The Conversation (0)
March 24, 2025
McLaren Minerals Limited (ASX: MML) ("McLaren" or "Company"), is pleased to provide an update on the drilling program at its wholly owned McLaren Titanium Project.
Highlights
- Drilling has consistently intersected visible heavy minerals
- Additional 10m of mineral hosting sediments identified in northern area
- Metallurgical sample collected and dispatched for test work
- Pressurised saline water encountered in several holes on northern drilling lines
- Gypsum occurrence confirmed in north-western corner of EL69/2388
- First parcel of analytical samples has been dispatched to Perth for analysis
McLaren Minerals are currently exploring the McLaren Deposit located approximately 40km west of Balladonia in Western Australia by means of Air Core drilling and surface geological investigations. The 2025 exploration program is progressing well and is approximately 40% complete.
The drilling program, targeting infill drilling to a previously interpreted mineral sands strandline, should be complete by mid-April. Onsite geologists have confirmed visual mineralisation within targeted sediments and are encouraged by the consistent nature of mineralising orientation. It should be noted that visual estimates recorded during drilling activities and laboratory results do not always align.
Heavy Mineral Consistently Intersected
Drilling consistently intersected sediments hosting Heavy Minerals (HM) and it is interpreted to occupy paleo marine sediments below modern cover and are predictably identified within the elevated topographic feature. The mineral hosting sediments are observed to gently rise in an easterly orientation and overlay crystalline basement displaying a consistent heavy mineral assemblage dominated by Ilmenite and observed to contain a relatively low level of trash minerals. It is noted that a vertical extension to the historical drilling has been identified in the northern area, with current drill holes intersecting an additional 10m of mineral hosting sediments to those previously interpreted. Heavy Mineral present in the metallurgical sample grid is consistent along strike within the mineralizing beds and displays predictable mineral composition. Figure 1 below displays visual confirmation of HM observed during metallurgical test holes within the current 2025 infill drilling activities.
Figure 1: HM in drillholes - Left Image MM01, central image MM06, right image MM57
Metallurgical Sample
The samples of mineralised sediments required for metallurgical test work at IHC Mining laboratory in Queensland have been collected and dispatched. The samples were taken from 69 drillholes with those holes broadly representative of the first 5 years of planned operations (Please see Figure 2 below).
The sample equated to approximately 6 tonnes of material and will be used to validate the flowsheet designed by IHC and to complete follow up tests to allow development of a slimes management strategy for McLaren. As per previous test work (ref APS ASX Announcement 24 Sept 2024) slimes settling was achieved using addition of 3% gypsum, resulting in significant improvement in flocculant dosing rates, down to 150-200g/t.
The test work produced final products of:
- Ilmenite of a suitable grade to be classified as sulphate ilmenite
- Rutile of a typical quality with 95.7% TiO2, 1.49% Fe2O3,
- Zircon of a typical standard zircon quality, noting levels of U + Th at 265ppm were considered very low.
Water Encountered
In very positive news, pressurised water has been encountered in 3 holes being drilled in the north-western part of the known deposit area. In these holes saline water flowed freely from the hole while the rods were downhole, and in the second hole the water flow continued after rods were withdrawn and until the hole was plugged.
The groundwater occurs within a gravel terrace draping basement clays and occurs at shallow depth (approximately 20m). The crystalline basement below saprolite clays display an amount of alteration consistent to a shearing environment. The location is identifiable in regional geophysics data adjacent to a small-scale faulting feature striking approximately north south. It is likely that the gravel terrace was formed in a fluvial drainage feature, eroding and incising the softer sheared zones in the basement, later confined by overriding cover units. Further investigation will be required to determine whether the water is of sufficient volume and quality to support operations.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from McLaren Minerals Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
27 August
Ucore Strikes Rare Earth Offtake Deal With Critical Metals
Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU,OTCQX:UURAF) has moved to shore up future supplies of heavy rare earths through a preliminary offtake deal with Critical Metals (NASDAQ:CRML).
The Halifax-based company announced Tuesday (August 26) it had signed a non-binding letter of intent with Critical Metals, which plans to develop the Tanbreez rare earth project in Southern Greenland.
Under the proposed 10 year arrangement, Critical Metals would deliver a rare earth carbonate or oxide product to Ucore, starting in 2027 or upon commercial production, whichever comes later.
The feedstock is slated for processing at Ucore’s Strategic Metals Complex in Louisiana, a facility backed by both the Pentagon and the state of Louisiana. Smaller volumes will be processed first at Ucore’s demonstration plant in Kingston.
“Critical Metals Corp’s Tanbreez offers tremendous opportunities for Ucore given the significant concentration of heavy rare earths it contains, which are essential for the production of rare earth permanent magnets,” Ucore Chief Executive Pat Ryan said in a statement. “Both Critical Metals Corp and Ucore share a vision to lessen China’s grip of the rare earth ecosystem in the West, and we look forward to our partnership.”
