Production of rare earth elements (REEs) in the United States is critical for national security and economic resilience, reducing reliance on foreign supply. REEs are essential for defense technologies, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics. Currently, China produces more than 60% of the global REE supply and controls almost 90% of the refining and processing sectors of the REE supply chain. Expanding domestic mining and production will strengthen U.S. industry and national security, secure supply chains, and create high-value jobs.
The Halleck Creek Rare Earth Deposit in the Central Laramie Mountains of Wyoming hosts the Cowboy State Mine, owned by Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc., a subsidiary of American Rare Earths Ltd. The deposit contains a JORC-reported resource of ~2.63 billion tonnes with ~8.6 million tonnes of total rare earth oxides. The Cowboy State Mine is currently in the pre-feasibility stage, targeting production of Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate by 2029. Not all REEs are equally marketable, and significant work is underway on separation of individual REEs. Processing will also generate large volumes of gangue and waste products. This project aims to identify auxiliary uses of REEs with low profit margins and viable secondary uses of byproducts or waste materials that could create new revenue streams or cost offsets, thereby improving Wyoming Rare’s project economics.