Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 07/11/2025 10:23:35 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
In a groundbreaking moment for the American mining industry, the Fluor Corporation has confirmed the feasibility of large rare earth element deposits at Ramaco Resources’ Brook Mine in Wyoming.
This announcement marks a significant step towards redefining the United States’ position in the critical minerals market. The confirmation by Fluor not only solidifies the economic potential of the Brook Mine but also positions Ramaco Resources as a key player in reducing the country’s dependency on foreign sources of rare earth elements.
Ramaco Resources, initially known for its operations as a metallurgical coal miner, was thrust into the spotlight with this unexpected discovery. The company, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, had been primarily focused on coal mining in Appalachia. The Brook Mine project represents a strategic pivot for Ramaco, leveraging its mining expertise to tap into the lucrative rare earth element market.
According to the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) conducted by Fluor Corporation, the rare earth deposits at Brook Mine are not only abundant but also economically viable. The PEA outlines a robust financial outlook, with a net present value (NPV) of $1.197 billion at an 8% discount rate and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 38% pre-tax. The report projects that the mine will produce 1,242 tons annually of oxides, including high-value minerals such as dysprosium, neodymium, and scandium, which are critical to various advanced technologies. Specifically, dysprosium and neodymium have unusual magnetic properties that make them perfect for high-performance magnets in electric vehicles and various electronics, while scandium’s most important applications involve its use as an alloy for aluminum.
The economic significance of these discoveries cannot be overstated. Rare earth elements are integral to modern technology, playing a crucial role in the manufacturing of everything from electric vehicles and wind turbines to sophisticated military systems.
Historically, the United States has relied heavily on imports, particularly from China, to meet its demand for these minerals. The Brook Mine’s potential to support 3-5% of the U.S.’s total permanent magnet demand is a crucial development in shifting the nation’s supply chain dynamics.
Aside from economic viability, the strategic implications are profound. Rare earth elements have long been a strategic lever for China, which controls roughly 85% of global production. China’s dominance in the market has allowed it to wield significant influence, at times restricting exports as a tool in trade negotiations. This dependency has underscored the urgency for the U.S. to establish a secure, domestic supply of these critical materials.
Ramaco’s leadership has recognized the strategic and national security dimensions of their project. Randall Atkins, the Chairman and CEO of Ramaco Resources, emphasized the importance of the Brook Mine discovery not only for the company but also for the nation. With plans to develop processing facilities capable of handling these rare earth elements domestically, Ramaco aims to foster a vertically integrated supply chain, addressing both extraction and processing within the United States.
The transition from a coal-centric operation to a rare earth element powerhouse reflects broader shifts in the global energy landscape. As the demand for cleaner, sustainable energy solutions grows, the need for rare earth elements will only increase. The Brook Mine discovery positions Ramaco at the forefront of this evolution, offering significant economic rewards while contributing to national security.
As Ramaco Resources continues to develop the Brook Mine, the focus will be on optimizing extraction processes and scaling up operations to meet projected demand. The backing from Fluor Corporation, an internationally renowned engineering firm, provides additional credibility and support to Ramaco’s ambitious plans.
The discovery and subsequent validation of rare earth elements at the Brook Mine is a landmark event for Ramaco Resources and American industry at large. By establishing a domestic supply chain for these essential materials, the United States not only reduces its reliance on foreign sources but also strengthens its strategic autonomy.
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Having the ore isn’t the problem.
Refining it is the problem, because it generates so much toxic waste.
That’s why China does most of the refining, because they don’t worry about silly things like generating toxic waste.
U.S. Strengthens Its Rare Earth Supply Chain With New Processing Plant
oilprice.com ^ | 6/11/2020
Posted on 6/14/2020, 10:00:38 PM by bitt
USA Rare Earth, the funding and development partner of the Round Top heavy rare earth project and Texas Mineral Resources announced Thursday that its rare earths pilot plant processing facility in Wheat Ridge, Colorado has received the required permits and officially opened.
Once fully commissioned, the plant will be focused on group separation of rare earths into heavy (dysprosium, terbium), middle, and light (neodymium, praseodymium) rare earths (REE’s) and will be the first facility to separate the full range of rare earth elements in the US since 1999.
USA Rare Earth’s pilot plant is the second link in a 100% US-based rare earth oxide supply chain, drawing on feedstock from its Round Top deposit.
The final phase of the pilot work will be the further separation of high-purity individual REE compounds. The pilot plant will also be focused on the recovery of non-REEs focusing on lithium, uranium, beryllium, gallium, zirconium, hafnium, and aluminum, all of which are on the US Government Critical Minerals List.
Confirming the recovery of these critical non-REEs will support upgrading the measured and indicated resources to proven and probable reserves (with no in-fill drilling required), and completion of the Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) for the Round Top project, the company said.
(Excerpt) Read more at oilprice.com ...
Ramaco Resources (METC) stock was up approx $4.00 Thursday. It closed basically unchanged on Friday but went up over $2 in after-hours trading at $18.80. We bought shares a couple years ago when news of the mine started making headlines. It’s nice to see the price run-up.
How long before some bammie appointed judge-thing declarers it off limits due to the just-discovered (therefore highly endangered) african-american homosexual polka-doted sand flea?
.
[Massive rare earths elements deposit confirmed in Wyoming:]
Get ready.
There's always a movie.
"This weekend, I'm off to Appalachia to study regional colloquialisms among the coal mining community."
~ Dr. Poole
Under the guise of environmental safety and protection these criminal politicians and thier donors have been trolling the world and purchasing them with thier names and bank accounts on it
This is very good news. Another step forward to terminate our dependence on China. I’ve also read that there is supposed to be a large deposit of lithium in the Salton Sea area.
Exactly... Like... Where are they going to find enough child laborer’s to dig this stuff up with? Doh!
Mining in China is so much easier.
“The Brook Mine’s potential to support 3-5% of the U.S.’s total permanent magnet demand is a crucial development in shifting the nation’s supply chain dynamics.”
At 3% to 5%, I guess it’s better than nothing but the question is how far will the Democrat judges allow it proceed.
We can develop safe ways to refine them - they are too critical for us to rely on others for them.
I hope this was found in a very remote area or they will need a flood or fires to get people out of the way./s
“That’s why China does most of the refining, because they don’t worry about silly things like generating toxic waste.”
************
Nor reclamation costs either I would imagine.
I just want to celebrate.
Yeah Yeah
We need to keep liberals out of Wyoming at all costs or they’ll be selling this to the Red Chinese.
It typically takes about 15 years from discovery to an operaing mine. If they’re at the PEA stage, a mine is 10 years away at least. That’s before lawsuits and idiot judges are considered. So it’s probably 20 years away if it ever happens.
“Having the ore isn’t the problem.
Refining it is the problem, because it generates so much toxic waste.
That’s why China does most of the refining, because they don’t worry about silly things like generating toxic waste.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Indeed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.