White Mesa Mill
Energy Fuels has begun processing rare earths at its industrial facility in Utah. Click the dots to learn more.
Image courtesy of Energy Fuels.
Mining
Unlike other rare earth facilities, like that of MP Materials in California, White Mesa Mill does not have an open pit mine.
Crack and leach
Energy Fuels is performing an intermediate step in rare earths processing called "crack and leach," which involves removing the uranium and thorium from monazite ore to produce rare earth carbonate.
Tailings
Waste from the extraction process is deposited in the tailings pond.
Separation
Energy Fuels plans to expand its operations into separation––the next step in the process in which rare earth carbonate is split into individual oxides––in the next two to three years.