Wyoming has high potential for mining rare earth minerals

Wyoming Rare USA, Inc. (WRI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Rare Earths Limited, is exploring approximately 8,000 acres in the Laramie Mountain Range for rare earth elements (REEs).

Recently, WRI announced the discovery of an estimated 2.34 billion metric tons (mt) of REEs at the Halleck Creek Project, which includes the proposed Cowboy State Mine, southwest of Wheatland.

In June, the company’s grant proposal to advance the Cowboy State Mine at Halleck Creek was approved by the Wyoming Energy Authority for $7.1 million in non-dilutive funding conditioned on a one-to-one match of dollars from the company. 

On Oct. 22, it was announced they received the first reimbursement of funds under the grant. 

At present, China supplies about 95 percent of the global supply of REEs, 74 percent of which are imported by the U.S. WRI believes the resources at Halleck Creek could potentially produce enough REEs to supply 100 years of domestic demand at current consumption levels.

“Over the past several decades, China has cornered the market for processing and refining of key critical minerals, leaving the U.S., our allies and our partners vulnerable to supply chain shocks and undermining economic and national security,” reads a Sept. 20 U.S. White House factsheet.

With WRI developing environmentally-friendly and cost-effective extraction and processing methods, they could meet the rapidly increasing demand for REEs while offering economic and national security incentives. 

What are REEs

REEs are a group of 17 little-known elements, like neodymium, praseodymium and scandium, and are in many products people use on a daily basis.

“REEs are used in a vast array of products, from computer screens to cellphones and even automobiles,” stated WRI President Joe Evers. “Perhaps the most frequent use of neodymium is in making high-strength magnets, including those used in wind turbine generators.”

REEs are actually commonly found in the earth’s crust, just usually not at economical depths and concentrations. 

“This discovery in Wyoming is unusual because the elements are consistently distributed and highly concentrated,” he noted.

In a company scoping study, the mine is estimated to annually produce 1,529 mt of neodymium-praseodymium oxide, 17 mt of terbium oxide, 91 mt of dysprosium oxide, 383 mt of Samarium-Europium-Gadolinium concentrate and 1,486 mt of lanthanum carbonate.

Evers added, “It’s one of the largest deposits of REEs in the nation, and the project is poised to become a significant long-term asset for Wyoming and the U.S., ensuring the country’s access to these critical materials.”

REEs have become an increasing focus of the mining industry as demand grows as part of the increasing drive for new technology and electrification. 

However, trying to obtain these elements can be tricky, and finding new sources is essential.

Evers stated, “The Cowboy State Mine is in phase one, as the organization is doing environmental studies and gathering information but has set a goal to begin mining in the back half of the decade.”

Local connection

Evers is no stranger to the Cowboy State, as he grew up in Sheridan in a generational energy family.

He attended the University of Wyoming (UW) where he played football and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 2009, then went on to obtain a joint Juris Doctor and a master’s degree in 2013.

Evers currently serves as the president of WRI, after serving as general counsel. 

Previously, he served in various legal, regulatory, policy and external relations positions across the energy and mining industry over the last decade.

Prior to joining WRI, he held positions of increasing responsibility in the land and policy departments at a publicly-traded oil and gas company and served as corporate counsel at an international mining company. 

He also practiced law in Denver, serving clients engaged in natural resource development in the Rocky Mountain Region. 

Evers maintains strong ties to his alma mater where he serves as the president-elect of the Alumni Association, chair of the Advisory Board at the UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and is a member of the Advisory Board at the UW College of Law. 

He also chairs the Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom Board.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.