Critical Metals’ executive chairman Tony Sage also said the collaboration would help fill gaps in Western supply chains for strategic minerals.
“These materials are critical to a number of western defense and consumer applications and we look forward to teaming up with Ucore and their exceptional team to support the development of a robust supply chain in America that isn’t reliant on China,” he said.
Rare earth elements, particularly the heavy segment such as terbium and dysprosium, are crucial for high-performance magnets used in fighter jets, missiles, radar, electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.
China currently controls the vast majority of mining and separation capacity, leaving Western nations exposed to potential export restrictions and supply chain disruptions.
Incidentally, the offtake announcement comes weeks after Ucore recieved a US$18.4 million Phase 2 award from the US Department of Defense to scale up its Louisiana refining complex.
The project builds on an earlier US$4 million Phase 1 program in which the company successfully demonstrated the separation of terbium and dysprosium at its Ontario pilot facility.
In addition, the Pentagon funding supports the installation of the company’s proprietary RapidSX separation technology at commercial scale. Ucore said the award will culminate with the construction of a first commercial RapidSX machine at the Louisiana site.
Pentagon officials have repeatedly warned that China’s dominance in the sector poses a strategic vulnerability, and have stepped up efforts to seed alternative supply chains in North America.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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20 August
New Rare Earths Venture to Target High-grade Assets in US and Brazil
Privately owned Rare Earths Americas (REA) has formed in a bid to explore and develop high-grade rare earths assets in the US and Brazil, looking to consolidate supply chains for various domestic sectors.
The company, which raised AU$25 million in a private funding round, said it combines experienced operators and investors with “deep expertise across global mining, energy and critical materials.”
Included in the company's portfolio is the Foothills discovery, located in Georgia, US.
The site contains grades of up to 41.3 percent total rare earth oxides, including heavy rare earths crucial for high-performance magnets. REA has highlighted its strong logistics, low-cost power and streamlined path to permitting.
In Brazil, the Alpha and Constellation projects hold more than 1 billion metric tons of high-grade ionic clay rare earths mineralization, including dysprosium and terbium, which are essential for permanent magnets.
The Homer project, also located in Brazil, targets multiple carbonatite clusters with the potential for niobium discoveries in a region known for leading niobium mines.
“The rare earths market is undergoing a generational shift as the West races to secure its rare earths future,” said CEO Donald Swartz in a Monday (August 18) press release.
REA’s timing aligns with broader US efforts to reduce reliance on China, which currently controls nearly 70 percent of global rare earths processing and accounts for most heavy rare earths production.
In April, Beijing restricted shipments of seven rare earths to the US and other countries, prompting concern among automakers and defense contractors dependent on these materials.
The US government recently proposed a pricing support mechanism for domestic rare earths ventures in order to increase production and mitigate China’s influence.
Discussions last month, led by former White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro and National Security Council official David Copley, included rare earths producers and major tech firms reliant on these critical minerals.
China’s dominance stems from billions of dollars invested in mining and processing since 2000, often with minimal environmental or safety oversight, allowing the country to produce rare earths at lower cost than western competitors.
The US response to the Asian nation's rare earths stranglehold has included efforts to develop domestic mine supply and build out refinement, processing and production capacity. American companies have also sought to secure alternative sources in Africa and Latin America, but investment and technology barriers remain significant.
Mountain Pass in California, the country’s only large-scale rare earths mine, produces bastnaesite carbonate, but relies heavily on foreign processing. MP Materials (NYSE:MP), the mine’s operator, posted a net loss of US$65.4 million in 2024, highlighting the challenge of competing with China’s low-cost production model.
REA’s launch positions it as a potential strategic player in this evolving landscape.
According to the company, the Foothills project offers a “streamlined permitting pathway” in the US, while the Alpha and Constellation projects in Brazil provide access to large-scale, high-grade heavy rare earths.
“With grade and strategic geography on our side, we intend to advance our rare earths projects to support the long-term supply of critical materials essential to domestic innovation,” Swartz added.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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15 August
Top 5 Australian Mining Stocks This Week: Bayan Mining Soars 87.5 Percent on Project Updates
Welcome to the Investing News Network's weekly round-up of the top-performing mining stocks listed on the ASX, starting with news in Australia's resource sector.
Rare earths companies took the lead this week, with several gainers involved in the sector.
In corporate news, Alkane Resources (ASX:ALK,TSX:ALK,OTCQX:ALKEF) closed its AU$559.1 million merger with gold- and antimony-focused Mandalay Resources. The deal was announced in April, and the combined company is projected to produce about 160,000 gold equivalent ounces in the 2025 fiscal year; that could rise to 180,000 ounces next year.
On a separate note, Arafura Rare Earths (ASX:ARU,OTC Pink:ARAFF) received a non-binding letter of interest regarding a potential investment in its Nolans project from Export Finance Australia (EFA).
