Your next iPhone could come from this US mine. It also has billions in Pentagon contracts

Rare earth is a set of 17 minerals that have an incredible range of uses, from smartphones to heat-resistant military gear. — Reuters

A storied mine tucked in the California desert might be the ticket for the US to reducing its dependence on foreign adversaries. And it could be the birthplace of your next iPhone, too.

At a time when the federal government is tightening its purse strings under the Trump administration, Pentagon agreements with one Las Vegas mining company are still firm.