AI Overview+6Yes, the United States did produce rare earth minerals, including heavy rare earths, before China's dominance in the industry. In fact, the U.S. was once the world's leading producer of rare earths, especially from the 1960s to the 1990s, with the Mountain Pass mine in California. However, low-cost Chinese exports and stricter environmental regulations in the U.S. led to a decline in domestic production.
