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January 19, 2025
Vital Metals Limited (ASX: VML) (“Vital”, “Vital Metals” or “the Company”) is pleased to report an updated Mineral Resource estimate (“MRE”) for the Tardiff Upper Zone (“Tardiff”), part of the Nechalacho Rare Earths Project (the “Project”), located in Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada.
Highlights:
- New Tardiff MRE total resource tonnage (across all categories) of 192.7 million tonnes at 1.3% total rare earth oxide (TREO), containing 2.5Mt TREO.
- Tardiff is estimated to contain 636,000 tonnes of NdPr (neodymium oxide + praseodymium oxide).
- Incorporating all the latest drilling data this new estimate, compared to the April 2024 MRE, delivers:
- 70% increase in reported tonnes in the Indicated Resource category;
- 56% increase in reported tonnes in Measured + Indicated Resource categories;
- 2% increase in contained NdPr;
- Niobium (Nb2O5), hosted within the same geological formations hosting the rare earth mineralisation, reported for the first time.
- Current MRE is reported above a 0.7% TREO cutoff grade instead of a metal equivalent value previously used.
- Vital is using the updated Tardiff MRE as the basis for a Scoping Study to examine the size and scalability of future production scenarios. This is expected in the coming weeks.
The current MRE follows Vital’s completion of resource definition drilling program at Tardiff in 2023, totalling 74 holes for 6,664m, which returned high-grade results up to 8% TREO.
The current MRE features a total resource tonnage (across all categories) of 192.7Mt grading 1.3% TREO and 0.3% Nb2O5, containing 2.52Mt TREO including 636,000t of NdPr.
Vital Managing Director and CEO Lisa Riley said:“Our updated MRE for the Tardiff deposit shows increased confidence in the deposit, with a 70% increase in the Indicated Resource tonnages and a 56% increase in the Measured + Indicated Resource tonnages compared to our April 2024 historical MRE, while our Inferred Resource tonnages have decreased by more than 20%. While our overall totals of contained TREO and NdPr have only slightly increased on the April 2024 historical MRE, based on the drilling we completed in 2023, we now have more confidence that this is a truer representation of what this deposit holds.
“The current MRE is the final piece awaited for inclusion in our Tardiff Scoping Study, which is now due for delivery in the coming weeks.”
Vital VP Exploration Natalie Pietrzak-Renaud:“The positive changes to the current MRE compared to the April 2024 historical MRE is largely based on the inclusion of the 2023 drill results, the 2024 metallurgical test results we obtained from our 2023 collected composite Tardiff sample, and the carefully considered metrics we used as inputs. Our approach is to establish outputs that are realistic pathways for project development. With the work we completed on the MRE and the forthcoming Scoping Study, we have, and continue, to build a solid foundation of data and knowledge to advance our project.”
The Tardiff MRE is reported within an optimized open-pit shell using Studio NPVS from the Datamine Suite. The optimized pit shell was generated using a 45° maximum final pit wall, and a 150m RL lower pit limit.
Tardiff contains rare earth element (“REE”) and Niobium mineralisation hosted within a nepheline syenite intrusion. Recent metallurgical test work indicates strong potential to produce neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) and praseodymium oxide (Pr6O11), which are light rare earth oxides (LREO) with magnetic properties and are in demand due to their use in technologies such as high-strength magnets, aircraft engines, and various industrial and electronic applications. The recent metallurgical test work also indicates an opportunity to further investigate and advance the potential opportunity to recover niobium minerals from Tardiff ore. Niobium is in demand due to its low oxidation point and relatively high melting point. It is used as an alloy in aeronautic engines, electronic applications (due to its superconducting properties) and as an additive to lithium-ion batteries to enhance battery life.
The current MRE represents a significant increase in reported tonnes in the Indicated Mineral Resource category in comparison to the historical MRE completed in April 2024 and a decrease in reported tonnes in the Inferred Mineral Resource category. The current MRE is also reported above a 0.7% TREO cutoff grade instead of a metal equivalent value as previously used.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Vital Metals, 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.
