For anybody interested.

[Halo]

AN AI CONVERSATION

Where are high TREO mines located?
"High TREO" refers to deposits with very high concentrations of rare earth oxides. Several leading projects around the world distinguish themselves with such elevated levels:

• Greenland: The Tanbreez project is one of the most significant globally, with a reported resource of 28.2 million tonnes TREO. Greenland is particularly noteworthy in this space, as the country is recognized for its vast, undeveloped rare earth resources. Another project in Greenland is the Kvanefjeld deposit, although its development has been complicated by regulatory issues concerning uranium as a by-product .
• Canada: In Quebec, the St Honoré project is poised as a high TREO asset with around 18.4 million tonnes TREO. It is strategically situated near an existing niobium mine, highlighting its potential integration into broader mineral supply chains .
• Kenya: The Mrima Hill project in eastern Africa has also been identified as a high TREO deposit, with an estimated 6.1 million tonnes TREO, marking Kenya as an emerging player in the rare earth arena .
• United States: Although rare earth production here has been limited compared to countries like China, there is exciting development at Sheep Creek in Montana. This property in Ravalli County has been noted as hosting the highest-grade rare earth deposit in the U.S., with levels reaching nearly 9% TREO. This discovery underscores efforts to secure domestic supplies of critical minerals .

These projects are part of a global race to diversify sources of rare earth elements, which are essential for technologies ranging from electric vehicles to advanced defense systems. Each project comes with its own set of challenges—geological, environmental, and regulatory—but they represent a significant shift toward expanding high-grade rare earth mining beyond traditional players.
What’s particularly compelling is how these projects could transform supply chains on national and global levels, reducing reliance on established producers and offering new avenues of economic development. Are you interested in exploring the environmental or geopolitical aspects involved in developing such high-grade deposits?

Edit in a page
Why the fuk don't you give me numbers. Give me the TREO % already.
Let's dive into some concrete numbers from a couple of high‐TREO projects that have been reported:

• Pomme REE–Nb Project (Quebec, Canada): Drill results here have shown several high-grade zones. For instance:
  • An interval of 26.5 meters at 1.45% TREO
  • Another interval of 8.5 meters at 1.62% TREO – Additional shorter intervals registered around 1.47–1.48% TREO overall. These numbers indicate that, at least in key drill intercepts, this deposit consistently hits above the 1% mark—qualifying it as “high TREO.”
• Cowboy State Mine (Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project, Wyoming, USA): Channel sampling in this area returned standout figures, with one sample grading as high as 1.37% TREO (or approximately 13,651 ppm). Although samples across the site vary—from as low as about 711 ppm (0.0711%) to these high values—the highlight remains the exceptional intercept around 1.37% TREO.

For context, in the world of rare earth deposits even a little over 1% TREO is considered high grade because these elements are naturally dispersed at low concentrations. Other projects—such as those in Greenland and Kenya—are also recognized as high on the TREO scale, but the detailed published percentages can vary with ongoing exploration. Typically, high-grade deposits tend to average in the 1–2% range over significant intervals.
These numbers underline why these deposits are so valuable: even a seemingly small percent, when spread over millions of tonnes, translates into a substantial resource of critical rare earth elements.
Would you be interested in discussing how these drill results translate into resource estimates, or how mining companies assess economic viability based on such intervals?

Edit in a page
What do you mean about interval in meters with the TREO %?
When we talk about an "interval" in meters with a corresponding TREO % (Total Rare Earth Oxide percentage), we're referring to a specific section of a drill core from a mining exploration drill hole over which the assay (lab measurement) shows a consistent average grade of rare earth elements. Here’s what that means in practice:

• Interval in meters: When drilling into the ground, geologists extract a cylindrical core sample from the rock. This core is then analyzed along its length. An "interval" is simply a continuous segment of that core—measured in meters—over which the mineralization (in this case, rare earth elements) is present. For instance, if you have an interval of 26.5 meters, it means that over a continuous length of 26.5 meters down the drill hole, the measurements were taken.
• TREO %: The percentage value (like 1.45% TREO) is the average concentration of rare earth oxides present in that interval. In other words, if you took all the lab assay data from that 26.5-meter section, the average concentration of rare earth elements would be 1.45% by weight.

