Willcox starts rare earth feedstock stockpiling in West Virginia

Willcox International Holdings has begun stockpiling about 200 tons a day of rare earth ore at its Wyoming County, West Virginia site as it builds out a domestic feedstock and processing chain. The company is also looking for Germanium sources in West Virginia as U.S. mineral supply chains remain heavily concentrated abroad.

Why it matters: - The Wyoming County project adds a domestic source of rare earth and critical mineral feedstock for defense, industrial and technology uses. - Willcox is targeting materials that are central to permanent magnets, semiconductors, optics and energy storage. - The company is also trying to reduce reliance on China-linked processing and feedstock supply.

What happened: - Willcox International Holdings said its wholly owned subsidiary, Wyoming County Coal LLC, has begun stockpiling rare earth ore at its Wyoming County, West Virginia complex. - The initial phase targets about 200 tons per day of ore for extraction, stockpiling and mechanical concentration. - The company described the work as a step toward screening, sorting and sizing the ore bodies before the next concentration phase. - CEO of mining operations Tarlis Thompson said the company has started extracting and stockpiling the materials at commercial scale.

The details: - Willcox said Phase 1 focuses on screening, sizing and sorting to identify the highest-value rare earth and critical mineral concentrates at the site. - The company said it will then move into further concentration work. - Willcox said it is working with ReElement Technologies to develop an economically viable process for the feedstocks. - Willcox and ReElement have been testing froth flotation and other low-cost methods to concentrate the material before separation and purification. - The company is also evaluating other West Virginia sites that may contain high levels of Germanium. - Willcox said it is seeking local sources of Germanium for processing and beneficiation, with further refining at ReElement Technologies. - Germanium is used in optics, infrared optics, high-speed electronics and high-efficiency solar cells. - The company said 65% to 70% of China’s primary Germanium production comes from germanium-bearing coal and coal combustion byproducts. - The release said a widely cited estimate put 2019 Chinese Germanium output from germanium-bearing coal at 113 metric tons, or nearly two-thirds of primary production. - The remaining 30% to 35% comes mainly from zinc smelting residues, where Germanium is recovered as a byproduct.

Between the lines: - The project fits a broader U.S. push to localize mineral production and refining for materials seen as strategically sensitive. - Willcox is positioning unconventional coal-related resources as a way to supply critical minerals without depending entirely on foreign-controlled processing. - The Germanium push signals that the company is looking beyond rare earths to build a wider feedstock portfolio.

What's next: - Willcox said it will transition from stockpiling to screening, sizing and mechanically concentrating the material. - The company is continuing work with ReElement Technologies on separation and purification. - Willcox is also evaluating additional West Virginia properties and nearby former coal mines for Germanium feedstock. - Further refining is expected to take place through ReElement Technologies if the supply chain is developed as planned.

The bottom line: - Willcox is turning a West Virginia coal site into an early-stage rare earth and critical mineral supply chain, with Germanium as a possible next target.