07 May
Results of Channel Sampling Program at Halleck Creek
American Rare Earths Limited (ARR:AU) has announced Results of Channel Sampling Program at Halleck Creek
07 May
US Policy Shift Sparks Renewed Interest in Rare Earths Stocks
Rare earths stocks are gaining renewed investor attention following recent US government policies that sharpen its focus on securing critical mineral supply chains.
In early 2025, the Trump administration signaled stronger commitments to reduce American reliance on China for rare earth elements (REEs) — especially those essential for defense, energy and advanced manufacturing.
This policy momentum is driving capital into companies positioned to support US supply chain independence, particularly those with innovative and scalable rare earths solutions.
The US Department of Defense, Department of Energy and the White House have all expressed mounting concern over the vulnerability of American industries due to China’s overwhelming control of REEs — over 90 percent of global rare earth magnet production. These magnets are essential for defense systems, robotics, electric vehicles (EVs) and artificial intelligence technologies.
Amid these concerns, the Trump administration has been advancing executive actions designed to fast track domestic production and processing capacity. During his first term in office, Trump signed Executive Order 13953, which addressed the threat of reliance on foreign adversaries for critical minerals and instituted support for domestic mining and processing industries.
As the trade war with China escalates, the US president doubled down on this agenda with a new executive order, issued in March 2025, invoking his wartime powers to strengthen the US critical minerals supply chain.
This series of policy moves has boosted investor enthusiasm for rare earth equities. MP Materials (NYSE:MP), the sole US-based rare earths miner, has seen its stock price climb approximately 70 percent year-to-date, pushing its market capitalization to over US$4 billion, buoyed by its strategic role in domestic production and recent policy endorsements.
Similarly, USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR), which went public in early 2025, saw a 70 percent surge on its Nasdaq debut and now holds a valuation near US$887.5 million, reflecting strong investor confidence in its plans to establish a comprehensive US rare earths supply chain.
These gains underscore the market's positive response to governmental efforts aimed at reducing reliance on foreign sources, particularly China, for critical minerals essential to defense and advanced technologies.
Challenges in traditional supply chains
China’s dominance in the rare earths supply chain — from mining to processing to final manufacturing — presents a critical vulnerability for the US, especially in sectors like defense, robotics and artificial intelligence.
NdFeB (neodymium-iron-boron) magnets, essential for everything from drones and EVs to missile guidance systems and fighter jets, are largely sourced or processed in China. While MP Materials mines rare earths in California, most refining still happens overseas, underscoring a lack of domestic downstream capacity. Adding to the challenge, traditional rare earths mining is environmentally damaging and slow to permit in the US.
This urgent need for supply chain independence is also driving interest in alternative approaches like recycling and domestic magnet production.
CoTec Holdings: Positioned for the next phase of rare earths independence
As the US intensifies efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains, CoTec Holdings (TSXV:CTH,OTCQB:CTHCF), with a modest market capitalization of approximately US$33 million, is emerging as a key player in developing domestic rare earth magnet recycling capabilities. Through a 50/50 joint venture with Maginito, CoTec is advancing HyProMag USA, a project aimed at establishing a rare earth magnet recycling and manufacturing facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas.
HyProMag USA will leverage the patented Hydrogen Processing of Magnetic Scrap (HPMS) technology, originally developed at the University of Birmingham. This innovative process enables the efficient recovery of NdFeB magnets from end-of-life products and offers a low-cost, environmentally sustainable alternative to mining.
HyProMag’s "short-loop" process provides a faster and less complex approach compared to conventional chemical-based methods. By using hydrogen gas, magnets within electronic scrap are caused to fracture naturally with minimal pre-processing. The demagnetized material can then be sieved into powder form, which is re-pressed and sintered into new magnets — all while bypassing many of the environmental challenges and delays associated with mining and refining.
The Texas facility is projected to produce 750 metric tons of recycled sintered NdFeB magnets annually by 2027, potentially supplying up to 10 percent of US domestic demand within five years by tripling the capacity contemplated by the Feasibility Study released in November 2024.
