The EV mining rush could come to Montana’s mountains

A company announced it found the country’s highest-grade rare earth deposit in Montana.

 

A mining company has identified potentially lucrative deposits of rare earth elements tucked in the Bitterroot Mountains near the Idaho-Montana border. These metallic elements are used in cellphones, laptops and TVs, as well as electric vehicles.

Two elements called neodymium and praseodymiumr make up the bulk of the deposit and are part of a once-overlooked group on the periodic table that are now an increasingly valuable resource. Demand for them is booming, fueled by their role in modern technology and the electric vehicle industry. The mining claims in the Bitterroot are part of a larger Western mineral rush for rare earth elements and for so-called green metals, such as copper, cobalt, lithium and nickel.

Allanite minerals in carbonatite rock found at the Sheep Creek site by U.S. Critical Materials. The company announced that its holdings contain the highest grade rare earth element deposits in the country.
Courtesy of U.S. Critical Materials

“The glaring irony there in all this is, we all love our green technologies and we want to reduce pollution and carbon footprints, etc.,” said Jeff Williams, CEO of U.S. Critical Materials. “But the materials required to make that happen have to come out of the ground.”

The company announced that its holdings contain the highest-grade deposits in the United States, although that hasn't been verified by any government agency. But U.S. Critical Materials, which is registered in Nevada and based in Salt Lake City, is confident about the testing. “There’s been no one that’s been able to dispute it,” said director Ed Cowle.

A potential new mine in the Bitterroot Mountains prompted local buzz in southwestern Montana. The Sheep Creek area is about 40 miles south of the town of Darby on Bitterroot National Forest land, and the West Fork of the Bitterroot River is downstream. The Bitterroot River is a tributary of the Clark Fork River, which eventually drains into the Columbia River. 

The potential mining site is in a remote forested area that has historically been mined. It contains 12 of the 17 rare earth elements across a 7-square-mile area. “One of the positives of having high grades in a fairly small area is that the work can be concentrated,” Cowle said. “We believe it’s economical.”

“One of the positives of having high grades in a fairly small area is that the work can be concentrated.”

The company re-opened old mining tunnels that were used to extract titanium and niobium decades ago, and explored its claims with an initial “notice of intent” to the Forest Service in the fall of 2022. That allowed surface sampling with hand tools, said Dan Pliley, West Fork district ranger, as well as mapping. That preliminary notice of intent, however, doesn’t allow what U.S. Critical Materials would like to do next: test drilling in seven to 12 drill holes, and eventually, open-pit or underground mining.

To proceed, the company has to submit a plan of operations to the Forest Service, including a project description, documentation of hazardous substances, reclamation standards and more. “Right now, there’s no plans for drilling as far as we’re concerned,” Pliley said. “There’s not a project that’s moving forward until we do see a plan of operations.”

An operational mine is still years out: The company wants to do exploratory drilling and the proposed operation would need to go through federal review, which could mean environmental assessments, public comment and objection periods.

Near Painted Rocks Lake, Montana, downstream from a new potential rare earth elements mine site.
Courtesy of Dan Pliley

Pliley said potential concerns could include water quality impacts, such as chemicals or sediment from the operation leaching into the ground or nearby streams. Private inholdings — a few small properties, homesteads, farms and ranches — are also nearby.

The project could also require a tribal consultation process, if it includes unceded or culturally sensitive lands. It isn’t clear yet if that’s the case: U.S. Critical Materials said it was not aware of any such lands overlapping its claims. However, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Nez Perce Tribe have weighed in on other projects in the national forest in the past. “If there were to be disturbance in that area, they would likely be consulted,” Pliley said.

Federal policy has given projects like the one at Sheep Creek a boost. Cowle called the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains a tax credit for electric vehicles if components are sourced domestically, a major motivation to stake out claims in Sheep Creek and a “shot in the arm” for rare earths. The U.S. would also like to rely less on China, which dominates the rare earths market. “We’ve got a lot of encouragement,” Cowle said. “Yet we know we have to do it right for the local community, right for the environment. So it’s a push-pull.”

