The economic and national security footprint of the Brook mine is world-changing.
by David Jones
Celebrating the opening of one of America’s most important mines
Just north of Sheridan, Wyo., at Ramaco’s Brook mine, July 11 started gray, cool, and drizzling with rain. Undeterred by the weather, a crowd that filled the meadow was in high spirits. By the time the speeches started, the sun had burned away the clouds, and the celebration of Randy Atkins’ vision began.
The ceremony included U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman, and former U.S. Senator and Ramaco board member Joe Manchin, amongst other local political and industry figures. In speeches that championed coal and American energy, there was also talk of innovation and technology wrapped in a flag of independence.
Sec. Wright issued a battle cry for the industry. “We need a new revolution in this Wyoming mold of bold pioneers, a drive for self-sufficiency, and that true grit to power through all the obstacles that are going to come.
“We are in a place today where we cannot be. We need a revolution, and therefore we shall have a revolution.”
For Wyoming, the mine will be a huge boon to the economy. As Congresswoman Hageman explained during a speech that celebrated innovation and progress, “The Brook mine is poised to become the first new rare earth mine in the U.S. in over seven decades and the first brand-new coal mine in Wyoming in over 50 years. Our first major mine project in three decades.
“This mine will not only bolster our supply chains,” she continued, “but also create high-paying jobs, fuel economic growth in rural communities, reduce our dependence on China for refining, and strengthen our national security by producing heavy rare earths vital for domestic manufacturing.”
The Brook mine’s development
The facts are well known. Randall W. Atkins, the founder and CEO of Ramaco Resources, has an extensive history with energy resources and commodities development. When Atkins purchased the Brook mine in 2011, it began a period of development and investment in the coal industry that encompassed met coal mine acquisitions in West Virginia and Virginia, investment in research and development to support new uses for coal, and, vitally, an extensive plan to extract and process rare earth minerals from the clay found on the Brook mine property.
For more than a decade, Atkins and his allies, including well-respected national political figures like former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, advanced their project past political and financial hurdles while creating an optimized model for the development of the most critical elements found in the Brook mine clay: Neodymium, Praseodymium, Dysprosium, and Terbium.
By any measure, it was a monumental task; by any measure, it also represents a revolutionary turning point in the United States’ dependence on the foreign flow of these vital resources.
In his presentation at the mine opening, Atkins gave the industry a grand vision of what this mine means: “200 years ago, coal ushered in the industrial revolution. Today, coal might again be ushering in another kind of revolution: a rare earth and critical mineral revolution. I learned long ago that mining is kind of a funny business. Often, Mother Nature does not give you what you are looking for, but sometimes she smiles on you and blesses you with something you completely didn’t expect.”
The Fluor Corporation’s Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) of the Brook mine is overwhelmingly positive. Along with the rare earth oxides previously mentioned, there are recoverable critical minerals like Gallium and Germanium. The PEA looks at a window of essentially four decades, and that window is estimated to consume only 4% of the recoverable minerals. The minerals are, in broad terms, easily accessible, easily processed, and not burdened by radioactive elements.
It’s a unique situation and an unbelievable opportunity for Wyoming and the United States. When the project reaches its full capacity, it will have an estimated annual production of more than 1,200 short tons of separated rare earth oxides.
The importance of that production revolves around China’s domination in REE production and processing.
China’s era of rare earth element dominance
Over the last quarter century, China has built a near-monopoly on the flow of REEs throughout the world. In the late 2000s, China was responsible for more than 90% of mined rare earth elements globally. U.S. and Australian efforts have reduced that to something closer to 60%, but that comes with an important caveat. The actual processing of those elements still happens overwhelmingly in China. Roughly 90% of the global supply is still refined and processed in the Asian country.
Mining the ore provides economic benefit, of course, but controlling the processing provides international leverage. And their monopoly has not been entirely benign. In 2010, China halted shipments of REEs to Japan – an act that reverberated through international markets and sent prices of some materials soaring.
Through a decades-long effort involving artificially low pricing, diplomatic coercion, and international complacency, China has positioned itself to use the supply of REEs to influence every country that is involved in high-tech production in defense, consumer goods, and energy production.
