Are there rare earth minerals on the Nevada land President Biden designated as a national monument?
The Nevada Mining Association acknowledges rare earth mineral deposits in the southern region of Nevada. An exploration project conducted by the mining company American Rare Earths also found evidence of rare earth metals in 2021.
Avi Kwa Ame, or Spirit Mountain, is located at the southern tip of Nevada, below Las Vegas. President Joe Biden carved out a 506,814-acre national monument in the region, using his authority under the 1906 Antiquities Act to protect federally owned land with historical or scientific significance.
The mountain and surrounding valleys are sacred sites for the Fort Mojave and other local tribes and indigenous peoples.
Across the border, California’s Mountain Pass mine produces about 15% of the world’s rare earth minerals.
Rare earth minerals are used as magnets in electronic devices and transportation methods and in green technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy sources.
Other mining commodities at Spirit Mountain include copper, nickel, silver, cobalt, zinc and platinum-group elements, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
