Our Mission
Our Purpose and Process
Barefoote Metals Company helps turn conventional mine waste into valuable metals, cutting disposal costs and creating new revenue streams through secondary metal recovery. Our patent-pending Weathering-Integrated System of Phytomining (WISP™) merge two powerful methods: enhanced rock weathering—where finely ground rock dissolves faster to release metals—and phytomining, the use of specialized “hyperaccumulator” plants that take up large amounts of metal. By placing “metal farms” next to existing mines, we tap into leftover ore materials (known as tailings) and low-grade ores to extract nickel, cobalt, rare earths, and more while remediating contaminated land—and in certain rock types, even capturing carbon.
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The WISP™ system is modular and can be rolled out land parcel by land parcel, allowing mining operations to start small, measure performance, and then scale up as needed. This approach produces Lithosoil™, a remediated soil-like by-product that can revitalize infertile mine sites or be sold as a soil amendment. To ensure safety, our WISP™ system can include robust controls for leachate (water that drains through waste), which include measures like liners, drip irrigation, and closed-loop water recycling, so mobilized metals remain contained and ecosystems stay protected. We license construction and operation of WISP™ technology to mining companies and provide advisory services on setup, enabling them to save on waste management costs while earning steady secondary revenues from the recovered metals. Designed as a modular, industrial-scale system, WISP™ systems can integrate seamlessly with existing facilities (e.g., smelters, roads, water supplies), offering a cost-effective, green solution that supports land restoration, meets regulatory standards, and maximizes total metal recovery.
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We are proud to call the ClimateHaven Incubator home as we advance our technology and scale our commercialization strategy.
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Founder and CEO Quinn Zacharias explains the industrial process behind Barefoote Metals Co.
Industrial process flow chart, including procurement of mine waste, crushing waste, WISP™ phytomining, drying and incinerating plant matter, and further metal refinement.
Eunice Newton Foote: Celebrating a Connecticut Luminary
Why Barefoote?
Eunice Newton Foote, born in Goshen, Connecticut in 1819, was among the first to demonstrate the warming effect of carbon dioxide—a critical insight into what we now recognize as the greenhouse effect. Unfortunately, her work went largely unacknowledged during her lifetime, in part because she was a woman. At Barefoote, we believe in honoring those who roll up their sleeves, conduct experiments, and push the boundaries of technology. We also feel a special connection to Eunice, as we share her Connecticut roots. In tribute to her groundbreaking contribution to science—and in gratitude for our local luminaries—we have incorporated her surname “Foote” into Barefoote Metals.