 37:31 The Importance of Critical Minerals 41:18 Permitting and Regulatory Challenges 46:08 Future Strategies and International Expansion 46:53 Conclusion and Future Outlook   Resources:  Find Turner on X :https://x.com/tbc415 Find Erin on X: https://x.com/espricewright Find Ryan on X: https://x.com/rmcentush   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.