CHARACTERIZATION OF COAL MINE DRAINAGE WASTES TO INFORM THE EXTRACTION POTENTIAL OF CRITICAL METALS THIS PROJECT WILL STUDY GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COAL ACID MINE DRAINAGE (AMD) FLUIDS AND TREATMENT SOLIDS AT SITES THAT ARE KNOWN TO BE ENRICHED IN CRITICAL METALS SUCH AS RARE EARTH ELEMENTS (REE), COBALT (CO), AND OTHER METALS. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1) DELINEATE THE CHEMICAL SPECIATION AND MINERAL PHASES ASSOCIATIONS OF THESE CRITICAL METALS IN ACID MINE DRAINAGE (AMD) WASTES; AND 2) EVALUATE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF EXTRACTION PROCESSES.