EFA doesn't specify the amount of funding, but Reuters reported that it is likely to be around AU$100 million.
Market and commodity price round-up
The S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) posted a modest 0.93 percent gain this week, opening at 8,817.2 on Monday (August 11) and closing at 8,900.4 on Friday (August 15).
Gold demonstrated a 0.75 percent decrease in US dollars, going from US$3,365.65 per ounce on Monday to US$3,340.53 by the close of Australian trading on Friday. The yellow metal saw a smaller decrease in Australian dollars, going down 0.5 percent from AU$5,159.15 to AU$5,133.32 over the same period.
Silver largely remained flat in US dollars, starting the week at US$38.06 per ounce and closing at US$38 with a 0.16 percent decrease. In Australian dollars, the metal went from AU$58.33 to AU$58.39.
Top ASX mining stocks this week
How did ASX mining stocks perform against this backdrop?
Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Australian mining stocks below as the Investing News Network breaks down their operations and why these companies are up this week.
Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. AEST on Thursday (August 14) using TradingView's stock screener and reflects price movements between Monday and Thursday. Only companies trading on the ASX with market capitalisations greater than AU$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.
1. Bayan Mining and Minerals (ASX:BMM)
Weekly gain: 87.5 percent
Market cap: AU$14.2 million
Share price: AU$0.135
Bayan Mining and Minerals is a critical minerals explorer with assets in Canada and the US. It is focused on rare earths, gold and silver projects such as its Desert Star and Desert Star North assets in North America.
Desert Star is located in a prospective rare earths corridor in California’s Mojave Desert, while Desert Star North is a gold asset sitting 3 kilometres from Dateline Resources’ (ASX:DTR,OTC Pink:DTREF) Colosseum gold mine.
On Tuesday (August 12), Bayan announced a trading halt pending the release of an announcement.
The following day, the company provided an update to its North American portfolio, including Desert Star and Desert Star North. Sixty-five rock chip samples and 30 heavy minerals samples for Desert Star have been tested and are awaiting results this month, while Desert Star North is expecting multi-element analysis results by September.
Trading recommenced on Thursday, with Bayan shares rising as high as AU$0.16 that day.
2. Lindian Resources (ASX:LIN)
Weekly gain: 80 percent
Market cap: AU$254.44 million
Share price: AU$0.225
Lindian Resources is an Australian rare earths explorer and developer. Its flagship project is the Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi, which it regards as one of the world’s highest-grade undeveloped deposits.
On Monday, Lindian said that its mining licence expansion application in Malawi's Balawa District has been approved by the country's Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority. The expansion increases the licence area from 900 hectares to 2,500 hectares, allowing the company to speed up a Stage 2 expansion at Kangankunde.
Shares of the company were the highest this week on Thursday, closing at AU$0.225.
3. Energy Transition Minerals (ASX:ETM)
Weekly gain: 72.73 percent
Market cap: AU$139.58 million
Share price: AU$0.095
Energy Transition Minerals is an explorer and developer focused on critical minerals. Its flagship asset is the Kvanefjeld rare earths project in Southern Greenland, a multi-element deposit containing rare earths, zinc and uranium.
The company has delineated a JORC-compliant resource of over 1 billion tonnes across three zones at Kvanefjeld.
Energy Transition Minerals said on Tuesday that it has won an auction to acquire the Spain-based Penouta tin-tantalum-niobium mine and processing facility. Its successful bid was for AU$9.2 million.
In addition, Energy Transition Minerals announced a placement for AU$10 million. It is with existing shareholder OCJ Investment and will support the acquisition and the firm's balance sheet. OCJ will own approximately 15.5 percent of the company following settlement of the placement, and will have voting power of approximately 17 percent.
OCJ nominee Amy Jiang has been appointed non-executive director of the company following the investment.
Shares of the company peaked at AU$0.10 on Friday.
4. Dateline Resources (ASX:DTR)
Weekly gain: 52 percent
Market cap: AU$527.87 million
Share price: AU$0.19
Dateline Resources is focused on gold and rare earths projects in the US. Its efforts are currently geared toward the advancement of its flagship Colosseum gold and rare earths project in San Bernardino County, California. It sits 10 kilometres from MP Materials’ (NYSE:MP) Mountain Pass mine, the only operating rare earths mine in the US.
In June, the Trump administration announced that it would fast track the development of Colosseum as part of its push to boost domestic critical minerals supply. On Monday, Dateline published magnetotelluric survey results from Colosseum, confirming multiple high-priority drilling targets with significant rare earths potential.
Dateline’s shares saw a significant jump on Thursday, rising from a Wednesday (August 13) close of AU$0.15 to AU$0.175. The company addressed the increase in an ASX response published on Friday, saying that its ASX disclosures are up to date, with no new information received since the announcement on Monday.
