Energy secretary visits first functioning U.S. rare earth mine for decades

Energy Secretary Chris Wright planned to visit the Ramaco Brook Mine on Friday, the first rare minerals mine to open in the United States for over 70 years, the Department of Energy said Friday. The mine may also be the largest unconventional rare earth deposit in the nation, the statement added. The opening represents a pivotal milestone in reclaiming U.S. leadership in critical minerals, the statement continued. The reindustrialization of America’s coal and critical minerals industry is how President Donald Trump’s vision of securing national energy can be achieved, Wright said in a previous statement on the visit.

Both national and state leaders are expected at Friday’s ribbon cutting for the Brook Mine Carbon Ore Rare Earth project, including Wyoming U.S. Republican Congress members Sen. Cynthia Lummis, Sen. John Barrasso, and Rep. Harriet Hageman. The mine contains about 1.7 million tons of rare earth oxides, the Department of Energy said Wednesday.

What kind of “rare earth” is being mined? Officials expect the mine to supply critical minerals used in advanced military technology, medical devices, and batteries, according to Ramaco. Critical minerals like scandium, germanium, and gallium make up about 17% of the deposit, according to a May report from the company. About 40% of the mine’s production will include purified oxides of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, gallium, germanium, terbium, and scandium, the report continued.

Neodymium and praseodymium are commonly used to make high-powered magnets, and dysprosium is used to make control rods for nuclear reactors. Germanium and gallium are used when making semiconductors. Gallium is also commonly used to create LED light bulbs, similar to how terbium is used to make fluorescent lamps and color TV screens. Scandium serves as a strengthening agent, commonly used to reinforce bike frames, sporting equipment, and military aircraft.

Dig deeper: Read Travis K. Kircher’s previous report for more on Trump’s goal to grow the U.S. mining and energy industry.