Extraction
We mine rare earth ore from one of the world’s richest deposits, efficiently and sustainably unlocking the raw materials that power modern technologies.
Mountain Pass Mine and Processing Facility
A unique advantage
Mountain Pass contains one of the richest deposits of rare earth elements in the world and is the only site of its scale in the Western Hemisphere. The facility’s integrated operations offer significant cost and production advantages all while rigorous waste reduction, water stewardship, and materials recycling efforts help minimize our environmental impact and preserve ecological diversity.
Our capabilities
From extraction and beneficiation to separation and refining, our operations are designed to produce high-purity rare earth materials efficiently and sustainably—all in one location. The site is largely self-sufficient, generating its own electricity and heat, utilizing water from self-contained wells, and managing tailings on-site. As a zero-net-discharge facility, Mountain Pass minimizes environmental impact while delivering the critical materials that power clean energy, advanced technologies, and global innovation.
Today, MP Materials produces more than 10% of world's rare earth supply. With our re-commissioned processing facilities, we now deliver separated and refined products, including high-purity NdPr oxide, the cornerstone of the world’s strongest and most efficient permanent magnets.
Beneficiation
Through milling and flotation, we upgrade rare earth ore into a high-value mineral concentrate, maximizing recovery while minimizing environmental impact.
Separation & Refining
We separate and refine rare earth elements into high-purity compounds, delivering materials in integrated packaging ready for domestic and international shipment.
Mountain Pass history
For over 70 years, Mountain Pass has been a cornerstone of global rare earth production, experiencing both periods of leadership and moments of challenge. Today, under MP Materials' ownership, it has roared back to life, reaching new milestones and driving the revival of the Western rare earth supply chain.
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Explore Mountain Pass
Mountain Pass integrates mining, milling, flotation, separation, refining, and finishing, delivering unmatched efficiency and scale.
The roasting circuit, where rare earth concentrate is thermally treated prior to leach.
The separations pad houses solvent extraction and product finishing circuits, and sitewide utilities.
Milling operations grind ore prior to froth flotation.
Crushing operations at Mountain Pass, an essential first step in breaking down rare earth ore.
The state-of-the-art water treatment facility creates the ultra-pure water necessary for rare earth processing.
An aerial view of Mountain Pass, photographed in 2024.
The radial stacker moves in multiple directions—rotating in and out, adjusting up and down, and shifting side to side—to evenly distribute crushed ore into a uniform pile.
The leach circuit extracts rare earths from concentrate into solution prior to separation.