5. Eclipse Metals (ASX:EPM)
Weekly gain: 50 percent
Market cap: AU$83.98 million
Share price: AU$0.033
Eclipse Metals is an exploration company focused on unlocking the potential of rare earths mineralisation in Greenland. Its flagship asset is the Ivigtût project in the southwest of Greenland.
According to Eclipse Metals’ website, Ivigtût holds the world’s largest and only known source of naturally occurring cryolite, a rare mineral historically used in aluminum production.
Situated less than 10 kilometres from Ivigtût is the company’s Grønnedal rare earths deposit, which currently holds a resource estimate of 89.2 million tonnes at 6,363 parts per million total rare earths oxide.
The last updates from Eclipse include a quarterly report on July 31 and an investor presentation on July 21. Shares of the company started climbing on August 8, closing at AU$0.033 on Friday, the highest level over the past two weeks.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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14 August
Rare Earths Market Update: H1 2025 in Review
Supported by growing permanent magnet demand, the rare earths market started 2025 on an uptrend.
Concerns about supply chain stability quickly began to impact the sector as US-China trade tensions increased early in the year. Throughout Q1, tariff uncertainty and concerns about tighter Chinese controls were on the rise.
As the year unfolded, supply chain growth became a key focus for the US, boosting US-focused stocks.
In early April, China flexed its grip on the rare earths market with Announcement 18, a sweeping export control measure from the Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs.
The policy, which the Asian nation framed as a national security and nonproliferation safeguard, requires exporters to obtain licenses for a slate of medium and heavy rare earths — including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium — along with their oxides, alloys and compounds.
The export of permanent magnet and rare earth technologies face similar safeguards under the measure.
The move added a fresh layer of regulatory complexity for global supply chains reliant on these critical materials for high-performance magnets, electronics, defense, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
Countering the new restrictions out of China, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order to examine the security of America's critical minerals supply chain, with a focus on rare earths.
“President Trump recognizes that an overreliance on foreign critical minerals and their derivative products could jeopardize US defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation,” as per the White House.
China eases rare earths export restrictions
By June, the global auto sector was feeling the pressure of China’s new restrictions.
“With a deeply intertwined global supply chain, China’s export restrictions are already shutting down production in Europe’s supplier sector,” said Benjamin Krieger of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA).
“We urgently call on both the EU and Chinese authorities to engage in a constructive dialogue to ensure the licensing process is transparent, proportionate, and aligned with international norms,” added the secretary general.
Rare earths are used in both electric and internal combustion engine vehicles, and CLEPA went on to warn of more auto sector shutdowns if the situation was not rectified.
To quell growing anxieties around supply security in the auto industry, trade discussions between Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič were held in Paris.
The meeting resulted in China introducing a “green channel” to speed up export licenses for rare earths; the concession will particularly benefit select EU firms. Export licenses were also granted to rare earths suppliers serving major US auto players like General Motors (NYSE:GM), Ford Motor (NASDAQ:F) and Stellantis (NYSE:STLA).
US lasers in on rare earths supply
China has long controlled the vast majority of the rare earths market, overseeing 69 percent of annual mine production, 85 percent of refining and processing capacity and 90 percent of magnet manufacturing.
As the US hones in on supply chain security, it has amped up its support of a domestic rare earths supply chain through investment in mining companies and permit streamlining.
The most notable recent move is US$400 million in funding from the Department of Defense for MP Materials (NYSE:MP), the operator of California-based Mountain Pass, the country’s only rare earths mine.
The investment, announced in July, will fund the expansion of MP’s processing capabilities at the Mountain Pass site and will support the construction of a second magnet manufacturing facility in the US. In return, the defense department will have a domestic source of permanent magnets for defense applications.
“Rare earth magnets are one of the most strategically important components in advanced technology systems spanning defense and commercial applications. Yet today, the US relies almost entirely on foreign sources,” said MP. “This strategic partnership builds on MP Materials’ operational foundation to catalyze domestic production, strengthen industrial resilience, and secure critical supply chains for high-growth industries and future dual use applications.”
A few days later, the public sector also showed support, with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) penning a US$500 million deal with MP to produce rare earth magnets in the US using 100 percent recycled materials.
Starting in 2027, MP will supply magnets for “hundreds of millions” of Apple devices, advancing the tech giant’s push for a sustainable domestic supply chain. In a press release at the time, Apple CEO Tim Cook called the partnership a step toward securing vital materials for advanced technology while bolstering US innovation.
Internationally, Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC,OTC Pink:LYSDY) achieved a sector milestone in May by producing on-spec dysprosium oxide at its Malaysian facility, marking the first commercial heavy rare earths output outside China.
CEO Amanda Lacaze told investors that the development strengthens supply chain resilience, giving customers in Japan, the US and Europe an alternative source for critical materials, and positioning Lynas as the world’s only producer of separated heavy rare earths products beyond China’s borders.