To put this in perspective, CoTec’s market capitalization of just US$33 million is a fraction of its larger peers — despite its advanced development stage and the strategic importance of its recycling model. The project’s positive November 2024 feasibility study highlights robust economics, with a net present value of US$262 million at current prices and up to US$503 million based on projected pricing scenarios.
The project has garnered support from the Minerals Security Partnership, a coalition of governments including the United States, aimed at developing secure and sustainable critical mineral supply chains. A positive feasibility study released in November 2024 highlighted robust economics for the project, estimating a net present value of US$262 million at current prices, with potential to reach US$503 million based on forecasted prices.
By focusing on recycling and domestic production, CoTec Holdings is strategically positioned to contribute to the US goal of reducing reliance on foreign sources for critical materials, particularly in sectors vital to national security and technological advancement.
Weighing the risks and rewards in rare earths investing
Government backing, mounting geopolitical urgency and rapid demand growth for applications in defense, artificial intelligence, EVs and clean energy technologies all point to a strong long-term outlook for rare earths.
The US push to secure domestic rare earths supply chains is creating strong tailwinds for investors, but the sector remains nuanced. Major players like MP Materials have benefited significantly from early mover status and government support. Similarly, USA Rare Earth, which went public in early 2025, debuted with a valuation of US$887.5 million despite still being in pre-production stages.
By contrast, CoTec Holdings’ lower market cap offers investors a markedly different value entry point. Yet, CoTec is progressing at a faster pace than many larger peers, with a US-based rare earth magnet recycling facility already in advanced development.
This contrast reveals a significant value gap in the market. While larger rare earth equities may offer liquidity and visibility, companies like CoTec provide exposure to near-term production, strategic alignment with US policy goals and cutting-edge technology at a much lower valuation.
Of course, investors should weigh this potential against sector-wide risks. Rare earths production and processing are technically complex and capital intensive, often facing long development timelines and regulatory hurdles. Price volatility is another factor, as rare earths markets are relatively illiquid and can be impacted by sudden changes in global supply — particularly from China.
But for those seeking to participate in the reshaping of the US critical minerals landscape, companies that combine innovative models with accelerated development timelines may offer an attractive mix of upside potential and policy-driven support.
Investor takeaway
Informed investing in this space requires balancing optimism about macro-level trends with a clear-eyed view of execution challenges. As US policy continues to favor domestic rare earth development, the right players could see significant upside — especially those aligned with sustainable, scalable supply chain solutions.
Unlike traditional miners, CoTec offers investors exposure to a low-footprint, tech-enabled model that may be better aligned with future regulatory and environmental expectations. In an era of supply chain instability, companies that can quickly deploy domestic capacity without the long timelines of mine development may have a distinct advantage.
This INNspired article is sponsored by CoTec Holdings (TSXV:CTH,OTCQB:CTHCF). This INNspired article provides information which was sourced by the Investing News Network (INN) and approved by CoTec Holdingsin order to help investors learn more about the company. CoTec Holdings is a client of INN. The company’s campaign fees pay for INN to create and update this INNspired article.
This INNspired article was written according to INN editorial standards to educate investors.
INN does not provide investment advice and the information on this profile should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. INN does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company profiled.
The information contained here is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of securities. Readers should conduct their own research for all information publicly available concerning the company. Prior to making any investment decision, it is recommended that readers consult directly with CoTec Holdings and seek advice from a qualified investment advisor.
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06 May
Dateline Resources Plans OTCQB Listing as US Rare Earths Interest Intensifies
Gold and rare earths company Dateline Resources (ASX:DTR,OTC Pink:DTREF) is keen to uplist to the OTCQB following strong interest in its California-based Colosseum project.
In a May 2 statement, the company highlighted US President Donald Trump's recognition of the asset.
“The Colosseum Mine, America’s second rare earths mine, has been approved after years of stalled permitting,” Trump wrote in an April 25 Truth Social update on his administration's achievements.
