Cleveland-Cliffs recently made headlines with its announcement to repurpose tailings basins at its Michigan and Minnesota sites for rare earth mineral production. As reported by Fox Business, CEO Lourenco Goncalves called the move both a strategic opportunity and a national responsibility, citing the need to reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese exports. Geological surveys revealed promising signs of rare earth mineralization, prompting the company to expand its upstream mining assets beyond steelmaking. The market responded swiftly—Cleveland-Cliffs’ stock surged over 20%, signaling strong investor confidence in this pivot toward critical materials for defense, electronics, and clean energy.
Smaller mining operations can take inspiration from this strategy—and that’s where The John Ellis Company comes in. As a trusted CPA and advisory firm, we help local operators evaluate the financial viability of tailings basin reprocessing, secure clean energy tax credits, and navigate environmental compliance.
Our team specializes in turning technical possibilities into profitable ventures. With rare earths gaining national attention, The John Ellis Company is ready to guide small businesses through this evolving landscape with precision and confidence.
Let’s talk about how your operation can benefit from this opportunity.
Contact us to schedule a consultation.
Photo: Erlend Bjørtvedt (CC-BY-SA)