Brimstone and its one-stop process for making cleaner cement and critical minerals

Brimstone is a US-based startup founded in 2019 and headquartered in Oakland, California, that tackles two major industrial challenges simultaneously: reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cement production and increasing the domestic supply of critical minerals.

The company’s process uses silicate rocks instead of traditional limestone to produce cement, which cuts carbon dioxide emissions by about 60% compared to conventional methods.

This is significant because cement manufacturing is responsible for roughly 8% of global carbon dioxide pollution.

Additionally, Brimstone’s technology can extract valuable materials like smelter-grade alumina (a key ingredient for aluminum production), steel, magnesium, and titanium from the same silicate rocks, creating a one-stop refining process.

This dual approach allows Brimstone to adapt its messaging based on the political climate, emphasizing emissions reduction during climate-focused administrations or domestic mineral production during more protectionist periods.