Trump's comment comes after the Department of the Interior said on April 8 that Colosseum can continue mining operations under its existing mine plan of operations with the Bureau of Land Management.
"The resumption of mining at Colosseum Mine, America’s second rare earth elements mine, supports efforts to bolster America’s capacity to produce the critical materials needed to manufacture the technologies to power our future," the bureau said at the time, highlighting the importance of reducing US reliance on China for critical minerals like rare earths.
Dateline said the Department of the Interior's confirmation prompted a surge in interest from North American investors.
"The Company’s shares currently trade in the U.S. under the OTC code DTREF, and the process to uplist to OTCQB has commenced," Dateline said, adding that this listing will be in parallel to its ASX listing.
“Dateline will continue to meet its ASX disclosure obligations, which will satisfy OTC market requirements under the established foreign listing exemptions,” the company also noted.
Located in the Walker Lane Trend in East San Bernardino County, California, the Colosseum gold-rare earths mine was acquired by Dateline from major miner Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX,NYSE:GOLD) in October 2021.
Using a cut-off grade of 0.5 grams per tonne gold, Colosseum has a JORC-compliant resource of 27.1 million tonnes at 1.26 grams per tonne gold for 1.1 million contained ounces of gold. In terms of rare earths, Dateline says Colosseum is "emerging as a project of national strategic importance" due to its potential to host these key commodities.
On Monday (May 5), the company said it has started preparing for a rare earths-focused drill program at Colosseum, with a detailed plan to be finalised within one month. The drill program will be carried out contemporaneously with Dateline's planned gold feasibility study for Colosseum.
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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05 May
How to Invest in Rare Earth Metals
Investing in rare earth minerals can seem tricky, but there are a variety of rare earths stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available for metals investors.
The rare earths sector may seem daunting, as many elements fall under the umbrella, and the 17 rare earth elements (REEs) are as diverse as they are challenging to pronounce.
The group is made up of 15 lanthanides, plus yttrium and scandium, and each element has different applications, pricing and supply and demand dynamics. Sound complicated? While the REE space is undeniably complex, many investors find it compelling and are interested in finding ways to get a foot in the door.
Read on for a more in-depth look at the rare earth metals market and the many different types of rare earth minerals, plus rare earths stocks and ETFs you can invest in.
In this article
What are the types of rare earth minerals?
There are a number of ways to categorize and better understand rare earths, which will help you know which companies to invest in based on what they're targeting.
For example, they are often divided into “heavy” and “light” categories based on atomic weight. Heavy rare earths are generally more sought after, but light REEs are important too.
Rare earths can also be grouped together according to how they are used. Rare earth magnets include praseodymium, neodymium, samarium and dysprosium, while phosphor rare earths — those used in lighting — include europium, terbium and yttrium. Cerium, lanthanum and gadolinium are sometimes included in the phosphor category as well. For a detailed breakdown of rare earths uses, check out our guide.
One aspect that is common to all the rare earths is that price information is not readily available — like other critical metals, rare earth materials are not traded on a public exchange. That said, some research firms do make pricing details available, usually for a fee, including Strategic Metals Invest, Fastmarkets and SMM.
What factors affect supply and demand for rare earths?
As mentioned, each REE has different pricing and supply and demand dynamics.
However, there are definitely overarching supply and demand trends in the sector. Most notably, China accounts for the vast majority of the world’s supply of rare earth metals. As the world’s leading producer, the Asian nation accounted for roughly 70 percent of rare earths production in 2024, or 270,000 metric tons (MT), with the US coming in a very distant second at 45,000 MT. After the US, Myanmar is the third largest rare earths producer with total output of 31,000 MT last year. On top of that, China is also responsible for 90 percent of refined rare earths output.
The strong Chinese monopoly on rare earths production has created problems in the sector in the past. For instance, prices in the global market spiked in 2010 and 2011 when the country imposed export quotas.
