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The American Rare Earths Mine You Haven’t Heard Of–Yet
Tucked away in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming lies a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the global supply chain of rare earth elements. Ramaco Resources, a publicly traded company, has broken ground on its new mine in Sheridan, Wyoming, which is set to become one of the largest and most advanced coal mines in the United States.
While many may be familiar with MP Materials’ California-based operation, this new development in Wyoming could provide an alternative source for these critical minerals. According to CEO Randy Atkins, the Brook Mine’s unique geology has revealed rare earth concentrations as high as 10,000 parts per million, a staggering find considering the average concentration is around 1 part per million.
Atkins emphasized that Ramaco Resources does not require government financing or support to expand its operations, unlike their competitor MP Materials. However, he does acknowledge the importance of establishing a national strategic reserve of rare earths and critical minerals in order to protect U.S. supply chains from the whims of China’s state-controlled monopolies.
With scientists at MIT working alongside Ramaco Resources, they are exploring ways to selectively adsorb these rare earths from coal slurry. This breakthrough could potentially disrupt the industry and allow for more efficient extraction processes.
The implications of this discovery are far-reaching and have significant economic potential.
Source: www.forbes.com
