Quote Originally Posted by NobleMetalWorks View Post
The United States has massive deposits and mines that still contain rare earth metals. I believe two are reopening in the near future.

They were closed down when China ramped up their own mining efforts and offered these resources for prices that the US couldn't compete with. However, as their manufacturing has ramped up, they have been required to cut their exports, affecting manufacturing in Japan, so once again because of prices, supply and demand, the US is reopening several mines with plans for more in the future.

It's not that these metals are rare in general, it's that they are distributed differently and do not concentrate as does gold, silver, iron, etc. It's a different type of mining but the US actually had a lot of these types of resources.

Scott
I know the US has deposits, one in California that I know. I was quoting something I read a few years ago and was too lazy to look up more recent news.