Wyoming's Brook Mine Unveils 1.7 Million Tons of Rare Earth Oxides, Marking U.S. Return to Domestic Production After 70 Years

RANCHESTER, Wyoming – The United States officially opened its first new rare earth mine in over 70 years on July 11, 2025, with a groundbreaking ceremony at Ramaco Resources, Inc.'s Brook Mine. Located near the Bighorn Mountains, the project is poised to provide a critical domestic supply of rare earth elements essential for advanced technologies. As highlighted by Rapid Response 47 on social media, "The U.S. is opening its first Rare Earth mine in more than 70 years— providing a critical supply of six of the seventeen Rare Earth elements that are used in everything from war planes to semiconductors to our smartphones."

The Brook Mine, also marking Wyoming's first new coal mine in over five decades, uniquely extracts rare earth elements (REEs) directly from coal deposits. Ramaco Resources CEO Randy Atkins noted that the mine contains an estimated 1.7 million tons of rare earth oxides, making it a significant domestic resource. Unlike traditional hard-rock REE mining, the coal-based extraction at Brook Mine is described as less complex and non-radioactive, offering a distinct advantage in processing.

This strategic development aims to reduce the U.S.'s heavy reliance on foreign sources, particularly China, which currently dominates approximately 90% of the global rare earth market. The mine is expected to supply critical minerals such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, alongside gallium, scandium, and germanium. These elements are vital for a wide array of applications, including permanent magnets in electric vehicles and wind turbines, and high-tech components in defense systems. Atkins indicated the project could fulfill 3-5% of U.S. permanent magnet demands and over 30% of the REEs required for defense applications.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has actively supported the initiative, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright attending the ceremony and emphasizing the project's importance for national security and energy independence. Ramaco has received a $6.1 million grant from the Wyoming Energy Authority to develop a pilot processing facility. While samples are anticipated to be sold within a year, full commercial operation is projected to be a few years away, with plans to process the minerals domestically to ensure a secure supply chain.