The move sparked a boom in global rare earth metals exploration outside of China, but many companies that entered the space at that time fell off the radar when rare earths prices eventually sank again. Molycorp, once North America’s only producer of rare earths, is a notable example of how hard it is for companies to set up shop outside China. It filed for bankruptcy in 2015. But the story didn’t end there — MP Materials (NYSE:MP), the company that now owns Molycorp’s assets, went public in mid-2020 in a US$1.47 billion deal, and a year later was a US$6 billion company.
MP Materials is now the western hemisphere's largest rare earths miner, putting out high-purity separated neodymium and praseodymium oxide; a heavy rare earths concentrate; and lanthanum and cerium oxides and carbonates.
Concerns about China’s dominance are ongoing as the US/China trade war continues and as supply chain stability grows in importance. The Asian nation has tightly controlled how much of its rare earths products make it into global markets through a quota system initiated in 2006.
US President Donald Trump's high tariffs targeting Chinese goods has resulted in China enacting further rare earth export restrictions. In April 2025, the Government of China placed strict export controls on samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium — all crucial for the production of electric vehicles, smartphones, fighter jets, missiles and satellites.
Sharing a border with China, Myanmar is the source of at least 70 percent of its neighbor’s medium to heavy rare earths feedstock. With that in mind, it's not surprising that a temporary halt in Myanmar’s production in late summer of 2023 sent rare earths prices to their highest level in 20 months, as per OilPrice.com.
Myanmar's rare earths production experienced further disruptions in late 2024 as the Kachin Independence Army seized two towns in Kachin state, near China’s Yunnan province, that are critical suppliers of rare earth oxides to China.
Outside of China, one of the world’s leading rare earths producers is Australian company Lynas (ASX:LYC,OTC Pink:LYSCF), which sends mined material for refining and processing at its plant in Malaysia. In 2023, Japan Australia Rare Earths, a joint venture between the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security and Sojitz (TSE:2768), inked an agreement to invest AU$200 million in the production and supply of heavy rare earths from Lynas.
This has allowed the mining company to expand its light rare earths production and begin production of heavy rare earths. Lynas brought its large-scale downstream Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility online in November 2024. According to its H1 2025 fiscal year results, the company's neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) production volume increased by 22 percent.
In the US, MP Materials is making good use of US$58.5 million awarded in April to support construction of the first fully integrated rare earth magnet manufacturing facility in the US. The funding is part of the Section 48C Advanced Energy Project tax credit granted by the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Treasury and Department of Energy.
The Fort Worth, Texas, magnet facility began producing the NdFeB magnets crucial for EVs, wind turbines and defense systems at the start of 2025. First commercial deliveries are expected by the end of the year.
Looking at demand, many analysts believe the need for rare earths is set to boom on accelerating growth from top end-use categories, including the electric vehicle market and other high-tech applications.
As an example, demand for dysprosium, a key material in steel manufacturing and the production of lasers, has grown as countries increase their steel standards. Aside from that, rare earths have long been used in televisions and rechargeable batteries, two industries that accounted for much demand before the proliferation of new technologies. Other rare earth metals can be found in wind turbines, aluminum production, catalytic converters and many high-tech products.
As can be seen, securing rare earths supply is an increasingly important issue. In addition to traditional rare earths mining, there has been growth in the rare earths recycling industry, which aims to recover REE raw materials from electronics and high-tech products in order to reuse them in new ways.
Exploring and extracting rare earth materials from deep-sea mud is one of the newest recovery methods, although deep sea mining of mud and nodules comes with significant environmental concerns. However, it is gaining traction as more mining companies look offshore for resources and US President Trump pushes for fast tracking of deep-sea mining permits.
How to invest in rare earth minerals
Investors are increasingly wondering how they can invest in rare earth metals as demand ramps up and the US-China trade war has caused further concerns about rare earth supply chains.
The possibility of higher rare earths prices in the coming years is one of the catalysts for investors wondering how they can invest in rare earths. As it's not possible to buy physical rare earth metals, the most direct way to invest in the rare earths market is through mining and exploration companies.
