US Rare Earth Plan 7-28-25

The U.S. has a comprehensive plan to reduce its reliance on foreign nations for rare earth elements, particularly China, and to build a secure domestic supply chain. This plan involves various government initiatives, investments, and collaborations with private companies to develop domestic mining, processing, and manufacturing capabilities.  Key aspects of the U.S. plan include: 

Government funding and support: The U.S. government has allocated significant funds through agencies like the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to support domestic rare earth projects and research. 

Mining and processing: Efforts are underway to develop new mines and processing facilities, including a new mine in Wyoming and a processing plant in Texas. 

Vertical integration: The plan aims to establish a vertically integrated supply chain, meaning that the U.S. will be able to extract, process, and manufacture rare earth products domestically. 

Diversification of supply: The U.S. is also working with allies like Australia to diversify its rare earth supply and reduce dependence on China. 

Focus on national security: A major driver of the plan is to enhance national security by ensuring a reliable supply of rare earth elements for critical defense applications. 

Environmental considerations: The plan includes initiatives to develop more environmentally friendly mining and processing methods, such as extracting rare earths from coal ash. 

Public-private partnerships: The U.S. is collaborating with private companies like MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earths to achieve its goals. 

Recent developments:

·       The Department of Defense awarded MP Materials a contract to build a facility for processing heavy rare earth elements. 

·       MP Materials also began construction on a rare earth magnetics factory in Texas. 

·       Lynas Rare Earths is planning to build a processing plant in Texas. 

·       The U.S. government is investing in research and development of new technologies for rare earth extraction and processing. 

·       A new mine in Wyoming is set to open, which will be the first new rare earth mine in the U.S. in decades. 

The U.S. is actively working to secure its rare earth supply chain, recognizing the strategic importance of these materials for its economy and national security. 

does the us have a rare earth plan

Yes, the United States has a significant and actively developing rare earth plan, driven by concerns over its reliance on foreign sources, particularly China, for these critical materials

. This plan aims to build a domestic, vertically integrated supply chain, from mining and processing to the manufacturing of finished products like magnets. 

Here are the key components and initiatives of the US rare earth plan:

·       Executive Orders and Federal Strategy:

o   Executive Orders, such as the one signed in 2017 and another in January 2025, have established the goal of securing and reliable supplies of critical minerals and reducing US reliance on imports.

o   A 2019 federal strategy outlined 24 goals and 61 recommendations for strengthening the supply chain, including advancing research and development, improving access to resources, enhancing international cooperation, and developing a skilled workforce.

·       National Defense Focus:

o   Rare earths are crucial for various defense applications like fighter jets, submarines, missiles, and radar systems, making a secure supply a national security imperative.

o   The Department of Defense (DoD) has invoked the Defense Production Act to fund private sector efforts in building domestic rare earth production capabilities.

o   The DoD is actively investing in establishing a "mine-to-magnet" supply chain within the US, providing financial support and purchasing commitments to American companies in the sector.

·       Investment and Development:

o   The US government has been investing substantial funds to increase domestic rare earth element separation capacity and rare earth magnet manufacturing.

o   This includes grants, contracts, and potentially low-cost loans to companies involved in mining, processing, and refining rare earths.

o   Funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are being used to develop extraction and separation technologies from unconventional sources like coal ash and acid mine drainage.

·       Resource Identification and Mapping:

o   The US Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting the Earth Mapping Resource Initiative (Earth MRI) to locate and map new rare earth deposits across the country.

o   This initiative employs techniques like geophysics, lidar, hyperspectral imaging, and ground-based surveys to identify potential resources.

·       Technological Innovation:

o   Research is underway to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly methods for extracting and separating rare earths, as well as finding substitutes and improving recycling processes.

o   Examples include exploring biomining techniques using microbes and developing iron nitride-based magnets as an alternative to rare-earth magnets.

·       International Cooperation:

o   The US is also engaging in international efforts like the Energy Resource Governance Initiative to diversify the global supply chain of rare earth elements away from China. 

Challenges and Outlook:

Despite significant progress and investment, the US rare earth plan faces challenges, including:

·       High Capital Costs: Developing new mines and processing facilities requires substantial investment, and the relatively low market prices for rare earth oxides can make projects less attractive to investors.