What the Brook Mine promises is to change that calculus by not only mining the ore, but by refining the high-purity elements on site.
Strengthening U.S. national security
In addressing foundational national security concerns and breaking that near-monopoly, The Brook mine finds a way to transcend domestic politics. Most importantly, it is a bulwark against American reliance on China for rare earth elements – a reliance that isn’t merely economic, but impacts production of strategically vital military equipment.
In a dispute where the supply of REEs was choked or completely halted, without a source of domestic production, the U.S. military could be crippled. There would be no production of Tomahawk missiles, F-35 fighter planes, or advanced communications equipment. The strategic value of a reliable source of REEs is inestimable.
“We think we have the largest unconventional deposit of rare earths in North America,” Atkins explained from the stage. “As I said, this one mine could not only supply a huge share of America’s critical minerals needs, but it could help break the untenable reliance we now have on China. We calculate that this mine could provide almost 30% of the defense department’s magnetic requirements.”
As the Brook mine begins production and processing, it will provide a continued and reliable supply of feedstock, rebalancing diplomatic and economic relationships worldwide. The impact will extend beyond America’s borders, as allies have a cushion against economic coercion in the same way that domestic energy production and strategic energy reserves reduce vulnerability to events like the 1973 oil embargo.
“As Ramaco is continuing to develop their area out there with the discovery of the critical minerals in the seams, the timing couldn’t be better,” Travis Deti stated while discussing the opening of the mine. “One of the exciting things I’m looking forward to is the idea that they’re actually doing the processing onsite, you know, a one-stop shop going from here to here instead of having to take that ore and send it off somewhere else and have them process it.”
Deti is understandably proud of the Wyoming connection, emphasizing the state’s reputation for responsible resource development. “Wyoming is a great place to live. Whether you’re talking about the Ramaco project or any other mining project in the state of Wyoming. We do things more safe, we do things in an environmentally responsible manner, we just do it right out here.”
A blueprint or a unicorn?
The Brook mine is likely unique. When asked if the facility might provide processing services for other operations, Atkins explained that, “The Brook mine is the only commercial coal-to-rare earth deposit. Most other REE deposits are in hard minerals with radioactive tailings. Our processing facility would therefore be focused only on the Brook deposit at present.”
This leads to a question that will only be answered over time: Is Brook a blueprint for others or a unicorn – a great stroke of luck that will provide essential materials for a nation working to reboot its production of critical minerals? There is no doubt that other operators will scrutinize their mines with the hope of finding similar deposits.
“We are advised that indeed the geology and location of this deposit is unique based on a number of factors, including the relatively high level of concentration of REEs comingled in the Brook mine coal and related strata,” Atkins said. “Other mines should always be aware of the potential for REEs. However, the NETL did a national assessment of areas in different parts of the country which might have high concentrations of REEs and concluded the area around the Brook mine had the highest probability of possessing geological characteristics favorable to such high levels.”
Even if it is unique, Brook is one with a near-term horizon for operation. It is at the leading edge of an American rare earths revolution.
“We start the pilot processing facility this summer,” Atkins said. “We will operate in pilot mode for a six- to nine-month period to optimize the processing techniques and then begin design and engineering on the construction of the full commercial oxide processing plant. Construction on this plant will hopefully begin in Q3-Q4 2026 with a 1.5-year estimated construction period.”
Not just a mine opening
The Brook mine, in a sense, isn’t just about opening a new mine. It is a rallying cry for the mining industry and an opportunity to embrace innovation and opportunity.
“As we all know, China has challenged America by dominating these critical minerals for years,” Atkins said. “But today, the Brook mine will be America’s mine. America will meet that challenge.”
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon applauded the vision. “We finally realized we needed more, not less, energy; that we cannot regulate ourselves into a future, we must innovate ourselves into a future.”
On a day that started with rain and gray clouds overhead, by the time the ribbon had been cut, there was a sunny, warm sky that matched the optimism and hopes of everyone in attendance. There was a sense that this wasn’t merely about a mine opening, it was about a country and an industry rising to a great challenge.