MP Materials Corp.’s stock skyrocketed in early trading Thursday, after the rare-earth producer said it inked a public-private partnership with the U.S. Defense Department to boost domestic magnet production and to reduce dependence on foreign sources.

Shares of MP Materials soared 50% Thursday morning after the rare earths miner announced a multibillion-dollar agreement with the Department of Defense.

MP Materials announced a $500 million partnership to supply Apple with rare-earth materials from its US mine, sending shares soaring.