U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright will join Wyoming's congressional delegation and Gov. Mark Gordon on July 11 for the groundbreaking of what Ramaco Resources believes is the largest “unconventional” rare earth deposit discovered in the U.S., located at the company's Brook Mine in Ranchester.
The visit comes after Wright expressed enthusiasm for the project during a June 18 Senate committee hearing. When Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, mentioned the upcoming event, Wright responded: "I'll be in your great state on July 11 for the opening of a new coal mine that's combined with rare earth element mining right there. And that to me is incredibly exciting."
Ramaco describes the opening as a pivotal moment in the nation's effort to challenge China's dominance in critical minerals essential for defense systems, semiconductors and clean energy technologies.
"China may now be dominating these critical materials. But this will be America's rare earth mine," said Randall W. Atkins, Ramaco's chairman and CEO, in a July 1 letter to shareholders announcing the groundbreaking event.
Atkins told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that mining operations are already underway at the Brook Mine.
Atkins described the current work — as seen in a timelapse video online — like this:
"What you're looking at is the first box cut of the Brook Mine, where we're down to the Monarch seam of coal.
“And that's where we will be taking large scale samples of ore, which is essentially coal at the over and under burden to the coal, which we'll use to begin our testing and our new pilot plant, which will be starting up, you know, probably late this summer or early fall."
Huge Potential
The Brook Mine contains what Ramaco believes is the largest unconventional rare earth deposit discovered to date in the United States.
Atkins explained what makes the deposit unconventional.
"Virtually all rare earths are found in hard rock minerals, which is the conventional type of deposit that they're found in,” he said. “Once you've mined them, you have to essentially break them up, crush them, grind them, in order to process them. And the problem with both the mining as well as the processing is that they have high levels of radioactive tailings."
In contrast, he said, "Our coal is so soft that you can hold it in your hand, and it just starts to crumble.”
This softer material eliminates many of the processing challenges that force conventional rare earth mining to rely on Chinese facilities.
The deposit holds an estimated 1.7 million tons of rare earths and critical mineral oxides.
The deposit contains 40% primary magnetic rare earths including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, along with critical minerals gallium, scandium, and germanium needed for permanent magnet manufacturing, semiconductors, and defense applications.
Economic Assessment
Ramaco just released a preliminary economic assessment conducted by Fluor Corp. that states the mine is expected to produce about 1,240 tons of rare earth and critical mineral oxides annually at steady state, generating an estimated $378 million in annual revenue by 2029.
The operation will focus on high-value materials including neodymium-praseodymium, gallium, scandium, dysprosium, germanium and terbium.
Based on current production projections, Ramaco says the Brook Mine could supply 3% to 5% of total U.S. permanent magnet demand and more than 30% of defense applications, which represent an estimated 10% of total U.S. magnet metal demand.
The high-profile attendance at the July 11 groundbreaking ceremony underscores the project's national significance.
Beyond Wright and Wyoming's governor, the event will feature U.S. Rep.Harriet Hageman and former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who now sits on Ramaco's board.
Wyoming's political leaders have embraced the mine as validation of the state's expanding role in America's energy security strategy.
In a prepared statement, Barrasso framed the development in terms of national defense: "Mining our own minerals will help safely and securely power the advanced technologies driving our economy and national defense. And once again, Wyoming's energy resources are leading the way."
Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, positioned the state as an energy innovator rather than follower.
"Wyoming does not follow energy trends, it creates them,” she said in response to the mine opening. “Ramaco's decision to open the first rare earths mine in decades marks a new chapter in Wyoming's rich mining heritage and will produce resources needed to achieve energy independence and grow our economy.
“Wyoming continues to fuel American progress while creating high-paying jobs for our communities, and I thank Ramaco for investing in Wyoming."
Gordon highlighted state support for the critical minerals sector.
"Wyoming continues to be a leader in energy innovation, including the expansion of our critical mineral industries,” he said. “With support from the Energy Matching Funds Program, we are celebrating the exciting potential for Wyoming coal and rare earth minerals, along with their role in the expansion of our state's energy economy."
Processing Advantage
Ramaco claims it has developed proprietary processes for the unique ore type.
The company secured a $6.1 million grant from the Wyoming Energy Authority for pilot facility development, with construction beginning before the end of the year.
The pilot plant will conduct six months of testing, then there are plans for a full commercial plant.
The commercial facility is expected to be operational by 2027, according to Ramaco. The project benefits from an estimated 42-year mine life based on testing, reported the company.
Ramaco controls 16,000 acres total and plans expanded exploration drilling this fall, potentially increasing the deposit's scale.
"This deposit was first discovered by the Department of Energy's national laboratories under the first Trump Administration," Atkins noted. "As I said at the outset, this will be America's mine … hopefully for many decades to come."
David Madison can be reached at david@cowboystatedaily.com.
