US Critical Materials and INL Partner on Rare Earth Pilot Plant

US Critical Materials

Advancing Domestic Rare Earth Processing Capacity

US Critical Materials has joined forces with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to develop a pilot plant that will process rare earth elements (REEs) from Montana’s Sheep Creek deposit. The facility will handle 1–2 metric tonnes of ore per day, enabling the demonstration of advanced mineral processing and separation technologies. The partnership aims to strengthen the United States’ ability to produce critical minerals domestically, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.

INL, serving as the US Department of Energy’s primary Separation Sciences R&D hub, will provide technical expertise to optimize recovery processes. Although no operational timeline has been announced, the project marks a significant step toward establishing a vertically integrated REE supply chain within the country.

Strategic Importance of Sheep Creek’s Mineral Profile

The Sheep Creek deposit contains a high-grade mix of critical minerals, including neodymium, praseodymium, niobium, and heavy rare earths such as gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, and yttrium, along with gallium. These materials are essential for applications ranging from permanent magnets in electric vehicles and wind turbines to advanced defense systems and high-performance electronics.

By leveraging domestic feedstock, the pilot plant will support US efforts to secure stable supplies of these strategically vital resources. This aligns with national priorities to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly given the concentration of global REE processing in China.

Building a Foundation for Scaled Production

The 1–2 t/d pilot plant is designed as a proof-of-concept facility that could pave the way for commercial-scale operations. If successful, the technologies validated here could be deployed across multiple REE-rich sites in the US, further decentralizing global supply and enhancing industrial resilience.

The collaboration also signals growing federal interest in funding and partnering on projects that align with defense, energy transition, and manufacturing needs. By working with INL, US Critical Materials gains access to specialized infrastructure and expertise that could accelerate commercialization.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This partnership highlights the strategic urgency of building a domestic rare earth supply chain. By combining US Critical Materials’ high-grade feedstock with INL’s separation expertise, the pilot plant could become a model for future US-based REE production. The next challenge will be scaling capacity while ensuring cost competitiveness against established global producers.