America just opened its first rare earth mine in over 70 years. Ramaco Resources broke ground on the Brook Mine in Ranchester, Wyoming on July 11, 2025. The site contains six of the seventeen rare earth elements, including dysprosium, neodymium, scandium, gallium, terbium, and praseodymium. These are the heavy magnet-grade materials used in missile guidance systems, semiconductors, and permanent magnets. The deposit sits in soft clay above and below coal seams, which makes it easier to extract and process than hard rock sites. Ramaco will process the material onsite. No overseas shipping. No Chinese refineries. That’s the pivot.
The Brook Mine is already producing coal. Ramaco expects to extract 2.5 million tons this year, with roughly 500,000 tons containing high concentrations of rare earths. Independent testing shows concentrations up to 10,000 parts per million. That’s unusually rich for coal-based deposits. The pilot plant is scheduled to go live in late 2026. Full-scale refining could follow in 2027. Fluor Corporation’s July 1 economic assessment projected $378 million in annual revenue by 2029, with EBITDA hitting $143 million. Initial capital costs are pegged at $473 million. The mine’s projected life is 42 years.
Ramaco’s CEO says the deposit could supply 3% to 5% of total U.S. magnet demand and over 30% of defense-related demand. That’s why the Pentagon is watching. MP Materials already landed a $400 million investment from the Department of Defense. Ramaco isn’t asking for cash. They want pricing support and a strategic stockpile. That’s a conservative play. Build first. Ask later.
The stock trades around $22 with a market cap just over $1 billion. It popped 30% on the mine news but hasn’t gone vertical. RSI hit 96 last week. Float is low. Volatility is high. Ramaco isn’t a startup. It’s a cash-flowing coal company pivoting into rare earths with its own money. If they land a supply deal or get pulled into national security planning, the upside could mirror MP’s run. That stock hit $7.3 billion after its Pentagon deal.
This is happening in a tariff world. China controls 70% of global rare earth mining and 92% of refining. The U.S. wants its own supply chain. Ramaco is building it in Wyoming. No middleman. No overseas processing. Just American dirt, American minerals, and American infrastructure.
Sources:
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/07/11/first-u-s-rare-earth-mine-in-70-years-opens-in-wyoming/
https://rareearthexchanges.com/news/ramacos-brook-mine-a-rare-earth-breakthrough-in-wyoming/
https://ramacoresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ramaco-PEA-Report-Jul-2025.pdf
https://www.aol.com/finance/america-just-opened-1st-rare-124700507.html
Disclaimer: This is not financial advice.