Ramaco critical minerals stockpile reshapes Wyoming rare earth strategy

Ramaco

Ramaco critical minerals stockpile plans in Wyoming signal a new US approach to rare earth security. The Ramaco critical minerals stockpile will be built at the Brook mine as part of a larger expansion. Ramaco will stockpile rare earth and critical mineral oxides alongside rising coal output from the same site.

The company recently lifted projected rare earth and critical mineral oxide output to 3,084t per year. It expects a pilot oxide plant to start later this year, with commercial construction targeted for 2026. Resource estimates now point to 1.4mn tonnes of total rare earth oxide within the permitted area. The deposit includes gallium, scandium and germanium, and likely dysprosium, terbium, neodymium and praseodymium.

Building the Ramaco critical minerals stockpile at Brook mine

Ramaco plans to extend mining across its full 15,800 acres at Brook as exploration advances. As a result, the Ramaco critical minerals stockpile could grow far beyond initial oxide projections. The firm will seek permits to cover larger resource zones and unlock additional rare earth tonnage. Conventional surface mining can access claystones and shales above and below the sub-bituminous coal seams.

The strategic critical minerals terminal will serve both government buyers and private industrial customers. It will manage long-term stockpiling, storage and inventory services for the mine’s future output. Ramaco also plans tolling services for third-party producers, positioning Brook as a regional processing hub. Meanwhile, coal production is projected to rise from 1.81mn t/yr to 4.54mn t/yr, with further upside. At higher rates, the mine life could exceed sixty years, supporting infrastructure and stockpile investments.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The Ramaco critical minerals stockpile underscores how US coal regions are repositioning as strategic materials hubs. If Ramaco secures financing and permits, Brook could become a benchmark model for integrated coal and rare earth operations. Downstream buyers will watch closely to see whether stockpiling translates into reliable, competitively priced domestic supply.