Next to Joshua Tree National Park, a mining company is staking its claim for rare earth minerals

""This is truly one of the most iconic landscapes in America," said Chance Wilcox, California desert program manager for the National Parks Conservation Assn., as he stood atop a rocky slope within the project footprint."

"The project is in its early stages, and it's unclear whether further testing will confirm the presence of rare earth elements across a broad enough area to warrant extracting them."

"Environmentalists say the mining project could deplete water supplies, draw traffic, and generate toxic waste, threatening the sensitive plants and wildlife in the area."

"The United States depends heavily on China for its supply of these critical minerals, a major national security vulnerability the Trump administration has sought to address."

Dateline Resources Ltd. has launched a rare earths mining project near Joshua Tree National Park, an area critical for desert tortoises. The project aims to extract minerals essential for electric vehicles and defense systems. The U.S. relies on China for these minerals, prompting regulatory changes to boost domestic production. Environmentalists warn that mining could harm sensitive wildlife and deplete water supplies. The site is close to the only operational rare earths mine in the U.S., raising concerns about its impact on the park and surrounding areas.

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