New Report Positions Mississippi for Critical Minerals Growth

JACKSON, Miss. - The Mississippi Development Authority today released a report, 2026 Mississippi Natural Resources Summit: Critical Minerals in the State, outlining a strategy to position Mississippi as a domestic producer of critical minerals. The report serves as the official record of the 2026 Mississippi Natural Resources Summit and provides a scientific and operational framework to support development of a new critical minerals industry centered specifically on lithium-rich brines.

Central to this immediate opportunity is the Smackover Formation, a geologic unit deep beneath southern Mississippi. Historical data indicate these brines contain lithium concentrations as high as 340+ milligrams per liter, exceeding the 200 milligrams per liter threshold generally considered commercially viable. By using direct lithium extraction technology, Mississippi can repurpose existing oilfield infrastructure to support domestic production of critical minerals.

The report also highlights the role of the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute at The University of Mississippi. As the state's research and development engine for mineral resources, the institute is integrating high-performance computing and artificial intelligence to create digital models of the subsurface, reducing drilling risks for private-sector partners.

The report identifies five key pillars necessary to advance this opportunity: legal certainty, operational capability, fiscal strategy, industrial ecology and social license. It also recommends evaluating statutory and regulatory policies that could provide the legal framework needed to attract large-scale global investment to the state.

Mississippi's initiative aligns with the Trump administration's Energy Dominance agenda, including efforts to strengthen domestic production of critical minerals and secure domestic supply chains.

The full report is available here.

QUOTES

"Critical minerals are essential to America's economic strength, energy independence, and national security. This report gives Mississippi the framework to build out a new critical minerals industry in our state, and it aligns with the Trump administration's Energy Dominance agenda. Mississippi is once again proving to the world that we're not just attracting the industries of the future, we're building them. I'm excited about the opportunities this new industry can create for Mississippi and America." - Gov. Tate Reeves

"Mississippi has everything it takes to compete and lead in one of the most strategically important industries in the world. We have the right geology under our feet and the expertise and infrastructure in place to support the critical minerals that power our economy and safeguard our nation. This report makes clear that Mississippi can help secure America's domestic supply chain while creating a powerful new engine for economic growth." - MDA Executive Director Bill Cork

"Evaluation of the Smackover Formation indicates that Mississippi contains one of the most prospective critical mineral-rich brine systems in the world - including lithium, boron, magnesium, and potassium. Our office is ready to help industry explore. We can leverage the state's $13.5 billion (in replacement costs) subsurface archive of cores and samples to help ensure Mississippi leads this new frontier in energy development." - Dr. David T. Dockery III, State Geologist and Director, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality - Office of Geology

"Mississippi's natural resources represent a significant opportunity for communities across the state, but realizing that opportunity begins with sound science. Through this partnership, University of Mississippi researchers will put their expertise to work for the people of Mississippi while strengthening the nation's supply of critical minerals. Mississippi can become a leader in an increasingly important sector of the American economy, and that work begins here." - John C. Higginbotham, Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development, University of Mississippi

"Our vision is to help transform Mississippi into a premier test bed for critical mineral innovation. By training the next generation of geologists and using advanced geomodeling, we can bridge the gap between raw geological data and industrial-scale production. This report provides a framework for the institute and the state to expand our capabilities and deliver the science that helps de-risk multimillion-dollar investments." - Dr. Leonardo Macelloni, Director, The University of Mississippi - Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute