A quiet spot in Ranchester, Wyoming is now home to something with massive potential: the Brook Mine, owned by Ramaco Resources, just became the first rare earth mine to open in the U.S. in over 70 years. And while it may not look like much from the surface, the site holds around 1.7 million tons of rare earth elements, the kinds of minerals that power everything from smartphones to fighter jets.
The Department of Energy didn’t hold back, calling it a “turning point for America.” The agency says the project is key to building local supply chains and protecting America’s energy security. It’s a big move in a much bigger story, one where the U.S. is finally trying to loosen its grip on China, which still provides about 90% of the world’s rare earth processing.
The mine officially opened on July 11, 2025, with plenty of big names in attendance, including Donald Trump’s former energy chief Chris Wright, Senators Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso, and Representative Harriet Hageman. At the event, Wright made it clear: “Not only do we get coal here — we are going to get those rare earth elements that are going to break our dependence on China.”
A big win for Wyoming
The Brook Mine is no ordinary mining project. Hidden under the surface are six of the 17 known rare earth elements, minerals that aren’t necessarily rare, but are notoriously hard to extract and process. That’s part of what makes this mine such a big deal.
Ramaco CEO Randall Atkins explained the company’s plan: “We will be mining it here, we will be processing on this site, and we will sell it to domestic customers.” In other words, the entire operation stays local. And according to Ramaco, the mine could meet U.S. demand for some rare earths for the next 150 years.
This isn’t just good for Wyoming, it’s good for the U.S. as a whole. The country has spent decades relying on China for these minerals, and when Beijing stopped exports in response to Trump-era tariffs, it showed just how risky that dependence really is. The Brook Mine offers a rare chance to start changing that.
Why rare earths matter now more than ever
If rare earths sound like an obscure topic, think again. These minerals are baked into the tech most people use every day, and they’re absolutely essential for national defense. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, is an example: Each stealth fighter contains nearly 920 pounds of rare earth elements.
It’s no surprise then that the Department of Defense is paying close attention. It recently spent $400 million on shares of MP Materials, the only other company currently operating a rare earth mine in the U.S. The goal? To make sure the country has secure access to what it needs, both for commercial tech and advanced military systems.
As Senator John Barrasso put it, “Wyoming is America’s energy breadbasket. It’s where America’s energy future begins.” And now, that future includes much more than just coal.
Ramaco’s bigger play is still on the game
While rare earth elements are making headlines, Ramaco Resources isn’t leaving coal behind. The company continues to run several metallurgical coal projects, and Chris Wright made it clear: coal still plays a big role in the global energy mix. “Coal has been the biggest source of global electricity for over 120 years and it remains today,” he said.
Even so, investors are clearly excited about Ramaco’s expansion into rare earths. The company’s stock has nearly doubled since the start of the year, thanks in large part to the buzz around the Brook Mine. And with a full independent economic assessment confirming the project’s long-term viability, that momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing down.