The World Wants Greenland’s Minerals, but Greenlanders Are Wary

The island has rare elements needed for electric cars and wind turbines. But protesters are blocking one project, signaling that mining companies must tread carefully.

China Cracks Down Harder on Cryptocurrency With New Ban

The clampdown comes as China’s central bank has been testing its own digital currency. The price of Bitcoin dropped on the news.

China Says It Won’t Build New Coal Plants Abroad. What Does That Mean?

Beijing is the undisputed king of coal, but the announcement at the United Nations General Assembly this week was cautiously welcomed by climate experts.

A Century Ago, Miners Fought in a Bloody Uprising. Few Know About It Today.

At the Battle of Blair Mountain, thousands of miners clashed with sheriff’s deputies in the largest insurrection since the Civil War.

Waste From Mine in Angola Kills 12 Downstream in Congo, Minister Says

Toxic metals from Angola’s largest diamond mine spilled into the Kasai River in July, sickening thousands and causing an “environmental catastrophe,” researchers said.

A New Coal Mine for England Is Stirring Hopes and Fears

A mining company’s proposal has largely been embraced locally as an economic stimulus, but climate concerns may shelve the idea.

A New Coal Mine for England Is Stirring Hopes and Fears

A mining company’s proposal has largely been embraced locally as an economic stimulus, but climate concerns may shelve the idea.

Halfway Through 2021, the Hot Stocks Are Old-Fashioned

Pandemic-friendly tech companies touched off the market’s big rally last year. Now it’s being sustained by throwbacks like oil drillers and financial firms.

Why Geology Is Our Destiny

A visit to the renovated hall of gems and minerals at the American Museum of Natural History reveals how the cosmos works in the real world.

Touring Alaska in an R.V.

For a photographer based in Juneau, two Alaskan roads — the Glenn Highway and the Richardson Highway — formed the backbone of a stunning late-spring road trip.

Dispute Over a Coal Industry Pits Poland Against Its Neighbors

The Czech Republic has sued Poland over a lignite coal mine it says violates European environmental laws. Poles say it’s crucial for jobs and the local economy.

In Zimbabwe, Women Dig for Aquamarine

Lots of women work at small-scale mines in Africa, but only one site boasts an all-female team. “At first I thought it was a dream,” one worker said.

The Perilous Hunt for Coconut Crabs on a Remote Polynesian Island

On Makatea, an uplifted coral atoll marred by decades of mining, searching for crabs often requires gambling with the treacherous terrain.