The recent groundbreaking at Wyoming’s Brook Mine marks a seismic shift in America’s approach to securing vital raw materials for defense and technology, as Ramaco Resources (METC) launched the first new U.S. rare earth element (REE) mine in over 70 years. This move—propelled by growing supply chain concerns and the strategic urgency to reduce dependence on China—signals a new era of American mineral independence.
Wyoming’s Brook Mine: A Game Changer
Ramaco Resources’ Brook Mine is more than just a new operation; it is a national milestone. The deposit, located in soft, shallow carbonaceous ore, spans over 15,800 acres and contains six of the 17 rare earth elements critical to both U.S. industry and national security—scandium, gallium, germanium, and others. Industry analysts estimate the mine could supply domestic needs for more than a century, with initial output set to serve U.S. technology and military customers. The Brook Mine’s unique geology—a trove embedded in coal rather than traditional hard rock—has also ignited fresh optimism about the scalability and environmental impact of rare earth extraction in North America.
Shifting the Balance: Competition With China
For decades, the U.S. remained reliant on China, which currently dominates more than 70% of global rare earth mineral supply, refining 91% of REEs and producing 94% of REE-based magnets. Chinese export restrictions in 2025—most notably a rare earth embargo in retaliation for U.S. tariffs—exposed the acute vulnerability in the American manufacturing and defense supply chain. With Brook Mine operational, Ramaco’s vertically integrated model (from mining to on-site processing and domestic sales) seeks to help fill the gap and fortify domestic resilience.
M2i Global: A Strategic Force in Critical Minerals
M2i Global (MTWO) has emerged as a pivotal partner in the U.S. critical minerals race, leveraging advanced technology, research, and public-private partnerships to reshape how the nation sources, secures, and manages these resources. The company is developing America’s first Critical Mineral Reserve, a public-private initiative based at the Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada, designed to stockpile, refine, and distribute crucial minerals for defense and clean energy production. M2i’s approach blends direct mining, cutting-edge recycling, and mine remediation to extract minerals not only from new deposits but also from waste and legacy mine sites—making U.S. supply chains more robust and environmentally responsible.
Through strategic partnerships with both domestic and international players—including Lion Crest in Australia and organizations like Not For Sale to ensure ethical sourcing—M2i Global works to align their initiatives with federal agencies such as the Department of Defense. The company’s recycling initiatives and supply chain innovations enhance mineral independence and readiness, particularly for defense applications and advanced clean technologies.
The Road Ahead: America’s Mineral Independence
As Wyoming’s Brook Mine begins production and M2i Global (MTWO) accelerates its first of its kind Critical Mineral Reserve, the U.S. is taking long-overdue steps to ensure that its manufacturing, tech, and defense sectors are not beholden to foreign supply disruptions. Backed by new federal policies and industry investment, these efforts not only increase domestic stockpiles but also set new environmental and ethical standards for mineral procurement. America’s critical minerals race has entered a new phase—with actors like Ramaco Resources and M2i Global at the forefront of a domestic industrial revival.
The Sources
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