Episode 11 of 12
Wyoming Critical Minerals
Bear Lodge, WyomingRare Earths
Rare earths for magnets, defense, and future tech: the strategic minerals America needs next.
The History
Wyoming’s newest chapter is rare earths. Bear Lodge in the state’s northeast corner ranks among the highest-grade rare earth deposits in North America, American Rare Earths is advancing the massive Halleck Creek project near Wheatland, and Ramaco Resources’ Brook Mine near Sheridan pairs coal with coal-hosted rare earths, part of the first wave of new US rare earth mining in generations. These are the magnet metals behind EVs, wind turbines, and defense.
The Dream Tour List for This Leg
The stops and companies we want on camera as the convoy works this ground. Proposed, not confirmed bookings, and growing as the dream tour list fills in.
Rare Element Resources · Bear Lodge
Among the highest-grade rare earth deposits in North America.
American Rare Earths · Halleck Creek
One of the largest rare earth resources in the country, near Wheatland.
Ramaco Resources · Brook Mine
Coal-hosted rare earths near Sheridan: a first-of-its-wave American story.
Green River trona country
Bonus thread: the basin that supplies about 90 percent of America’s soda ash.
Want your operation on this leg of the route?
Hunting Hidden Treasures pairs every mine with the end users it powers. If your project belongs in this episode, let’s talk.
Become a Tour PartnerWho’s Working Nearby
Companies with active projects in Wyoming, closest to this stop first. Compiled from public sources, each with its own link. Appearing here reflects public mining activity, not a tour partnership.
WyomingWyoming · Critical minerals
Rare Element Resources · Bear Lodge
Drilling & buildingCrook County, Wyoming5 miles from this stopRare earths
Source →Cameco · Smith Ranch-Highland
ProducingConverse County, Wyoming106 miles from this stopUranium
Source →Ramaco Resources · Brook Mine
Drilling & buildingSheridan, Wyoming124 miles from this stopCoal-hosted rare earths
Source →Ur-Energy · Shirley Basin ISR
ProducingShirley Basin, Wyoming174 miles from this stopUranium
Mining restarted here in April 2026, in the district where in-situ uranium recovery was invented.
Source →American Rare Earths · Halleck Creek
Drilling & buildingAlbany County, Wyoming181 miles from this stopRare earths
One of the largest rare earth resources in the country.
Source →Visionary Metals · Tin Cup · King Solomon
Exploring & permittingJeffrey City, Wyoming214 miles from this stopNickel · Copper
Nickel-copper targets in the Granite Mountains, with a 2026 drill program funded by Teck.
Source →