Chinese Rare Earths for US Defense Might be Replaced by those of Alaska?

The U.S.A. relies on rare Earths from China for critical pieces of select defense items used for the military. The Democrat Party as well as Senator Graham and former Senator McConnell have been very hawkish on war in Ukraine against Russia, stimulating conflict with Russia and China over Ukraine rather than peacefully sharing with Russia and returning to normal diplomatic relations. The war will harm the Alaska ecosystem because of the need to mine rare Earths to replace those of China.

S.E. Alaska’s Prince of Wales Island apparently has those rare Earths too, and with development and utilized judiciously, might replace some of the Chinese rare Earth’s that have been put on a restricted list. It would be good not to depend on the Chinese Government for materials for construction of Patriot and Tomahawk missiles.

Gemini summarized the situation;

Gemini– Samarium, neodymium, dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium are critical rare earth elements used in U.S. defense for high-performance magnets, guidance systems, and sensors in missiles, aircraft, and submarines. They enable critical functions such as laser targeting, radar stabilization, and heat-resistant electronics in, for example, F-35 fighters and Patriot missile systems. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

• Neodymium (Nd): Essential for powerful magnets in missile guidance systems, radar, and motors for aircraft and unmanned systems.
• Samarium (Sm): Used in samarium-cobalt (SmCo) magnets for high-temperature applications like missile guidance systems, defense electronics, and inertial navigation systems.
• Dysprosium (Dy): Used in high-temperature NdFeB magnets for motors, actuators, and guidance systems on missiles and military aircraft.
• Terbium (Tb): Used for stabilizing and reinforcing neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, increasing their performance in aircraft, submarine, and missile guidance.
• Yttrium (Y): Crucial for YAG lasers in laser targeting, Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) for jet engine turbine blade coatings, and electronic weapons components. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

Key defense platforms using these elements include Virginia-class nuclear submarines, F-35 fighter jets, and guidance systems for guided missiles and “smart” bombs

Defense Applications and Vulnerability:

• Tomahawk Missiles: Rely on samarium-cobalt magnets, which were previously identified as having a 100% dependency on Chinese processing.
• F-35 Fighter Jets: Utilize approximately 100 pounds of rare earths, with components like fin actuators and actuators relying on samarium magnets.
• Restricted Access: In 2025, China imposed export restrictions on seven heavy and medium rare earths, impacting U.S. defense contractors.
• Supply Chain Shift: While China has historically supplied these materials, the U.S. DoD is investing in companies like MP Materials and Noveon Magnetics to develop domestic, non-Chinese magnet production. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska contains all five of those elements. They are found within the Bokan-Dotson Ridge rare earth element (REE) deposit, which is currently considered the highest-grade “heavy” rare earth project in the United States. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The presence of these specific elements is documented as follows:

• Dysprosium (Dy), Terbium (Tb), and Yttrium (Y): These are explicitly highlighted by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and project developer Ucore Rare Metals as primary high-value components of the Bokan Mountain site.
• Neodymium (Nd): This element is a key focus of the proposed extraction project because of its critical role in manufacturing high-strength permanent magnets.
• Samarium (Sm): While less frequently cited in headlines, it is confirmed as part of the overall rare earth mineral suite at Bokan Mountain, which contains a broad mix of both light and heavy lanthanides. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Key Locations on Prince of Wales Island

While Bokan Mountain is the most advanced prospect, other nearby areas on the island also show potential for these minerals: [1]

• Bokan-Dotson Ridge: The primary site of interest, containing over 63 million pounds of total rare earth oxides.
• Dora Bay: Known to host yttrium-bearing pegmatite dikes.
• Salmon Bay: Identified by the U.S. Geological Survey as another prospect within a 200-mile mineralized trend extending from Bokan Mountain. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The Bokan-Dotson Ridge project is currently in an advanced exploration and pre-development phase, with major recent milestones in resource reporting and infrastructure financing. [1, 2, 3]

Current Development Status (2024–2026)

• Upgraded Mineral Resource (April 2026): Ucore Rare Metals recently released a significant update to its mineral resource estimate, adding over 800,000 tonnes of “Measured” mineralization. This confirms the site’s unique skew toward high-value heavy rare earths (35–40% of total content).
• Financial Readiness: The project is supported by a US $145 million bond authorization from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), specifically for infrastructure and construction.
• Strategic Two-Phase Plan: Development is split into two parts:
  1. Establishing a Strategic Metals Complex (SMC) separation plant in Ketchikan to process materials from various sources.
  2. Full-scale mining and onsite processing at Bokan Mountain on Prince of Wales Island.
• Timeline: While earlier targets for production were delayed, current efforts are focused on completing final engineering and feasibility studies to transition into a “shovel ready” status within roughly 30 months. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

Environmental Regulations & Concerns

The project faces rigorous oversight due to its location within the Tongass National Forest and its proximity to sensitive marine ecosystems. [1, 2]

• Federal and State Oversight: Permitting involves the U.S. Forest Service and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, requiring strict adherence to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Waste Management: To minimize surface impact, Ucore plans to use underground paste backfill, where waste tailings are mixed with cement and pumped back into the mine. This is intended to leave a “near-zero” surface footprint after closure.
• Key Risks and Opposition:
  • Salmon Habitat: Concerns from groups like the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council highlight potential risks to Kendrick Creek and Kendrick Bay, which are vital for commercial salmon fishing.
  • Historical Contamination: The site neighbors the Ross-Adams mine, a former uranium mine and Superfund site currently undergoing cleanup.
  • Radioactive By-products: Rare earth extraction often involves thorium or uranium; regulators require extensive water treatment and monitoring to prevent leaching into local groundwater.