Rare Earths in US SE Coastal Plain

Date:
May 15, 2017
Source:
Geological Society of America
Summary:
Rare Earth elements have become increasingly important for advanced technologies, from cell phones to renewable energy to defense systems. Mineral resources hosted in heavy mineral sand deposits are especially attractive because they can be recovered using well-established mechanical methods, making extraction, processing, and remediation relatively simple.
Article Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170515150708.htm

Thoughts: What effect if any would this have on the strip mining for coal or environment that is already taking place. I know it's not discussed about what strip mining does to theses areas. So I'm curious to know would people be enthusiastic or not about mining/extracting this?