Williston Basin yields massive rare earth discovery.

The North Dakota Geological Survey has discovered a massive deposit of rare earth minerals in the Williston Basin, which could help reduce the US's reliance on foreign sources of these critical minerals. The Bear Den Member of the Golden Valley Formation, covering 340 square miles over west-central North Dakota, contains up to 2,570 parts per million rare earth elements, the highest spot concentration ever reported from North American coal deposits. The discovery could have significant implications for national security and energy infrastructure.