MP Materials surged Wednesday on a deal with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Saudi Arabian Mining Company, Maaden, to develop a rare earth refinery in the kingdom. The U.S. rare earth miner's stock was last up about 9%. MP and the Pentagon will hold a 49% stake in the joint venture, the company said. Maaden's position will be no less than 51%. The Defense Department will finance the U.S. portion of the venture with MP providing technical and marketing expertise. The binding agreement to form the join ...

Core Insights - Ramaco Resources is gaining media attention as its Chairman and CEO, Randall W. Atkins, is set to appear in interviews on Bloomberg Television and BBC News, highlighting the company's role in the U.S. critical mineral industry amid China's restrictions on rare earths [1][2]. Company Overview - Ramaco Resources, Inc. operates in southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia, focusing on high-quality, low-cost metallurgical coal and developing coal, rare earth, and critical minerals in Wyoming [5]. - The company has four active metallurgical coal mining complexes and is in the initial stages of production for a rare earth and coal mine near Sheridan, Wyoming [5]. Brook Mine Project - The Brook Mine project in Sheridan, Wyoming, is significant as it is the first new rare earth mine in the U.S. in over 70 years and the first new coal mine in Wyoming in more than 50 years [3]. - The mine has garnered international attention due to the discovery of high concentrations of medium and heavy rare earth elements and critical minerals within coal seams [3]. Leadership and Industry Position - Randall W. Atkins is positioned as a leading voice in American mining and critical mineral resource independence, having recently spoken at the IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium in Paris [4]. - His address emphasized the transformative role of coal in modern energy markets and Ramaco's leadership in rare earth development and carbon technologies [4].