Cheyenne, Wyoming — On July 11–12, 2025, the United States marked a historic milestone with the opening of the Brook Mine Carbon Ore Rare Earth project, the nation’s first newly constructed rare-earth mine in more than 70 years. Located near Ranchester, Wyoming, the facility represents a strategic shift in America’s approach to critical minerals, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign imports and strengthen domestic supply chains for high-tech, defense, and clean-energy industries.
The inauguration drew federal and state dignitaries, including U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, Representative Harriet Hageman, and former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin also attended the ceremony, reflecting broad bipartisan support for revitalizing the nation’s rare-earth capabilities. Ramaco Resources, the company behind the project, plans to produce essential materials like neodymium, dysprosium, terbium, and praseodymium—rare-earth elements (REEs) crucial for electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and military systems.
The Brook Mine’s approach is distinctive. Unlike traditional hard-rock mining, the facility will extract rare-earths from coal and carbon-rich shale formations, a process referred to as “carbon ore” mining. This method promises to be less environmentally intrusive and could position Wyoming as a leader in low-impact rare-earth production. Ramaco CEO Randall Atkins described the project as a bold step toward rebuilding the nation’s industrial base and mineral independence.
The mine’s development follows over a decade of exploration and regulatory preparation. Initial permit applications date back to 2014, and the project recently passed all required environmental assessments. Ramaco estimates the site contains 1.7 million metric tons of recoverable REE oxides, making it one of the richest such deposits in the continental U.S. The mine is projected to produce over 1,200 short tons of REE concentrate annually, with nearly half consisting of high-value elements such as gallium, scandium, and germanium.
Economic projections for the project are robust. A preliminary economic assessment estimates capital expenditures of about $473 million and annual revenues approaching $378 million by 2029. The report forecasts an after-tax net present value between $900 million and $1.2 billion, with internal rates of return nearing 40 percent. These figures underscore the project’s potential to be both strategically and financially significant.
The opening of the Brook Mine carries broader geopolitical implications. For years, the U.S. has relied heavily on China for rare-earth imports, with China controlling over 90 percent of global processing capacity. This reliance has raised national security concerns and left key industries vulnerable to supply disruptions. By establishing domestic production, the U.S. aims to mitigate those risks and assert greater control over critical mineral supply chains.
Secretary Wright emphasized that the mine is part of a wider federal initiative to strengthen American manufacturing and energy security. Wyoming’s own government has backed the project through a $6.1 million grant from the Energy Matching Funds Program, earmarked for the construction of a domestic processing plant. The state sees this investment as a pathway to job creation and long-term economic diversification.
The local impact is expected to be substantial. The Brook Mine is situated just outside Ranchester, a small town near the Montana border. With coal mining in decline, the rare-earth project offers new employment opportunities and the prospect of revitalizing a region long reliant on extractive industries. Officials anticipate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs as operations ramp up, with first production slated for 2027 and a pilot processing plant set to open in 2026.
Challenges remain, particularly in refining and processing rare-earth elements, a field where China still dominates. Ramaco plans to address this by developing domestic processing capacity and collaborating with researchers to advance carbon ore extraction technologies. Environmental concerns have also been raised by advocacy groups and landowners, particularly around groundwater safety, but Ramaco maintains that extensive reviews and monitoring protocols are in place to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
This latest development comes amid a global race for resources essential to the green transition and digital infrastructure. The Brook Mine could fulfill up to 30 percent of U.S. defense-related REE needs and contribute 3 to 5 percent of national demand for permanent magnets. It joins the Mountain Pass mine in California as one of only two rare-earth mining operations in the country, helping to restore a domestic industry that had all but vanished in the past half-century.
The July opening of the Brook Mine is more than just a regional event—it signals a national recommitment to resource independence, economic resilience, and technological leadership. As the world increasingly turns to electrification and advanced manufacturing, the United States is now one step closer to securing the materials necessary to power that future.
