Ramaco Resources reported that initial mobilization and site development activities have commenced for its new pilot processing plant and laboratory, located adjacent to the Brook mine and near the iCAM Research Center outside Sheridan, Wyo.
“We believe this groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter in American rare earth minerals. Our goal is to build the foundation for a secure, domestic supply of rare earths and critical minerals and ensure that the U.S. remains competitive in the technologies that define our future,” said Randall W. Atkins, chairman and CEO of Ramaco Resources.
The facility is designed to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of converting domestic carbonaceous ore into high-purity individual rare earth oxides (IREOs), which are essential for U.S. magnet production and other advanced technologies. The pilot plant is intended to serve as a bridge to full-scale commercialization, with plans already underway for a commercial oxide processing facility.
The plant is expected to focus on processing both rare earths and critical materials recently restricted from export by China, underscoring the strategic importance of domestic production. Analyses performed to date indicate that the Brook mine deposit, located along the northwestern margin of the Powder River Basin, is geologically unique and enriched with rare earths through secondary mobilization, making it one of the most promising potential sources for rare earths in the United States.
Source: Ramaco Resources