Industry
Round Top Mountain rises from the desert plateau of far West Texas near Sierra Blanca, one of five laccolithic peaks in the area formed by exposed rhyolite intrusion. Known chiefly for its mineral wealth, it drew exploration beginning in the 1970s for fluoride, followed by identification of beryllium, lithium, uranium, and especially rare-earth elements. It has been described as holding the largest deposit of heavy rare-earth elements in the United States, with estimates exceeding 1 billion tons and containing 16 of the 17 rare earths. Because these materials are important in major technologies and defense, the mountain has become a strategically significant focus of modern mining and development plans.
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Sierra Blanca, Texas · United States
