The pond that fills the bottom of the Mountain Pass rare-earth metal mine reflects the terraces. Digging is expected to resume by the second half of 2011 after the water is pumped out. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Millions of gallons of groundwater have accumulated in the pit of the mine. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
John Espinoza checks pump valves at the surface of the pond. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
At the bottom of the mine, groundwater produces a mirror effect. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
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Water pumped from the open-pit mine is injected with air in these huge nozzels. The mist evaporates into the hot and dry Mojave Desert air at the rim of the mine. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Hidden in a rock blasted from the mine are rare-earth metals used in high-tech applications. Such metals include cerium and lanthanum. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Processing equipment sits idle at the mine. At the base of the mountains, Interstate 15 carries traffic between California and Nevada. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Didymium oxide, which is used in high-strength electric motor magnets and cellphone speakers, is one product of the Mountain Pass Mine. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
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Vials at the mine’s lab hold the oar and samples of the rare-earth metals that are extracted from the rust-colored rock. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
