Coal mines are not typically considered a source of rare earth elements (REEs). REEs are a group of 17 elements that are found in the Earth's crust, but are not very abundant. They are typically found in minerals such as bastnäsite, monazite, and xenotime. Coal is a sedimentary rock that is formed from the remains of plants that lived millions of years ago. It does not typically contain REEs.

There are a few cases where REEs have been found in coal mines, but these are generally considered to be anomalies. For example, in the 1980s, a coal mine in China was found to contain a significant amount of REEs. However, this mine is not currently in operation.

Overall, it is unlikely that coal mines will become a major source of REEs. There are other sources of REEs that are more abundant and easier to extract.