To my understanding, the REE ores at Hay Mountain, should they exist, are in concentrations that are deeper/separate from the other possible ores. If so, then copper and other metals will be mined before REEs, which is not to say that some byproduct may not exist anyway, but in less economic concentration that may be stockpiles for later processing, perhaps along with the richer ores.

...hardly a topic for discussion at this point, in my opinion.

By the way, Mountain Pass could be shut down, and put on "care and maintenance", perhaps even at government expense. That will make restarting much cheaper when conditions are appropriate, and C&M costs, or a portion thereof may be recoverable from a future buyer.

OR, and while I haven't studies the situation, perhaps bankruptcy could provide debt relief enough that they could operate into the future anyway - they may be a long way from dead/doomed.

I very seriously doubt Mountain Pass will be closed with machinery and equipment sold at auction and moved from the present location, but we shall see, eh?

VP