{"id":388948,"date":"2025-07-15T11:09:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T09:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=388948"},"modified":"2025-07-15T11:10:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T09:10:00","slug":"first-u-s-rare-earth-mine-in-70-years-opens-in-wyoming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=388948","title":{"rendered":"First U.S. Rare Earth Mine In 70 Years Opens In Wyoming"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Charles Rotter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2025\/07\/11\/first-u-s-rare-earth-mine-in-70-years-opens-in-wyoming\/<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On July 11, 2025, Wyoming marked a historic milestone with the ceremonial opening of the Brook Mine near Ranchester\u2014the first rare earth element (REE) mine in the United States in 70 years, and the first new coal mine in the state in nearly five decades. The event, attended by federal and state officials as well as local residents, underscores Wyoming\u2019s growing role in the supply of critical minerals for modern technology and energy systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The significance of this occasion was not lost on attendees. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright emphasized the pervasiveness of rare earth elements in daily life, stating,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cAnything in your life that has a button\u2026 all of those things have rare earth elements playing a critical role.\u201d

https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2025\/07\/11\/first-u-s-rare-earth-mine-in-70-years-opens-in-wyoming\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

These elements are crucial for producing magnets, batteries, and electronics found in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and military equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governor Mark Gordon praised the effort and what it represents for Wyoming\u2019s economic future, declaring, \u201cThis is a new era for Wyoming and the nation.\u201d U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, along with Representative Harriet Hageman, also attended the opening, as did former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, now a board member of Ramaco Resources, the company behind the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Brook Mine stands out for its unique geology. The rare earths here are not found in traditional hard rock but are embedded in soft coal seams, described as material that<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cyou can hold it in your hand, and it just starts to crumble.\u201d

https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2025\/07\/11\/first-u-s-rare-earth-mine-in-70-years-opens-in-wyoming\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This means the mine is expected to avoid the radioactive tailings associated with most hard rock rare earth operations, a detail highlighted by both officials and Ramaco executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estimates suggest that the Brook deposit contains about 1.7 million tons of rare earth oxides, positioning Wyoming as a potential key domestic source for these strategically vital materials. Mining has already begun in the Monarch coal seam, with Ramaco\u2019s CEO announcing that a pilot plant for processing rare earth elements should be operational \u201clate this summer or early fall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The opening comes at a time when the United States is seeking to reduce dependence on foreign sources\u2014especially China, which currently refines more than 80 percent of global rare earths. As Secretary Wright put it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cFor over 70 years, the United States has relied almost entirely on foreign sources\u2026 That dependence is vulnerability.\u201d

https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2025\/07\/11\/first-u-s-rare-earth-mine-in-70-years-opens-in-wyoming\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Leaders at the event repeatedly framed the project as critical to both national security and energy independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economic expectations are running high. Officials spoke of new high-wage jobs, rural prosperity, and the potential for Wyoming to lead the nation in rare earth production. Ramaco has already received grants and recognition from both federal and state authorities, highlighting broad support for the project\u2019s ambitions. The ceremony was marked by speeches, a tour of the site, and an optimistic vision for Wyoming\u2019s economic and technological future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the words of Gov. Gordon,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThis is the dawn of a new era in American energy and national security.\u201d

