US coal and rare earth element producer Ramaco Resources secured a permit extension to mine both coal and rare earth minerals from its Brook Mine in Wyoming.
On July 29, the company stated that the Land Division of Wyoming's Department of Environmental Quality approved a five-year extension of its permit to operate the mine near Sheridan in the Powder River Basin.

Ramaco informed Argus that the current permit allows mining and selling up to 2.5 million short tons per year (2.27 million mt/year) of sub-bituminous coal. It remains unclear whether this includes rare earth elements processed alongside the coal. Ramaco noted that, if permitted, the reserves could support higher production levels.

"Since rare earths and critical minerals are associated with coal seams and mixed ore layers, coal extraction will be proportional to the mining of rare earth elements and critical minerals," said Christopher Blanchard, Executive Vice President of Mine Planning and Development at Ramaco.