Kylie Mohr is an editorial fellow for High Country News writing from Montana. Email her at [email protected] or submit a letter to the editor. See our letters to the editor policy

High Country News Classifieds
  • INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS EDITOR - HIGH COUNTRY NEWS
    High Country News is hiring an Indigenous Affairs Editor to help guide the magazine's journalism and produce stories that are important to Indigenous communities and...
  • STAFF ATTORNEY
    Staff Attorney The role of the Staff Attorney is to bring litigation on behalf of Western Watersheds Project, and at times our allies, in the...
  • ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
    Northern Michigan University seeks an outstanding leader to serve as its next Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. With new NMU President Dr. Brock...
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    The Clark Fork Coalition seeks an exceptional leader to serve as its Executive Director. This position provides strategic vision and operational management while leading a...
  • GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT MANAGER
    Help uphold a groundbreaking legal agreement between a powerful mining corporation and the local communities impacted by the platinum and palladium mine in their backyard....
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    The Feather River Land Trust (FRLT) is seeking a strategic and dynamic leader to advance our mission to "conserve the lands and waters of the...
  • COLORADO DIRECTOR
    COLORADO DIRECTOR Western Watersheds Project seeks a Colorado Director to continue and expand WWP's campaign to protect and restore public lands and wildlife in Colorado,...
  • DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY: WYOMING, MONTANA AND UTAH
    Digital Media Specialist - WY, MT, UT OFFICE LOCATION Remote and hybrid options available. Preferred locations are MT, WY or UT, but applicants from anywhere...
  • GRANT WRITER (PART-TIME, FREELANCE CONTRACT) HIGH COUNTRY NEWS
    High Country News seeks an energetic, articulate and highly organized grant writer to support a growing foundations program. This position works closely with our Executive...
  • EXPERT COMPUTER & TECH HELP, PROVIDED REMOTELY
    From California, I provide expert tech help remotely to rural and urban clients. I charge only when I succeed. Available 7 days. Call for a...
  • ACCOUNTING AND OPERATIONS GENERALIST
    What We Can Achieve Together: The Accounting and Operations Generalist provides accounting and operations related services, including lease administration and compliance support, to the Arizona...
  • LANDSCAPE ECOLOGIST
    Landscape Ecologist, Arizona What We Can Achieve Together: The Landscape Ecologist provides technical and scientific support and leadership for conservation initiatives and strategies in landscape...
  • MULESHOE RANCH PRESERVE STEWARD
    What We Can Achieve Together: The Muleshoe Ranch Preserve Steward lives on site in housing provided by The Nature Conservancy and performs and coordinates construction...
  • ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY - INDIGENOUS HISTORIES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN WEST
    Whitman College seeks applicants for a tenure-track position in Indigenous Histories of the North American West, beginning August 2024, at the rank of Assistant Professor....
  • DAVE AND ME
    Dave and Me, by international racontuer and children's books author Rusty Austin, is a funny, profane and intense collection of short stories, essays, and poems...
  • CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
    Rural Community Assistance Corporation is looking to hire a CFO. For more more information visit: https://www.rcac.org/careers/
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    The Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation (ABWF) seeks a new Executive Director. Founded in 2008, the ABWF is a respected nonprofit whose mission is to support...
  • CANYONLANDS FIELD INSTITUTE
    Field seminars for adults in natural and human history of the northern Colorado Plateau, with lodge and base camp options. Small groups, guest experts.
  • COMING TO TUCSON?
    Popular vacation house, everything furnished. Two bedroom, one bath, large enclosed yards. Dog-friendly. Contact Lee at [email protected] or 520-791-9246.
  • ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSTRUCTION GEOPHYSICS
    We characterize contaminated sites, identify buried drums, tanks, debris and also locate groundwater.