Common politics muddy waters in rare earth discovery

The American Exploration & Mining Association was joined by a coalition in filing a challenge last Friday in the Wyoming district court.

Oversupply and weak prices of materials such as lithium, cobalt and rare earths are dampening cash flows of Western start-ups.

Lithium price has tumbled by more than 80% since the beginning of 2023.

The disruption is related to BHP's suspension of its Western Australia nickel operations.