V. Kashyap, K. Rippy
National Laboratory of the Rockies,
United States
Keywords: rare earth elements, US rare earth industry, critical minerals
Summary:
Global rare earth production is currently dominated by China. This imbalance has created supply chain risks and has left other countries with limited rare earth production capabilities and relatively little expertise in rare earth production. In the last decade, efforts have been made by several nations to reduce their reliance on China for rare earth and other critical minerals. The United States (US) is currently investing in projects to develop domestic rare earth separation and refining capacity. These projects, when backed by R&D and government support, have potential to make significant progress towards establishment of domestic rare earth separation capabilities. Technical challenges related to individual rare earth separation & refining still exist; however, innovative processing methods have created a foundation for the development of a domestic rare earth value chain. We present a concise review of estimated resources, processing methods and challenges involved in major domestic rare earth mining projects. We have also highlighted the current status of major mining projects, anticipated rare earth production in the near future, and commercial projects utilizing non-traditional feedstocks for rare earth production. Based on the current industry outlook, opportunities for R&D are highlighted.