Study IDs possible new rare earths sources in Wyo.

A new study by the Wyoming State Geological Survey shows dozens of possible sources of rare earth metals in Wyoming besides one that a company has targeted for mining. State geologists gathered and analyzed more than 200 rock samples from around Wyoming and found that many of them had relatively high concentrations of rare earths. Rare earths are a group of about 16 obscure metals. Several are critical to manufacturing things such as wind turbines, hybrid cars and guided missiles. China supplies about 95% of the global rare earths market, although a possible new source could be the Bear Lodge Mountains in northeast Wyoming. State geologists say further study could show whether any of the other deposits they studied around Wyoming contain enough rare earths to be profitably mined.