Investing in rare earths stocks
While many rare earth minerals companies are located in China and are not publicly traded, there are a variety of rare earths companies listed on US, Canadian and Australian stock exchanges.
Below is a selection of companies with rare earths assets or operations trading on the NYSE, NASDAQ, TSX and ASX; all had market caps of over $500 million as of April 22, 2025.
- Brazilian Rare Earths (ASX:BRE)
- Energy Fuels (TSX:EFR,NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU)
- Ionic Rare Earths (ASX:IXR)
- Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU)
- Lynas (ASX:LYC,OTC Pink:LYSCF)
- MP Materials (NYSE:MP)
- Neo Performance Materials (TSX:NEO,OTC Pink:NOPMF)
- Peak Rare Earths (ASX:PEK)
Small-cap REE companies are also listed on those exchanges.
Here’s a hefty list of junior rare earths stock and companies with rare earths projects. The rare earths stocks on this list had market caps between $5 million and $500 million as of April 22, 2025:
- Aclara Resources (TSX:ARA,OTC Pink:ARAAF)
- American Rare Earths (ASX:ARR,OTCQB:ARRNF)
- Appia Rare Earths & Uranium (CSE:API,OTCQX:APAAF)
- Arafura Rare Earths (ASX:ARU,OTC Pink:ARAFF)
- Australian Strategic Materials (ASX:ASM,OTC Pink:ASMMF)
- Canada Rare Earth (TSXV:LL,OTC Pink:RAREF)
- Commerce Resources (TSXV:CCE,OTC Pink:CMRZF)
- CoTec Holdings (TSXV:CTH,OTCQB:CTHCF)
- Defense Metals (TSXV:DEFN,OTCQB:DFMTF)
- E-Tech Resources (TSXV:REE)
- Geomega Resources (TSXV:GMA,OTC Pink:GOMRF)
- Hastings Technology Metals (ASX:HAS,OTC Pink:HSRMF)
- Mkango Resources (TSXV:MKA)
- Namibia Critical Metals (TSXV:NMI,OTC Pink:NMREF)
- NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ:NB)
- Northern Minerals (ASX:NTU)
- Pensana (LSE:PRE,OTC Pink:PNSPF)
- Resouro Strategic Metals (TSXV:RSM)
- Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU,OTCQX:UURAF)
- Vital Metals (ASX:VML)
To learn more about investing in rare earths, check out our stocks lists: 9 Biggest Rare Earth Stocks in the US, Canada and Australia, Top Canadian Rare Earths Stocks and the 5 Biggest ASX Rare Earth Stocks.
Investing in rare earths ETFs
Rare earths ETFs offer investors a diversified position in this market space, mitigating the risks of investing in specific companies.
- The VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF (ARCA:REMX) (ARCA:REMX) tracks an index of global mining companies, as well as refiners and recyclers of rare earths and strategic metals. Its top holdings include Lynas and MP Materials.
- The Sprott Critical Materials ETF (NASDAQ:SETM) tracks an index of US and foreign companies related to energy transition materials. Lynas, Energy Fuels and MP Materials are also among its top holdings.
- The Global X Disruptive Materials ETF (NASDAQ:DMAT) tracks materials companies that derive at least half of their revenues from the exploration, mining, production and refining of one or more of 10 materials categories, including rare earths. In addition to Lynas and MP, this ETF also provides exposure to multiple Chinese rare earths companies, and one of its top holdings is China Northern Rare Earth High-Tech Company (SHA:600111).
This is an updated version of an article first published by the Investing News Network in 2020.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: American Rare Earths and CoTec Holdings are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
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01 May
Trump Administration Strikes 50/50 Minerals Deal with Ukraine
The Trump administration has finalized a profit-sharing agreement with Ukraine that will give the US a 50 percent stake in future revenues from the war-torn country’s stores of critical minerals.
At the heart of the deal, announced on Wednesday (April 30), is a set of materials that are foundational to both economic growth and national security, including graphite, lithium, titanium, beryllium and uranium.
