| 1949 |
Rare Earth mineralization (bastnasite) was discovered at Mountain Pass. |
| 1950 |
The USGS maps the area. Molybdenum Corporation of America (MCA) purchases mining claims.
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1952
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Production of Rare Earths begin.
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1954
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Shipments of Rare Earth concentrates to U.S. Government stockpile begun; other markets not yet developed.
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1965
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Development of red phosphor for color TV creates large demand for Europium Oxide. Europium recovery plant built. Cerium Oxide and Lanthanum-rich Concentrate production increases.
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| 1966 |
New Rare Earth concentrator installed; annual production rate now at 24 million lbs concentrate.
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| 1967 |
Concentrator expansion completed; demand increases greatly.
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| 1974 |
MCA changes its name to Molycorp, Inc.
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| 1977 |
Publicly traded Molycorp is acquired by Union Oil of California (UNOCAL).
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| 1981 |
New seperations plant constructed. Production of Samarium Oxide and other "heavy" Rare Earths begins.
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| 1990 |
Expanded facilities produce about 40% of the global Rare Earths.
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| 1998 |
Seperations activity suspended due to inability to continue off-site wastewater evaporation facilities. Recovery of Rare Earth concentrates from past inventories begin.
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| 2002 |
Final mining of milling campaigns of Bastnasite ore completed. Mill tailings impoundment area is closed after 30 years of service.
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| 2004 |
Molycorp recieves approval of critical 30 year mining plan permit.
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| 2005 |
Unocal aquired by Chevron Corporation. Molycorp, Inc. becomes wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron.
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| 2007 |
Extraction circuit for Neodymium/Praseodymium restarted for first time since 1998. Production commences in 4Q. Molycorp merged into Chevron Mining, Inc.
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| 2008 |
Privately held Molycorp Minerals, LLC, acquires the Mountain Pass facility from Chevron Mining on September 30, 2008, as a foundation to build an integrated rare earth products and technology company.
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| 2009 |
Processing stockpiled Bastnasite Concentrate begins.
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| 2010 | Molycorp becomes a publicly traded company, with shares traded under the ticker symbol "MCP" on the New York Stock Exchange.
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| 2011 |
Mining of fresh Bastnasite ore begins. Construction commences on modernization and expansion of Molycorp's facilities at Mountain Pass.
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| 2011 |
Acquired AS Silmet, a rare earth oxide and rare metal producer based in Sillamae, Estonia, and it is now called Molycorp Silmet.
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| 2011 |
Acquired Santoku America, Inc., in Tolleson, Arizona. The specialty metal and alloy producer is now called Molycorp Metals and Alloys.
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| 2011 | Molycorp announces joint venture with Daido Steel, Ltd., and the Mitsubishi Corporation to manufacture neodymium-iron-boron magnets.
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