Core Viewpoint - The rare earth sector is gaining attention due to the global demand for critical minerals essential for clean energy, defense, and high-tech industries, with several companies emerging as key players in this space [1]. Company Summaries MP Materials - MP Materials Corp. has entered a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, involving a multi-billion dollar investment package and long-term commitments [2]. - The company plans to build a second U.S. magnet manufacturing facility, named the "10X Facility," expected to be operational by 2028 [2]. - MP Materials has secured a $500 million deal with Apple to supply rare earth magnets made from 100% recycled materials, manufactured in the U.S. [3]. - As the second-largest producer of rare earths globally, MP Materials operates the Mountain Pass facility, which is crucial for supplying materials for electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, and defense [4]. - The company's stock has surged nearly 100% in the past week due to the announcements regarding the DoD and Apple deals [4]. USA Rare Earth - USA Rare Earth, Inc. is focused on mining, processing, and supplying rare earth elements and critical minerals, aiming to develop a vertically integrated domestic supply chain for rare earth magnet production [5]. - The company holds mining rights to the Round Top Mountain deposit in West Texas, which contains essential minerals like neodymium and lithium [6]. - USA Rare Earth’s stock has increased by over 50% in the past five days, reflecting market trends alongside MP Materials [6]. NioCorp - NioCorp Developments, Ltd. is developing the Elk Creek project, which is one of the largest potential sources of niobium and scandium, both important for advanced alloys and clean technologies [7]. - The company has received strong analyst support, with a recent price target increase from $4 to $5 by Maxim Group [11]. The Metals Company - The Metals Company, Inc. is engaged in deep-sea mining, targeting polymetallic nodules rich in battery metals, with operations in the Clarion Clipperton Zone [11]. - TMC has seen significant stock performance, gaining over 550% in 2025 due to its unique approach and strong technical ratings [12]. American Resources - American Resources Corp. specializes in producing high-purity rare earths from both recycled and virgin sources, with its ReElements segment supplying separated rare earths for U.S. commercial and defense needs [13]. - The stock of American Resources has also increased by more than 50% in the past five days, driven by heightened interest in the rare earth sector [13].

Core Viewpoint - Critical One Energy Inc. has awarded a contract to Geotech Ltd. for an advanced airborne geophysical survey over its Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project, aiming to enhance antimony and gold discoveries and solidify its position in the critical minerals sector [1][2]. Group 1: Project Details - The airborne geophysical survey will cover the entire 13,990-hectare Howells Lake Project, utilizing helicopter-borne VTEM and horizontal magnetic gradiometer technology to map geological structures at depths of over 500 meters [2]. - This survey is the first airborne geophysical survey conducted over the project area in more than two decades, providing high-quality data for identifying mineralization targets [4]. - The project area spans over 25 kilometers of favorable geological structures, which will be crucial for expanding antimony and gold mineralization [2][4]. Group 2: Market Context - Antimony is a critical mineral with high demand due to its applications in military defense, battery technologies, and flame retardants, with over 80% of the global supply controlled by China and Russia [5]. - The Howells Lake Project is strategically located near Ontario's Ring of Fire corridor, positioning the company to address supply chain challenges while advancing gold exploration [5]. Group 3: Company Overview - Critical One Energy Inc. is focused on critical minerals and upstream energy, with a portfolio that includes antimony-gold exploration in Canada and uranium interests in Namibia [7]. - The company aims to leverage its technical, managerial, and financial expertise to create high-value projects and meet the rising global demand for critical minerals [7].