The deal also covers the 17 rare earth elements, which are key components in the manufacturing of clean energy technologies like wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles and modern weapons systems.
According to US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, the deal is part of Washington’s broader vision for “a peace process centred on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.”
“President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian people to show both sides’ commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine,” Bessent added in a statement.
While emphasizing a commitment to peace in Ukraine, he also issued a warning: any entity "who financed or supplied the Russian war machine" will be barred from taking part in Ukraine’s reconstruction, a thinly veiled reference to Russia’s state-backed energy and mining sectors, as well as Chinese firms with close ties to Moscow.
The US currently imports many key minerals. The US Geological Survey states that of the 50 minerals it classifies as “critical,” the country is 100 percent import-dependent on 12 of them, and more than 50 percent dependent on 16 others.
Meanwhile, China has established near-total dominance over global rare earths production and refining, raising alarms in western capitals about overreliance on a strategic rival.
Ukraine, in contrast, is sitting on a potential treasure trove. The Ukrainian government says it has deposits of 22 of the 50 critical minerals the US deems critical, including some of the world’s largest graphite and lithium reserves.
Many of these resources are located in the country’s eastern and southern regions, some of which remain under Russian occupation and are worth an estimated US$500 billion in untapped reserves.
A deal born of conflict and eventual compromise
The minerals deal has a fraught history, with Trump originally pitching it as a way for the US to be “repaid” for military assistance provided to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Trump claims the US has sent over US$350 billion in aid, a figure far higher than the official tally of US$183 billion listed on the US government’s own Ukraine Oversight webpage.
That early version of the agreement collapsed after a tense Oval Office meeting on February 28, during which Trump blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for failing to prevent Russia’s invasion.
Negotiations were revived following a more conciliatory conversation between the two leaders during Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome. Since then, Trump has softened his public rhetoric toward Kyiv while sharpening criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has dismissed Trump’s ceasefire overtures.
Speaking at a White House cabinet meeting on the day the deal was signed, Trump defended the agreement as a necessary course correction after years of what he described as “throwing money out the window.”
“We had no security, we had no nothing — just pouring money there, unsecured money,” Trump said. “So I said, ‘Well, we want something for our efforts beyond what you would think to be acceptable.’”
The final version of the deal, confirmed by Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, establishes a joint development fund with equal 50/50 profit sharing. “It is important that the agreement will become a signal to other global players that it is reliable to cooperate with Ukraine in the long term — for decades,” she said in a post on X, also emphasizing that Kyiv will retain sovereign control over resource management.
Still, the negotiations came down to the wire. Bessent admitted that Ukrainian officials had proposed last-minute changes, delaying the signing until the afternoon.
The precise terms of the final accord remain under wraps, and the treasury department has declined to release a full copy, despite reporting from the Washington Post and the Kyiv Independent on key provisions.
Opportunities and risks moving forward
While Trump has portrayed the agreement as a personal victory and proof of his commitment to “peace through strength,” some analysts caution that the US-Ukraine minerals partnership could be vulnerable to future instability.
Ed Verona, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, has warned that “few serious US investors will put their shareholders’ money at risk based on such a clearly unbalanced ‘deal.’”
Verona cited Russia’s own resource history as a cautionary tale. “Production sharing agreements signed during the difficult transitional period of the 1990s were subsequently repudiated by Putin’s regime, with Western partners forced to surrender control and majority ownership in major projects,” he said.
Moreover, with no security guarantees attached to the deal, Ukraine’s ability to develop its resource sector could still be jeopardized by continued fighting, especially as some of the most mineral-rich regions remain under Russian control.
As the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, approaches, where Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Zelenskyy are expected to meet again, western unity on Ukraine’s reconstruction will be under scrutiny.
