July 11 EST: The Brook Mine in northern Wyoming, once dormant and slated for traditional coal extraction, is now positioning itself at the center of a national push to wrest control of the rare earth element (REE) supply chain from China. With a high-profile groundbreaking this week and bipartisan backing in tow, the long-idle site is being revived by Ramaco Resources, Inc. to extract critical minerals vital to the defense, energy, and tech sectors.
A Historic Pivot from Coal to Critical Minerals
When Ramaco acquired the Brook Mine near Ranchester back in 2011, the plan was straightforward: produce thermal coal. But that plan began to shift after a series of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) studies in the early 2020s revealed that the coal seams and adjacent clays held rich deposits of rare earths—elements like neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and military guidance systems.
As it turns out, those findings altered the mine’s future. According to the Associated Press, the Brook Mine is now expected to become the first new U.S. facility in decades explicitly developed to extract and process REEs domestically.
“We would intend to mine it here in Wyoming, process it here in Wyoming and sell it to domestic customers including the government,” Ramaco CEO Randall Atkins told reporters this week.
$6.1 Million Boost and Federal Eyes on the Prize
Wyoming’s state government has already thrown its weight behind the project, issuing a $6.1 million grant to help build a pilot rare earth processing facility. The site is also drawing federal interest, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright and former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin attending the July 9 groundbreaking. Manchin, who recently joined Ramaco’s board, called the project a “model for reshoring critical minerals.”
The broader context is clear: China currently controls about 90% of the global REE supply, leaving the U.S. strategically exposed. Federal and state leaders see the Brook Mine as a possible wedge to start reversing that.
According to Axios, the REEs in Brook’s coal seams could eventually meet 3–5% of domestic demand for so-called “permanent magnet” rare earths—a key input for electric motors and missile guidance systems alike.
High Hopes and High Stakes
Ramaco is eyeing sample mining within a year, with full commercial production likely several years off. The entire development could cost as much as $500 million, though Ramaco projects a break-even point within five years if all goes according to plan.
Investors appear to like what they see so far. Ramaco stock surged about 31% following a Fluor Corp. feasibility study confirming the economic viability of extracting REEs from the Brook site.
The pivot is also timely, aligning with a wider U.S. industrial policy effort. Alongside Ramaco’s ambitions, MP Materials—another domestic rare earth miner—is already backed by Pentagon investments aimed at reducing reliance on overseas supply chains.
Environmental Hurdles and Local Questions
Still, not everyone is sold. As the AP reports, earlier versions of the Brook Mine project were delayed by local landowners concerned about groundwater depletion and other environmental impacts. Those concerns haven’t disappeared, even if the mine’s mission has shifted.
Regulatory scrutiny will remain tight as the company begins pilot operations and seeks further federal funding. Environmental compliance and resource management—especially water usage—are expected to be major points of oversight.
A Microcosm of America’s Strategic Reboot
The Brook Mine’s transformation is more than a story about geology or mining. It’s about how the U.S. plans to compete in a world where materials science and geopolitics are increasingly intertwined.
Once a symbol of a fading fossil fuel era, the site is now a test case for whether critical mineral extraction can be done responsibly, profitably, and domestically. If successful, it could help carve out a small but strategically crucial share of the REE market for U.S. producers.
For now, Ramaco is focused on building its pilot facility and securing additional funding. But the eyes of federal agencies, investors, and energy strategists will be on Wyoming as the first sample shipments emerge sometime next year.
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A Wall Street veteran turned investigative journalist, Marcus brings over two decades of financial insight into boardrooms, IPOs, corporate chess games, and economic undercurrents. Known for asking uncomfortable questions in comfortable suits.