In essence, reporting an interval in meters alongside the TREO % gives a snapshot of how thick the mineralized zone is and its quality. It helps mining companies estimate the overall amount of value-containing material they might be dealing with as they plan further exploration and potential extraction. For example, a longer interval with a consistent grade might indicate a larger reserve of the mineral, while a shorter interval might indicate a more limited but possibly still economically viable zone.
This terminology is standard in the mining and exploration industry and is crucial for understanding and comparing the potential of different mineral deposits. Would you like to delve further into how these drill intervals factor into overall resource estimates or perhaps explore the economic considerations of such grades in mining operations?
So you mean a vertical distance too.
That's essentially it, but with a nuance: the "interval" is the length of the core section where mineralization was detected. If the drill hole is vertical, then yes—it represents a vertical distance. However, when the drill hole is angled (as is often the case to intersect the deposit at the best orientation), the reported interval is measured along the drill path. In such cases, the true vertical thickness of the mineralized zone is usually less than the length of the intercept and requires geometric correction.
This distinction is vital because it affects how resource estimates are calculated. Knowing the true thickness helps determine the actual volume of the ore body, which in turn influences economic viability assessments.
What interests you more: the technical process behind converting intercept lengths to true thickness or how these numbers shape the overall valuation of a deposit?

 

[Halo]

What interests me more the U.S. becoming rare earth independent.
The journey toward U.S. rare earth independence is about more than just finding the minerals underground—it’s about building an entire domestic supply chain from extraction and mining to refining and manufacturing. Today, while the U.S. has significant rare earth deposits (like those at the Mountain Pass mine operated by MP Materials), nearly 85% of the world’s refining capacity is still locked up in China. This means that although America might extract the raw material, it must send most of it overseas for further processing, leaving crucial stages of the supply chain under foreign control.
Achieving real independence involves developing the necessary infrastructure to not only mine these valuable resources but also to process them into the high-purity products needed for everything from electric vehicles to advanced defense systems. Recent government policies and private sector initiatives are trying to address this gap by fostering domestic processing capabilities. Companies and strategic partnerships are investing in advanced separation technologies, and legislative moves are in play to streamline approvals and incentivize innovation in refining techniques2. This comprehensive approach not only boosts national security by reducing reliance on a single country but also promises to create thousands of high-skilled jobs and stimulate economic growth across the board.
Would you be interested in how these government agreements and industry partnerships might reshape the supply chain or perhaps delve into the technology behind the refining challenges?