These moves were applauded by industry watchers as concrete steps in reducing reliance on Chinese supply; however, the consensus is that there is still much work to be done.
Mid and downstream rare earths buildout
During a keynote presentation at this year's Rule Symposium, held in early July in Boca Raton, Florida, Nomi Prins, an economist, author and former Wall Street executive, described what she calls the “real asset uprising,” a global shift in value and power driven by hard assets like precious metals, energy and rare earths.
“The entire US defense system runs on China's processing of rare earths, and that is one of the reasons why there is a current (Section) 232 investigation into the importance of critical minerals, and particularly those 17 rare earths, because this is an issue you don't want, even in peacetime,” she said. “You're basically relying on China, another country, to define what you need to run your defense, also what you need to run the growing energy requirements."
Watch Prins discuss the real asset uprising, as well as the precious metals market.
Chris Berry of House Mountain Partners sees strategic investments in refining, processing and manufacturing as the most effective way to expand North American rare earths supply.
“Rare earths, in and of themselves, are not rare. What is rare is the separation and the processing capacity, and then secondarily is the magnet processing capacity,” Berry told the Investing News Network during an interview at Fastmarkets' Lithium Supply & Battery Raw Materials conference in June.
“If the US government was going to fund something in the magnet supply chain, I would argue it's either magnet process or magnet-building capacity, or, more importantly, rare earth separation capacity,” he added.
This would not only reduce US dependence on China for rare earth magnets — Berry also noted that getting refinement and processing facilities built is a much faster process than permitting mines.
“If we’re talking about building a mine, it could take 10 to 15 years — sometimes more, depending on the situation,” he said. “Refining capacity is different. From finding a site and securing permits to raising capital and building the facility, you could be looking at five years, maybe less, though it depends on the material — whether it’s rare earths, nickel or something else.” Berry argued that boosting refining capacity is key to reducing reliance on China.
“You strike deals with raw material producers — maybe they’re Canadian, Australian, Chilean or even from parts of Africa. The point is, refining gets you to a usable product much faster,” he explained.
“Ask a battery manufacturer what they can do with spodumene or raw nickel — the answer is not much. But give them battery-quality material and they can trial it and integrate it into their supply chain. It’s a much more realistic approach.”
Global collaboration only way to compete with China
While a concerted effort like Berry described is key to quickly building out and fortifying a North American supply chain, tariff tensions with many countries around the globe have hurt allyship with the US.
However, as Berry and Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies argue, the US can't do it alone.
“If countries continue to operate independently instead of collectively, China will retain its dominant position because no single nation has enough market leverage on its own,” Baskaran wrote in a June overview.
Raising the warning bells of an impending crisis, her report goes on to note:
“Prices for neodymium-praseodymium oxide — the principal rare earth component in neodymium-iron-boron magnets — have fallen below US$60 per kilogram. If prices stay below US$60 per kilogram through 2030, approximately half of the projected supply originating outside of China is expected to become economically unviable. In fact, at this price point, only eight rare earth projects beyond China are expected to break even on direct production costs.”
According to Baskaran, China’s use of export controls has heightened the urgency of building critical minerals supply chains with allied nations. However, she believes this won’t happen without market intervention.
While US tariffs on Chinese imports are one option, their impact would be limited — the US accounts for just 1.7 percent of rare earths consumption, along with similarly small shares of other key minerals.
Any price-shaping strategy would require coordination with major consuming nations such as Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, the UK and the EU.
Rare earths market bifurcation
According to an August report from Benchmark Source, China’s newly imposed export restrictions on heavy rare earth oxides have created a pronounced regional price split.
While domestic Chinese rare earths prices remain relatively stable, markets outside China are seeing significant surges, driven by increased demand for ex-China supply.
This divergence underscores how export controls can distort global price dynamics, propelling up costs where alternatives are scarce while leaving domestic markets largely shielded.
Light rare earths have also been pushed higher by the broad market tailwinds.
The rest of the year could see more upward momentum in light of China “quietly” issuing its first rare earths mining and smelting quotas of the year in July. “This low-key approach is part of China’s continued efforts to tightly control its rare earths supply chain,” the Benchmark report explains. “It is likely that the impacts of this quota will further contribute to a bullish market sentiment over the next few months.”
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
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14 August
3 Best-performing Canadian Rare Earths Stocks in 2025
Rare earths are important for many of today's technologies and tomorrow's carbon-free economy.
Investors may not be familiar with the metals individually, but the group of elements is found in technology all around us, commonly in the form of rare earth magnets, which are used in everything from electric vehicles (EVs) to smartphones to wind turbines. As technology advances, they are expected to remain in high demand.
In 2025, the rare earths market is navigating a volatile yet strategically critical phase that is being shaped by supply concerns, demand fluctuations and intensifying US-China trade tensions.
Rare earth metals demand continues to be driven by uses such as clean energy technologies — particularly permanent magnets used in EVs and wind turbines — as well as by the defense and electronics industries.
