Montana BHA / Friday, March 17, 2023 / Categories: Media Bitterroot Forest reacts to claims regarding West Fork mine After a new mining company recently announced that it intends to develop a rare-earth metals mine in the headwaters of the Bitterroot River, the Bitterroot National Forest issued a statement saying it hadn’t received a mining application from the company. At the end of January, U.S. Critical Materials Corp. announced it had discovered "the highest-grade (rare-earth element) deposit in the United States" among its 223 mining claims near the confluence of Sheep Creek and the West Fork of the Bitterroot. Samples showed the deposit contains 9% total rare-earth oxides, a notably high percentage. Read more from the Missoula Current here... Previous Article BHA Podcast & Blast, Ep. 151: Bill Avey, 40 Years in the Forest Service Next Article OPINION: What’s good for prisoners may not be good for hunters Print 3 Rate this article: No rating Tags: Montana Chapterhabitat Montana BHAMontana BHA The voice for Montana's wild public lands, waters and wildlife Other posts by Montana BHA Contact author Full biography Full biography The voice for Montana's wild public lands, waters and wildlife x