Core Viewpoint - Churchill Resources Inc. has announced high-grade results from due-diligence sampling at its Black Raven property, indicating the presence of polymetallic minerals including significant zinc, gold, silver, and lead grades [1][5]. Summary by Relevant Sections Sampling Results - The final due-diligence sample results revealed three over-limit zinc assays of 5.25%, 11.03%, and 12.11% from grab samples 305, 315, and 321 respectively [1][4]. - Other notable grades from the samples include silver grades ranging from 153 g/t to 395 g/t, gold grades from 2.16 g/t to 7.79 g/t, and lead grades from 3.10% to 8.83% [2]. Historical Context - The Black Raven Property includes two past-producing mines, the Frost Cove Antimony Mine and the Stewart Gold Mine, which had historical grades of 35.1% antimony and 14.4 g/t gold respectively [6]. - The property is located approximately 60 km northwest of Gander, Newfoundland, and has not been drilled previously [4][6]. Importance of Antimony - Antimony is highlighted as a critical mineral with over 90% of global production controlled by non-Western countries, emphasizing its strategic importance for national security and modern technology [7]. - Recent export restrictions from China have driven antimony prices to record levels exceeding $50,000 per tonne, underscoring the need for domestic sources in North America [7]. Due-Diligence Sampling Program - The sampling program was conducted by an independent qualified person, Dr. Derek Wilton, and involved various critical minerals including antimony, gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, and molybdenum [8]. - All samples were securely delivered to SGS Canada Inc. for analysis, with specific methods employed for over-limit assays [8]. Company Overview - Churchill Resources Inc. focuses on strategic critical minerals in Canada, particularly at its Black Raven, Taylor Brook, and Florence Lake properties [15]. - The management team has extensive experience in mineral exploration and the establishment of successful mining companies [15].

Critical Minerals Market Dynamics - Surging demand for critical minerals is reshaping global dynamics, with China's dominance posing a challenge for Western nations [1] - The US and EU are trying to catch up and reduce their reliance on Beijing and Australia [1] - Australia holds some of the world's richest reserves of critical minerals, including nickel, lithium, and rare earths [3] - China is the dominant force in the processing and refining of critical minerals, representing a choke point in the supply chain [6] Australia's Strategic Opportunities and Challenges - Australia faces a defining choice: remain a raw material exporter or strategically invest in downstream processing and advanced manufacturing [4] - Strategic investment in processing, refining, and advanced manufacturing is required to achieve supply chain security and diversification away from China [7] - Nickel mines in Australia have gone into care and maintenance due to China's dominance pushing down prices [10] - Creating a national critical mineral stockpile is essential for the strategic protection of mining, processing, and refining projects [5][11] International Collaboration and Policy - The US critical minerals policy has been consistent across administrations, focusing on reshoring and building domestic supply chains [15][16] - There is potential for the US and Australia to integrate their economies to support each other in critical minerals development [8][17]

Western nations are racing to break their dependence on China for critical minerals. An aging smelter in Australia could be a test case in how much governments are willing to spend to catch up. https://t.co/bFm9u4d6o7 ...

Western nations are racing to break their dependence on China for critical minerals. An aging smelter in Australia could be a test case in how much governments are willing to spend to catch up. https://t.co/Hx0DUkJv7I ...

Western nations are racing to break their dependence on China for critical minerals. An aging smelter in Australia could be a test case in how much governments are willing to spend to catch up. https://t.co/ouZKW0epxz ...

Company Overview & Strategy - United States Antimony Corporation (USAC) focuses on extracting, processing, and selling antimony and zeolite hard minerals[8] - The company aims to secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals by 2027, reducing reliance on foreign sources[32] - USAC is expanding its antimony processing footprint to increase production and sales in Montana and Mexico[130] - The company is evaluating strategic acquisition and additional mining lease opportunities in the US and Canada[133] Antimony Market & Operations - Antimony has seen over a 500% price increase recently[27, 56] - China controls over 60% of world antimony ore[55] and has cut off the global supply of antimony[29] - USAC owns and operates the only two North American antimony smelters[26, 28] - The Thompson Falls smelter is expanding to a capacity of 300 tons per month or 11 tons per day[33] - The Madero smelter in Mexico has restarted operations with a capacity of 200 tons per month or 7 tons per day[41, 43, 47] Zeolite Operations - Bear River Zeolite mine experienced a 9% increase in tons sold in fiscal year 2024[111] - The company launched a new in-house product line for cattle feed called CattlePrime™[112, 115] Financial Performance & Outlook - The company's 2024 revenues were the highest since going public in 2012[123] - USAC maintained a high cash balance of $182 million as of December 31, 2024[123] - The company projects consolidated revenues of $40 - $50 million for 2025[136]

Indonesia is confident it is close to securing a “bold” deal with the US that will span critical minerals, energy, defense cooperation and financial payments ahead of the looming tariff deadline, according to the nation’s chief negotiator https://t.co/IxXqYkQHCT ...

Western nations are racing to break their dependence on China for critical minerals. An aging smelter in Australia could be a test case in how much governments are willing to spend to catch up. https://t.co/3pTC8LQSta ...