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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29 April
A Transformational Step Towards Becoming a Fully Integrated HPA Producer
Impact Minerals Limited (ASX:IPT) (Impact or Company) is pleased to announce that it will acquire a 50% interest in Alluminous Pty Ltd (Alluminous), becoming its largest shareholder. Alluminous is a newly formed company that has successfully acquired 100% of HiPurA Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (HiPurA). HiPurA owns the HiPurA® High Purity Alumina (HPA) processing technology which was previously developed and wholly owned by ChemX Materials Limited (Administrators Appointed) (ChemX). Both ChemX and HiPurA separately entered voluntary administration on 2 January 2025 (ASX Release 4 April 2025).
The acquisition provides a number of strategic and tactical benefits, including:
- Potential to accelerate Impact’s entry into the HPA market by up to two years, providing a significant time and cost advantage compared to the current projected timeline.
- HiPurA® is complementary to the Lake Hope Project, which remains central to Impact’s strategy. Financial modelling and report writing for the pre-feasibility study (PFS) are well advanced.
- Immediate access to the HiPurA® HPA process, which has demonstrated >99.99% (4N) purity and is designed to be scalable.
- A pilot plant that is largely constructed and nearing commissioning, with modest additional capital expenditure required to commence production and generate product samples.
- Ownership of a fully equipped HPA laboratory and micro-plant eliminates the need for third-party testing, and enables faster customer qualification and process optimisation.
- Potential integration of the Lake Hope resource into HiPurA® via back-engineering, while unlocking a new pathway using chemical feedstocks. This allows both commercial options to be pursued to reach a streamlined path to market.
- Supports strategic alignment with Impact’s CRC-P research grant, allowing integration of membrane technologies and strengthening government funding prospects.
- Involvement of the original HiPurA® inventors, which together with Impact’s own HPA capabilities, ensures technical continuity, deep expertise, and innovation-led process improvements.
- Partnership with experienced North American investors may provide exposure to additional funding opportunities and global customer networks in high-growth HPA markets including batteries, semiconductors, and LEDs.
- The total acquisition cost of $2.2 million will be shared equally by Impact and the other shareholders of Alluminous. Impact's share is $1.1 million. This structure is expected to lower Impact’s financial exposure and share technical and financial responsibilities.
The remaining 50% of Alluminous will be owned by the two founders and inventors of the HiPurA® technology, together with North American venture capital investors with experience in the resource sector. This ownership structure is expected to support the development of the HiPurA® HPA process's development by retaining its original developers' involvement and may facilitate access to North American capital markets.
Alluminous's next steps will be to demonstrate the HiPurA® technology at pilot plant scale, followed by expansion to commercial-scale production in North America. There is also potential for Alluminous to pursue a listing on a North American securities exchange within the next 12 to 24 months.
Impact's Managing Director, Dr. Mike Jones, said, “This acquisition represents a rare and strategic opportunity for Impact. ChemX ultimately failed due to financial issues rather than any technical shortcomings. Our due diligence identified a robust, well-designed technology and business plan. The HiPurA® process demonstrated innovation, scalability, and the proven ability to produce 4N HPA at the micro-plant scale. The associated pilot plant, which is capable of producing at least 25 tonnes of HPA per year, is nearing commissioning. This has the potential to accelerate the time to commercialisation materially.
The acquisition process was highly competitive and provides us with a second avenue to progress our HPA strategy. HiPurA may serve as a complementary addition to our Lake Hope Project, with plans to explore integration through back-engineering. HiPurA® technology also provides alternative development possibilities, with potential advantages including faster time to market, multiple feedstock options, and a highly scalable production model. Based on our current assessments, the time savings could be as much as two years, which may be worth millions of dollars.
Our partnership within Alluminous brings together a rare combination of deep technical and financial expertise. The original inventors of HiPurA® will remain actively involved, ensuring continuity in technology development. At the same time, our North American co-investors contribute significant financial acumen and market access, particularly in high-value supply chains for batteries, semiconductors, and specialty materials.
“This acquisition provides more than just a process—it gives us real assets, well-credentialed partners, and a faster path to revenue. Impact is now uniquely positioned to become part of a vertically integrated, globally competitive supplier of HPA.”
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This article includes content from Impact Minerals, 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.
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