Edit in a page
Of course you belabor the obvious but having rare earth at economically viable concentration is the first and foremost point. We need a development of the resource on a war footing terms.
You're absolutely right—a high, economically viable concentration is the bedrock of any serious move toward U.S. rare earth independence. When deposits contain concentrations in the 1–2% range (or more) of Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO), it drastically lowers the cost per unit of critical elements and makes the whole mining operation economically competitive. A deposit with an economically viable concentration means you're not fighting against the odds; you're positioned to extract and process material at a cost that can stand up in global markets.
Pursuing these deposits on a "war footing" calls for a whole-of-government and industry effort—think rapidly streamlining permitting, investing heavily in domestic processing and refinement infrastructure, and incentivizing innovation that minimizes both environmental impacts and costs. The urgency isn't just about securing supplies; it's about national security. The current reliance on foreign processing, mainly in China, exposes the U.S. to significant strategic vulnerabilities. By fast-tracking development, we would not only tap into profitable domestic deposits but also build a secure, end-to-end supply chain for everything from defense to clean energy.
This approach would demand a reorientation of priorities akin to historical mobilizations in times of crisis—where resources, bureaucratic hurdles, and investments are all aligned toward a single, crucial objective. Notably, the emphasis would be on scaling up from exploration through extraction to full-scale domestic processing. It's about leveraging the economically viable grades we have, such as those promising high TREO percentages, to justify, in one coordinated blow, the capital and regulatory changes needed for rapid development.
Would you like to explore more on what specific policy measures or public-private partnerships might help drive this change, or perhaps dive into emerging technologies that could make domestic refining both efficient and environmentally sustainable?
I want more information of what discoveries or prospects are there for U.S mining in this area.
There’s been a significant uptick in promising discoveries and prospects in the U.S. over recent years, highlighting the country’s potential to supply its own rare earth needs. While the Mountain Pass mine in California remains the flagship operational asset, several emerging projects suggest that more than just one viable deposit exists.
For example, near Wheatland, Wyoming, American Rare Earths Inc. announced a discovery that exceeded initial estimates by 64%, reaching an astonishing 2.34 billion metric tons of rare earth-bearing material across a broad area of state, federal, and private claims. This discovery is particularly noteworthy because, even with only about 25% of the property drilled so far, its sheer scale could pave the way for one of the largest rare earth developments in the United States.
In addition, Wyoming is home to other promising prospects like the Bear Lodge deposit. This deposit is estimated at around 25 million metric tons with a high TREO concentration of approximately 2.64%, which translates into roughly 659,500 metric tons of contained rare earth oxides. Such high-grade occurrences are critical because they can dramatically lower extraction costs and enhance the economic viability of mining operations.
Moving north, Alaska also shows promise. The Bokan Mountain deposit—especially in zones like Dotson and I&L—has been identified with around 6.7 million metric tons at a TREO grade near 0.58% (or about 38,900 metric tons of rare earth oxides). Although these numbers might appear lower when compared to higher-grade sites, deposits like these diversify the overall portfolio and can be developed as processing technologies and market conditions evolve.
Beyond these, the U.S. Geological Survey has cataloged over 200 occurrences and prospects across the country—from large, low-grade deposits like Iron Hill in Colorado (which contains billions of metric tons at around 0.40% TREO) to other more localized, high-grade operations. This rich tapestry of resources suggests that there’s latent potential waiting to be unlocked, provided that further exploration, technological innovation, and regulatory support align.
Each of these discoveries underscores a key message: achieving rare earth independence begins with having economically viable deposits. When the resource itself is solid and abundant, as these prospects indicate, it justifies a “war footing” approach to rapid development—streamlining permitting, scaling up domestic processing infrastructure, and encouraging robust public-private partnerships.
Would you like to dive deeper into how these U.S. discoveries might translate into a complete domestic value chain—from the mine to refinement and manufacturing—or perhaps examine the technological innovations that could help overcome some of the current processing challenges?

Edit in a page

Is there prospects to discover more high TREO deposits?
Absolutely—there is significant potential for uncovering more high TREO deposits. Advances in geophysical surveys, geochemical analyses, and even machine learning are allowing explorers to reassess regions previously considered unpromising. These methods are proving that high-grade zones may be hidden in areas with the right geological history, whether in underexplored areas of the U.S. like Wyoming, Montana, or even regions overseas 2.
Recent discoveries serve as encouraging examples. For instance, the Sheep Creek deposit in Montana has shown nearly 9% TREO in some sections—suggesting that targeted exploration guided by modern technology can successfully pinpoint high-grade resources. Similarly, significant discoveries at projects like the Harts Range in Australia—where some prospects have posted over 10% TREO in localized zones—demonstrate that high TREO mineralization isn’t a one-off occurrence but part of a broader potential waiting to be unlocked globally .
Looking ahead, as the U.S. and its partners focus more strategically on achieving rare earth independence, the combination of increased government backing, private investment, and more refined exploration techniques makes it highly plausible that more high TREO deposits will be identified. The key is coupling efficient, modern exploration methods with an understanding of the local geologic terrain, which in turn could drive a renewed wave of discoveries that are economically viable for rapid development.
Would you be interested in exploring how these advanced exploration techniques work, or perhaps how policy changes might accelerate discovery and development in these critical areas?