US rare earths refiners race to break China's grip

U.S. rare earths refiners are racing to expand as the Pentagon pushes to break China's stranglehold on critical minerals used in advanced weapons. Phoenix Tailings, a small New Hampshire refinery, received a $500 million Pentagon loan to build a new factory within 14 to 18 months, aiming to boost separation and metallization capacity. The effort is urgent amid Middle East conflicts draining munitions and new rules barring Chinese components.