However, consumption forecasts for rare earth magnets have been revised down, with expected year-on-year growth in 2025 easing from 9 percent to around 5 percent as macro uncertainties weigh on manufacturing and industrial activity.
On the supply side, China's influence remains significant, accounting for over 50 percent of the world’s refined rare earths output. Beijing’s latest round of export controls on the strategic minerals, which came in response to tariffs enacted by US President Donald Trump, has intensified concerns about global supply chain vulnerability.
These measures have especially impacted US and European manufacturers, prompting renewed efforts to diversify supply, invest in recycling technologies and accelerate domestic production projects.
In response to China’s rare earths export measures, the Trump administration initiated a Section 232 national security probe into the rare earths supply chain in April, sparking renewed interest in miners, producers and refiners.
Here the Investing News Network looks at the Canadian rare earth metals companies on the TSXV and the CSE with the biggest share price gains over the past year. Stocks with market caps above C$10 million were considered. TSX-listed rare earths stocks were reviewed, but did not make the cut this time. This top Canadian rare earths stocks list was compiled using TradingView’s stock screener, and data was gathered on August 5, 2025.
1. Mkango Resources (TSXV:MKA)
Yearly gain: 325 percent
Market cap: C$219.61 million
Share price: C$0.69
Mkango Resources is positioning itself to be a leader in recycled rare earth magnets, alloys and oxides.
The company holds a 79.4 percent stake in Maginito, which owns HyProMag, a firm focusing on rare earth magnet recycling in the UK. Maginito also owns Mkango Rare Earths UK, which has honed its efforts on long-loop rare earth magnet recycling. Additionally, Maginito and CoTec Holdings (TSXV:CTH,OTCQB:CTHCF) are expanding HyProMag’s recycling technology to the US through their joint venture, HyProMag USA.
Mkango’s mineral assets include the advanced Songwe Hill rare earths project and a diverse exploration portfolio in Malawi, covering rare earths, uranium, tantalum, niobium and more. Its subsidiary Lancaster Exploration signed a mining development agreement with the Malawi government for Songwe Hill in June 2024.
Mkango is also developing the Pulawy rare earths separation project in Poland via its subsidiary Mkango Polska.
In January, Mkango announced plans for HyProMag and Areera to partner with Inserma and Sweden’s RISE Research Institutes to develop automated sorting and pre-processing of speakers, creating a concentrated feed of NdFeB magnets for recycling. It also raised C$4.11 million to advance rare earth magnet recycling in the UK and Germany.
On March 25, the European Commission granted Mkango’s Pulawy rare earths separation project in Poland strategic project status under the Critical Raw Materials Act.
The designation highlights the project's importance to EU supply chains. It will streamline permitting while enhancing access to financing and support from EU institutions and potential offtakers.
The company's share value nearly doubled from C$0.34 on July 2 to C$0.60 by July 7 following the announcement on July 3 that Mkango’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Lancaster Exploration and Mkango Polska, had entered into a definitive business combination agreement with special purpose acquisition company Crown PropTech Acquisitions to form a new company, to be renamed Mkango Rare Earths and listed on the NASDAQ. The deal will create a vertically integrated rare earths company that holds Songwe Hill in Malawi as well as the Pulawy plant in Poland.
Later in the month, news hit the wire that HyProMag had secured feedstock supply and a pre-processing site share agreement with global electronics recycling company Intelligent Lifecycle Solutions.
Shares of Mkango reached a year-to-date high of C$0.70 on July 31.
2. Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU)
Yearly gain: 192.47 percent
Market cap: C$166.65 million
Share price: C$2.18
Ucore Rare Metals is a rare earths processing and exploration company with operations in the US and Canada.
Following its 2020 acquisition of Innovation Metals, the company is commercializing its proprietary RapidSX separation technology. Ucore plans to implement this system at its first commercial heavy rare earth elements (HREE) refining facility, the Strategic Metals Complex in Louisiana. It is also developing its Bokan HREE project in Alaska.
This past January, Ucore received C$500,000 from the Ontario government as part of the province's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund. The rare earths processor said at the time that it would use the cash infusion to advance improvements at its RapidSX commercial demonstration facility in Ontario. A private placement of 3.6 million shares priced at C$0.60 each raised an additional C$2.16 million for Ucore when it closed in February.
In May, Ucore broke ground on its Strategic Metals Complex, where it plans to "produce high-purity rare earth oxides from mixed rare earth chemical concentrates obtained from multiple global feedstock sources."
Shortly after, at the beginning of June, the company executed a definitive contract for an US$18.4 million follow-on first-stage production award from the US Department of Defense. Later in the month, it closed a private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$15.5 million. Ucore is working to achieve early production readiness for salable individual HREE products from the processing facility by the second half of 2026.
Shares of Ucore rose to a year-to-date high of C$2.10 on August 5, 2025.