·       Technical Challenges: Rare earth extraction and refining can be complex, and building technical expertise and infrastructure takes time.

·       Regulatory Hurdles: Permitting processes and environmental regulations can be time-consuming and costly.

·       Workforce Development: Attracting and training a skilled workforce for the mining and processing industry is essential. 

Despite these challenges, the US government's continued focus on this area suggests a strong commitment to establishing a resilient and independent domestic rare earth supply chain for both economic and national security reasons.

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What Rare Earth minerals does the US have ?

The US has reserves of several rare earth minerals, most notably at the Mountain Pass mine in California. While the US has significant reserves, it is heavily reliant on imports, particularly from China, for refining and processing these minerals into usable materials. Here's a more detailed breakdown:

US Resources:

Mountain Pass Mine (California)

This is the only rare earth mine in the US currently operating. It produces light rare earth elements like cerium and lanthanum, and also refines neodymium and praseodymium, which are crucial for magnets in electric vehicles and other technologies. 

Other Deposits:

The US Geological Survey notes that significant deposits of rare earths exist in other locations, including Georgia (where rare earths are a byproduct of heavy mineral sand mining) and potential deposits in Montana, Wyoming, and Texas. 

US Reliance on Imports:

Refining and Processing: The majority of rare earth minerals mined in the US are still sent to China for refining and processing into usable materials. 

Heavy Rare Earths: The US has limited capabilities to process heavy rare earths, such as dysprosium and terbium, which are essential for high-temperature magnets. 

Overall Dependence: The US imports a significant portion of its rare earth needs, with some estimates placing it at around 80%. 

Efforts to Increase Domestic Production: 

Government Initiatives:  The US government is actively working to incentivize domestic mining and processing of rare earths through initiatives like the Defense Production Act, which provides funding for research and development of domestic rare earth processing technologies. 

Private Sector Investment: Companies like MP Materials, US Critical Materials, and American Rare Earths are actively exploring and developing rare earth deposits within the US. 

Key Rare Earth Elements: Some of the key rare earth elements include: 

·       Lanthanum: Used in batteries and catalysts.

·       Cerium: Used in colored glass, catalysts, and petroleum refining.

·       Neodymium: Used in permanent magnets.

·       Yttrium: Used in metal alloys, displays, and lasers. 

What rare earth minerals does the us have ?

The United States has deposits of all 17 rare earth elements, though economically viable concentrations are less common than for some other minerals. These include lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and the two non-lanthanide rare earth elements, scandium and yttrium. 

While many rare earth deposits are known, the most significant source currently being commercially mined and processed in the US is the Mountain Pass mine in California. This mine is particularly rich in bastnasite, an ore containing concentrations of light rare earth elements (LREEs) like neodymium, europium, and dysprosium, as well as cerium and lanthanum. 

Beyond Mountain Pass, other potential sources of rare earth elements in the US are being explored:

·       Georgia: Rare earths are being extracted as a byproduct of heavy mineral sand mining.

·       Kaolin Mining Residues (Georgia): Research indicates potential for recovering rare earth elements from tailings, which are already mined and on the surface, offering a potentially less invasive and lower-cost approach.

·       Wyoming: A significant rare earth deposit has been identified at Halleck Creek, potentially containing a substantial volume of light and heavy rare earths, including neodymium and praseodymium. There are also millions of tons of rare earth elements found in coal ash.

·       Texas: The Round Top deposit in Sierra Blanca is projected to be mined commercially for a range of rare earth elements.

·       Alaska: The Bokan Mountain deposit shows promise as a source of high-grade rare earth elements.

·       Nebraska: The Elk Creek Project is focusing on a deposit of niobium, scandium, titanium, and rare earth elements.

·       Montana: The Sheep Creek property is considered the highest-grade rare earth deposit discovered in the US to date, containing a significant amount of rare earth oxides (TREO) and important elements like neodymium and praseodymium, according to Innovation News Network. 

The U.S. government is actively working to reduce reliance on imported rare earth elements and is supporting initiatives to develop domestic mining and processing capabilities. This includes investing in research to develop new extraction and separation technologies and establishing facilities for processing these minerals within the US.

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Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader