UW SER Researchers Release Publication on Rare Earth Element Occurrences in Wyoming and Montana Coal

Researchers at the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) have published a pioneering study in the International Journal of Coal Geology. The study represents a first-of-its-kind explanation of rare earth element (REE) enrichment in Powder River Basin (PRB) coals.

 

The geological process paper titled, “Rare Earth Element Occurrence and Distribution within the Largest U.S. Coal Resource: Geochemical Variability of Powder River Basin Coals, Wyoming and Montana,” provides all the crucial background information on the conditions under which REEs were concentrated in coal strata, which is foundational to any further investigations for the recovery of REEs or examination of other coal basins.

 

Authors of the paper include members of SER’s Center for Economic Geology Research (CEGR) minerals team, Principal Research Professional Davin Bagdonas, Senior Research Professional Bob Gregory, Assistant Research Professional Cole Messa, and Program Manager Tyler Brown, along with SER Director of Cross-Cutting Programs and Acting Senior Director of Research Erin Phillips.

 

“By pinpointing the predictable trends in rare earth element variability and their proximity to bounding highlands, this paper provides the scientific infrastructure needed for the next generation of mineral exploration,” says Bagdonas, lead author on the paper. “It effectively transitions coal-hosted rare earth elements from a theoretical concept to a mapped, predictable resource for the entire industry.”

 

Bagdonas is a leading authority on the extraction of critical minerals and REEs from coal ash and byproducts. Complementing this expertise, the research team has earned a national reputation for its comprehensive work on unconventional resources and REE potential within coal basins.

 

“I am incredibly proud of this team’s versatility,” says Brown. “Whether they are performing complex geochemical analyses in the lab or managing regional projects across the PRB and Wyoming, every individual brings a unique skill set that is vital to our mission. Their dedication has made us the go-to national specialist team for exploring unconventional domestic supplies of critical minerals.”

 

In addition to providing a comprehensive origin story to the distribution of REE in coal seams, the paper also explores the potential of the PRB as a domestic, unconventional source of REEs plus Yttrium. By analyzing the subbituminous coal and surrounding rock layers, researchers identified specific patterns that could make extracting these critical minerals from coal mines more predictable and viable.

As the global demand for critical minerals grows, identifying domestic sources is a priority for energy independence. This research suggests that active coal mines in the PRB could be repurposed or dual-utilized to provide these essential materials.

 

The full study can be downloaded at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2026.104964.