The US national stockpile will receive scandium oxide supplies from a Rio Tinto mining unit, following an agreement with the country’s Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Innovative production and outlookCopy link to sectionWhile Rio Tinto declined to comment on commercial specifics, the company stated its active collaboration with the US government. In a significant scientific breakthrough in 2020, scientists at Rio Tinto achieved a pioneering feat by developing an innovative process. This method enables the extraction of high-purity scandium oxide directly from the waste streams generated during titanium dioxide production. Three years ago, Rio Tinto’s facility in Quebec, Canada, began producing scandium oxide.