3. Leading Edge Materials (TSXV:LEM)
Yearly gain: 77.78 percent
Market cap: C$35.99 million
Share price: C$0.16
Leading Edge Materials is focused on developing three critical raw materials projects located in the EU. Its portfolio includes the wholly owned Norra Kärr HREE project and the Woxna graphite mine in Sweden, and the company also has a 51 percent stake in the Bihor Sud nickel-cobalt exploration alliance in Romania.
In January, Leading Edge released its 2024 results, noting that in early December, the company applied to the Mining Inspectorate of Sweden for an exploitation concession 25 year mining lease for Norra Kärr.
A February update outlines plans to start up and downsteam prefeasibility study (PFS) work at Norra Kärr in Q2.
“As part of the PFS, the company will evaluate the business case for a Rapid Development Plan, whereby Norra Kärr can be in production in the shortest possible timeframe to be supplying REE concentrates to the market in advance of the completion of the downstream processing facility and selling nepheline syenite,” the statement reads.
Shares of Leading Edge hit a year-to-date high of C$0.30 on March 23, coinciding with news that the company was awaiting a decision on its application for strategic project status under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act.
A few days later, Leading Edge learned that Norra Kärr did not earn the designation; however, the company plans to reapply for strategic project status when a new round of submissions is requested.
In a June company update, Leading Edge discusses the steps it is taking to address the deficiencies in its strategic project application. Work on the PFS is also advancing, and the company anticipates its completion in Q1 2026.
FAQs for rare earth investing
What are rare earth minerals?
Rare earths are a category of elements that share many chemical properties. In fact, all but two — yttrium and scandium — are also called lanthanides. These elements are commonly found in the same deposits and are necessary for diverse technological applications such as rare earth magnets.
How many rare earth elements are there?
In total there are 17 elements that make up the rare earths category, and they are split into light and heavy rare earths. On the light side, there are cerium, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, europium, gadolinium and samarium, and on the heavy side there are dysprosium, yttrium, terbium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, yttrium and lutetium.
Where are rare earth metals found?
In terms of both reserves and production, China is the frontrunner for rare earth metals by a long shot, with 44 million metric tons of reserves and 270,000 metric tons of production in 2024. However, Brazil also has significant reserves above 21 million MT. With regards to rare earth production, the US is in second place at 45,000 metric tons due to the Mountain Pass mine in California.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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13 August
Rare Earths Stocks: 5 Biggest ASX Companies in 2025
Prices and demand for rare earths have taken a hit in recent years. However, the long-term outlook for these important materials remains positive, especially given their precarious supply situation.
Rare earth elements are key metals for high-tech applications, including permanent magnets, which have widespread potential, especially in the technology and electric vehicle sectors.
With future demand looking strong, countries around the world are keen to secure rare earths from sources outside of China — which is good news for rare earths companies in Australia. Indeed, looking at the next couple of decades, the International Energy Agency notes that rare earths demand could double by 2040.
For investors interested in getting a foot in the door, below is a list of the largest ASX rare earths stocks by market cap. Data for this stocks list was collected using TradingView's stock screener on July 31, 2025.
1. Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC)
Market cap: AU$10.05 billion
Share price: AU$10.47
Lynas Rare Earths is Australia's largest rare earths miner, as well as the only significant rare earth materials producer in the world outside of China. Focused on integrated delivery, Lynas is a miner and supplier of high-grade rare earths.
Its Mount Weld asset in Western Australia is one of the highest-grade rare earths mines in the world. In November 2024, Lynas' AU$800 million Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility officially opened in Western Australia.
In May of this year, the company announced that its Lynas Malaysia facility commenced first production of the heavy rare earth dysprosium. Production of terbium, another heavy rare earth product, began the following month.
During its fourth fiscal quarter of 2025, Lynas reported neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) production of 2,080 tonnes. Its total rare earth oxide production reached 3,212 tonnes during the same period.
2. Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU)
Market cap: AU$2.21 billion
Share price: AU$5.15
Iluka Resources has decades of experience in the mining industry, mostly in the production of zircon and high-grade titanium dioxide-derived rutile and synthetic rutile. However, in recent years, it has developed a rare earths portfolio.
At its Eneabba operation in Western Australia, Iluka has a strategic monazite-rich mineral stockpile that it plans to process. The company is currently working on a feasibility study for a fully integrated rare earths refinery at Eneabba, which would produce separated rare earth oxides from its own feedstock and potentially from third-party feedstock as well. Construction is slated to start in the second half of 2025 once earthworks have been completed, with first production at the refinery expected in 2027.
Iluka’s Wimmera project in Victoria, Australia, also has the potential to be a long-term supplier of zircon and rare earths. Iluka is currently working toward a definitive feasibility study for the project.
