Local mining concerns ramping up

Crook County’s local mining concerns are both seeing growth and development. While Rare Element Resources prepares to open its pilot plant in Upton and makes moves towards establishing a mine in the Bearlodge, Strata Energy is expanding its production.

It’s a pretty exciting time at Strata, said CEO Ralph Knode last week, thanks to fundraising efforts from parent company Peninsula Energy.

“In the last eight months, they’ve raised over $100 million USD and it’s all going right into the expansion of our plant operations at Oshoto,” he told the county commissioners.

The uranium mine, he said, now...