Purpose of review <p>Acid mine drainage (AMD), characterized by low pH and high concentrations of dissolved metals, poses serious environmental threats but also offers opportunities for metal resource recovery. However, most existing reviews primarily emphasize prevention and treatment methods, often overlooking the potential for selective recovery and valorization of valuable metals. This review aims to systematically summarize and compare current technologies for the selective recovery and resource utilization of key metals, iron, manganese, and copper, from AMD, emphasizing their mechanisms, efficiencies, and interrelations with metal physicochemical properties.</p> Recent findings <p>Recent studies have explored various technologies for the selective separation of heavy metals from AMD, including neutralization precipitation, adsorption, electrochemical processes, membrane separation, and biological treatments. The efficiency and selectivity of these technologies largely depend on metal-specific properties such as ionic radius, solubility product, charge density, and Eh–pH stability. Integrated or sequential treatment systems are increasingly adopted to enhance metal-specific selectivity. Recovered metals have been successfully reused in synthesizing adsorbents and catalysts or as secondary mineral resources in metallurgical operations. Moreover, techno-economic and life-cycle analyses indicate that resource-oriented approaches can simultaneously reduce treatment costs, sludge generation, and environmental impacts.</p> Summary <p>This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of current advances in selective metal recovery from AMD, establishing clear links between metal properties, removal mechanisms, and process efficiencies. It also underscores the potential of integrating selective recovery technologies with industrial applications. Future research should focus on smart process integration, the development of low-cost and renewable materials, and the use of digital optimization tools to promote scalable, economically feasible, and sustainable AMD management aligned with circular economy principles.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>