3. Brazilian Rare Earths (ASX:BRE)
Market cap: AU$568.72 million
Share price: AU$2.20
Brazilian Rare Earths is advancing its district-scale Rocha da Rocha rare earths province in the state of Bahia, Brazil.
The company's 1,410 square kilometres of mining claims are highly prospective for both heavy and light rare earths, with grades of over 40 percent total rare earth oxides (TREO) found. The company’s exploration campaigns have identified three styles of rare earths mineralisation across the project area, including source rock for high-grade niobium and scandium, shallow high-grade monazite sand and ionic clay rare earths mineralisation.
Brazilian Rare Earths’ current resource estimate for Rocha da Rocha stands at 510 million tonnes at 1,513 parts per million TREO. This includes the high-grade Monte Alto project with a monazite sand rare earths resource of 25.2 million tonnes at 1 percent TREO; it has a higher-grade, shallow, free-dig resource core of 4.1 million tonnes at 3.2 percent TREO. The company is working toward completing an updated resource estimate for the district.
Brazilian Rare Earths announced in December 2024 that it had received approval for the final exploration report for the Monte Alto exploration licence, a significant milestone in securing a mining permit for the project.
In May 2024, the company inked a binding agreement with Senai Cimatec for the joint development of both a bench-scale laboratory and a pilot plant for the beneficiation of Brazilian Rare Earths’ high-grade rare earth ores. Commissioning of the facility is scheduled for mid-2026.
The next month, Brazilian Rare Earths reported that metallurgical testing at Monte Alto had resulted in the production of both a mixed rare earth carbonate and a uranium peroxide.
4. Arafura Rare Earths (ASX:ARU)
Market cap: AU$443.58 million
Share price: AU$0.175
Arafura Rare Earths is advancing its Nolans NdPr project in Australia's Northern Territory, and is currently in the midst of construction. Arafura has plans for Nolans to be a vertically integrated NdPr operation with processing facilities on site. According to the company, the Nolans project will supply around 4 percent of global NdPr oxide demand once complete, with an annual production capacity of 4,400 tonnes of NdPr concentrate.
The company has signed several offtake agreements, including one with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy that commences in 2026. The deal guarantees a five year contract under which Arafura will supply Siemens Gamesa with NdPr from Nolans. The supply deal will kick off at 200 tonnes for the first year, before increasing over time.
Arafura kicked off 2025 by announcing it had received a AU$200 million investment commitment from Australia's National Reconstruction Fund. In March, Arafura announced a binding offtake agreement with Traxys Europe through which Arafura will supply a minimum of 100 tonnes per year of NdPr oxide over a five year term from the Nolans project. Arafura has the option to increase the offtake to a maximum of 300 tonnes per year at its discretion.
According to Arafura's report for the quarter ended on June 30, Nolans is shovel ready, with construction set to start once funding is secured.
5. Northern Minerals (ASX:NTU)
Market cap: AU$279.96 million
Share price: AU$0.031
Northern Minerals is focused on developing its Browns Range dysprosium-terbium project in Western Australia, and on bringing the project's Wolverine deposit into production.
The company has a long-term rare earths concentrate supply agreement with Iluka for all concentrate produced from Browns Range until 30,500 tonnes of contained rare earth oxides have been delivered.
Northern Minerals is developing Browns Range through a three stage system, and the project has been producing heavy rare earth carbonate since 2018. The company is now working on a definitive feasibility study for a commercial-scale mining operation and beneficiation plant at Browns Range that will respectively extract and process ore from Wolverine.
It is on track to complete a definitive feasibility study in Q3 2025, and is targeting first production in Q4 2027.
FAQs for ASX rare earths stocks
What are rare earths?
Rare earths are a category of elements that share many chemical properties. In fact, all but two — yttrium and scandium — are also called lanthanides. These elements are commonly found in the same deposits and are necessary for diverse technological applications such as rare earth magnets.
In total there are 17 rare earth elements, and they are split into light and heavy rare earths, with each segment being grouped together on the periodic table. On the light side, there are cerium, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, europium, gadolinium and samarium, and on the heavy side there are dysprosium, yttrium, terbium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, yttrium and lutetium.
Which countries have the most rare earths?
In terms of both rare earths reserves and rare earths production, China is the frontrunner by a long shot, with 44 million tonnes of reserves and 270,000 tonnes of production in 2024. Brazil comes in second in terms of reserves with 21 million tonnes. With regards to production, the US is in a distant second place at 45,000 tonnes due to the Mountain Pass mine in California, and Myanmar is in third place with 31,000 tonnes.
What makes rare earths rare?
Rare earths are actually relatively abundant in the Earth's crust, contrary to what their name suggests. However, they're quite dispersed instead of being found concentrated in specific areas, which means locating economic deposits to mine is difficult.
As China controls much of global rare earths production, many countries have deemed them critical minerals and are prioritizing supply chain security.
This is an updated version of an article originally published by the Investing News Network in 2018.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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