https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2025\/07\/11\/first-u-s-rare-earth-mine-in-70-years-opens-in-wyoming\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The project\u2019s backers hope the Brook Mine will inspire further investment and innovation in the domestic rare earth supply chain\u2014ensuring that Wyoming, and the nation, are at the forefront of the next wave of technological advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the first trucks rolled away with freshly mined material, the sense of history was palpable. The Brook Mine\u2019s opening not only reestablishes Wyoming\u2019s reputation as a mining leader but positions it at the cutting edge of American resource development. For supporters and onlookers alike, this day represented a proud moment in the ongoing story of American ingenuity and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wyoming marked a historic milestone with the ceremonial opening of the Brook Mine near Ranchester\u2014the first rare earth element (REE) mine in the United States in 70 years, and the first new coal mine in the state in nearly five decades. The event, attended by federal and state officials as well as local residents, underscores Wyoming\u2019s growing role in the supply of critical minerals for modern technology and energy systems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":388954,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691836603,691818931,691836602,691836601,691833964,691819862,691824835],"class_list":{"0":"post-388948","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-brook-mine","9":"tag-critical-minerals","10":"tag-ramaco","11":"tag-rare-earth-element-ree-mine","12":"tag-u-s-energy-secretary-chris-wright","13":"tag-wyoming","14":"tag-wyoming-governor-mark-gordon","16":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-431.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1Dbm","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":410285,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=410285","url_meta":{"origin":388948,"position":0},"title":"China has announced stricter export controls on rare earth elements","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"26\/10\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"China has repeatedly used these minerals as a bargaining chip in trade discussions as it controls the majority of the global rare-earth supply chain.","rel":"","context":"In \"aircraft engines\"","block_context":{"text":"aircraft engines","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=aircraft-engines"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQNevgy7QnKlVIAA6Q5bufpj7rCyZwPBjELpNvv_DdbhsBjWGaMB2IbMFfHG6p787_qEumyZwNmsG3AaqSBjRO4VNOJxkeOwOL-iVCLdZSo8WK0oTpHAyamSrm2GtbKO-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C757&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQNevgy7QnKlVIAA6Q5bufpj7rCyZwPBjELpNvv_DdbhsBjWGaMB2IbMFfHG6p787_qEumyZwNmsG3AaqSBjRO4VNOJxkeOwOL-iVCLdZSo8WK0oTpHAyamSrm2GtbKO-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C757&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQNevgy7QnKlVIAA6Q5bufpj7rCyZwPBjELpNvv_DdbhsBjWGaMB2IbMFfHG6p787_qEumyZwNmsG3AaqSBjRO4VNOJxkeOwOL-iVCLdZSo8WK0oTpHAyamSrm2GtbKO-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C757&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQNevgy7QnKlVIAA6Q5bufpj7rCyZwPBjELpNvv_DdbhsBjWGaMB2IbMFfHG6p787_qEumyZwNmsG3AaqSBjRO4VNOJxkeOwOL-iVCLdZSo8WK0oTpHAyamSrm2GtbKO-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C757&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQNevgy7QnKlVIAA6Q5bufpj7rCyZwPBjELpNvv_DdbhsBjWGaMB2IbMFfHG6p787_qEumyZwNmsG3AaqSBjRO4VNOJxkeOwOL-iVCLdZSo8WK0oTpHAyamSrm2GtbKO-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C757&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":394021,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=394021","url_meta":{"origin":388948,"position":1},"title":"What\u2019s so rare about rare earth minerals?","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"09\/08\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Energy Secretary Chris Wright went to Wyoming last week to cut the ribbon on the first new rare earth mine in the U.S. since the 1950s. Telling the assembled guests and reporters that the \u201cBrook Mine\u201d is critical to breaking China\u2019s \u201cstranglehold on rare earth processing,\u201d he hinted that it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"China\"","block_context":{"text":"China","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=china"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0biden-should-let-us-mine-the-rare-earths-his-energy-plans-depend-on-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C722&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0biden-should-let-us-mine-the-rare-earths-his-energy-plans-depend-on-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C722&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0biden-should-let-us-mine-the-rare-earths-his-energy-plans-depend-on-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C722&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0biden-should-let-us-mine-the-rare-earths-his-energy-plans-depend-on-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C722&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0biden-should-let-us-mine-the-rare-earths-his-energy-plans-depend-on-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C722&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":411698,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=411698","url_meta":{"origin":388948,"position":2},"title":"Rare earth minerals, etc. from China \u2026 or the USA?","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/11\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Yet that\u2019s essentially how America has handled the metals and minerals that are vital to our defense, medical, communication, automotive, aerospace, lasers, computer\/AI\/data centers, and every other sector of our economy. 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Gordon was standing tall in the saddle when he accepted an invitation to debate publicly his so-called carbon-negative policy in a state heavily engaged in the production of fossil fuels. 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