The USDOE ran a molten salt thorium reactor for over 20K hrs some time back. The concept has a lot of “pluses” going for it, IMO ! Additionally, the U.S. has large known reserves of thorium and, as you note, other valuable “rare earths” are often found in the same matrices. Hence mining of thorium making recovery of these elements economic is another “benefit”.
What I personally like about the thorium concept, (aside from its “fail cold” aspects)is these units would have a small physical, (and environmental) footprint. Because of their relatively small size they could be “factory built” gaining in manufacturing efficiency and QA/QC. MKoreover their small size lower costs means not only can they be sited close to demand, but more of them not only offers the benefits of redundancy, but insulates both generation and transport from terrorism attacks and physical events having significant effects.
Even better the concept provides a means to “burn” a significant amount of the current stocks of “spent fuel” as “seed” ! >PS
The reason this is not on the front burner is....(DRUMROLL)
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE LEFTIST HOPLOPHOBES DOMINATING ALL ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE RINO ESTABLISHMENT.
If we had plentiful, cheap electricity from these Thorium reactors, we could use coal liquifaction to meet all of our petroleum needs not covered by domestic drilling. Combined with exploiting our ever more plentiful natural gas reserves, all energy costs would drop, PRODUCTIVE (i.e. manufacturing) employment would skyrocket, and the need for the Welfare State would plummet.
In other words, all these “government is the only solution” people in both parties would look like the power-hungry/mad idiots they really are.
Can’t have that!