Atkins to Present Progressing from Resource to Production – The Rare Earth Conundrum at the CMI Summit II in Toronto on June 14-15, 2023

Toronto, June 1, 2023 – The Critical Minerals Institute (CMI), founded for education, collaboration, and to provide professional opportunities to meet the critical minerals supply chain challenges, is pleased to announce that Geoff Atkins, Vice President of Business Development of Ucore Rare Metals Inc. and Managing Partner of Strategic Minerals Group Pty Ltd., has joined the Board of Directors of the Critical Minerals Institute (CMI).

“Geoff Atkins is one of the giants of critical minerals,” said CMI Founder Tracy Weslosky, “long before people recognized the vital importance of critical minerals. Geoff is one of the few mining executives outside of China who has played a critical role in establishing two landmark rare earth operations – Mt. Weld with Lynas Rare Earths Limited and Nechalacho with Vital Metals Limited. He joins a growing team of distinguished experts and industry leaders as a Director of the Critical Minerals Institute and will participate in a number of panels at the upcoming Critical Minerals Summit being held on June 14-15, 2023, in Toronto.”

Mr. Atkins is a mining executive with over 30 years of experience, including over 15 years in the critical mineral sector, focusing on the development of rare earth projects. He was a key player in establishing Mt. Weld with Lynas Rare Earths Limited (ASX: LYC) and Nechalacho with Vital Metals Limited (ASX: VML l OTCQB: VTMXF). While at Lynas, he was responsible for a range of functions, including the construction of the Mt. Weld rare earth project, providing corporate construction oversight for the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant in Malaysia, and developing long-term strategic plans. Mr. Atkins founded Cheetah Resources, which was subsequently taken over by Vital Metals. Mr. Atkins finalized the acquisition of the Nechalacho rare earth project in Yellowknife, NWT, Canada, in 2019. Nechalacho was the first new rare earth project brought into production in nearly 10 years. In March of 2023, Mr. Atkins is the Managing Partner of Strategic Minerals Group Pty Ltd, where he is joined by his fellow Lynas and Vital Metals’ executives providing specialist advisory services to rare earths and other critical minerals development companies. He has also joined Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU | OTCQX: UURAF) to lead its feedstock acquisition efforts as part of its North American SMC strategy.

Presenting a keynote presentation at the upcoming Critical Minerals Summit II being held next month on June 14-15, 2023, in Toronto titled “Progressing From Resource to Production – The Rare Earth Conundrum”, Geoff is also hosting the panel on Day 01 titled: The Priority Critical Mineral Debate – From Selection Criteria to Ranking, Industry Experts Weigh In.

“Progressing rare earth projects from a defined resource, or feasibility, to an operational asset has proven extremely difficult for companies around the world over the past 15 years,” said Mr. Atkins. “This presentation will examine the unique challenges faced converting rare earth resources into operational assets and the traps that companies continue to fall into preventing success.”

The Critical Minerals Institute will be holding its second annual Critical Minerals Summit on June 14-15, 2023, in Toronto. This year’s Summit has the theme “Under Pressure: The Critical Minerals Industry Addresses EV 2030 Demands.” It will feature two days of panels and international speakers including keynote speakers Constantine Karayannopoulos, CEO & Director from Neo Performance Materials Inc. (TSX: NEO) on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, and Mark Chalmers, President, CEO & Director, Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU | TSX: EFR) on Thursday, June 15, 2023. The full schedule of panels will include representatives of Canadian and American governments. Details and registration for the Summit is now open at CriticalMineralsSummit.com.

The Critical Minerals Institute was created to offer education, collaboration, and an online resource to learn about critical mineral projects, emerging technologies, legislative initiatives, government funding, human capital needs, and capital market investment opportunities. There is no charge or sign up required for access to the Critical Minerals Institute website: CriticalMineralsInstitute.com. A range of enhanced benefits are available to individual and corporate members of the CMI, including attendance at the CMI Summit, virtual events and additional resources. For details see: www.criticalmineralsinstitute.com/cmi-membership/.

For more information, please visit the Critical Minerals Institute website at CriticalMineralsInstitute.com or to secure a CMI Corporate Membership, please contact CMI Director Tracy Weslosky at [email protected].

About the Critical Minerals Institute: The Critical Mineral Institute (CMI) is an international organization for companies and professionals focused on battery materials, technology metals, defense metals, ESG technologies and practices, the general EV market, and the use of critical minerals for energy and alternative energy production. Offering an online site that features job opportunities that range from consulting roles to Advisory Board positions, the CMI offers a wide range of B2B service solutions. Also offering online and in-person events, the CMI is designed for education, collaboration, and to provide professional opportunities to meet the critical minerals supply chain challenges.

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Special Thanks to the Critical Minerals Institute Summit II Sponsors: Albany Graphite Corp., American Rare Earths Limited, Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp., Ara Partners, Auxico Resources Canada Inc., Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., Canadian Securities Exchange, Clean Air Metals Inc., Critical Metals PLC, Critical Minerals Americas Inc., Defense Metals Corp., dynaCERT Inc.,  Ebury, Elcora Advanced Materials Corp., Energy Fuels Inc., F3 Uranium Corp., First Phosphate Corp., Fjordland Exploration Inc., Geophysx Jamaica Ltd., Imperial Mining Group Ltd., Karbon-X Corp., Kraken Energy Corporation, Lithium Ionic Inc., Molten Metals Corp., Nano One Materials Corp., Neo Battery Materials Ltd., Neo Performance Materials Inc., Panther Metals PLC, Power Nickel Inc., Sage Potash Corp., Search Minerals Inc., Silver Bullet Mines Corp., Ucore Rare Metals Inc., VATIC Ventures Corp., WCPD Inc., and Westwin Elements Inc.

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For more information, contact:

Tracy Weslosky, Managing Director for the CMI

[email protected]   |   D. +1 416 792 8228  

CriticalMineralsInstitute.com   |   Twitter   |   LinkedIn

The Critical Minerals Institute recently concluded its inaugural Critical Minerals Summit (CMS 2022) themed – The Race to Achieve a Critical Minerals Supply Chain on Wednesday, November 9^th at the National Club. This video is Geoff Atkins’ keynote presentation titled: The Perfect Storm: Prioritizing the Demand Drivers Necessary for Mission Critical Minerals Supply Chain.

As the Founder of Cheetah Resources Corp. and previous Managing Director of Vital Metals Limited responsible for bringing the Nechalacho Rare Earths Deposit into operations, Geoff talks about some of the changes required in the mining industry to meet the demand for rare earths. With a demand growth forecast of up to 1000%, he highlights the need for the critical minerals sector to replicate the success of the smartphone supply chain. Geoff also talks about the need for alignment of objectives between the mining sector and the Government and other stakeholders to establish a critical minerals supply chain.

To access the full presentation, click here

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About The Critical Minerals Institute

The Critical Mineral Institute (CMI) is an international organization for companies and professionals focused on battery materials, technology metals, defense metals, ESG technologies and practices, the general EV market, and the use of critical minerals for energy and alternative energy production. Offering an online site that features job opportunities that range from consulting roles to Advisory Board positions, the CMI offers a wide range of B2B service solutions. Also offering online and in-person events, the CMI is designed for education, collaboration, and to provide professional opportunities to meet the critical minerals supply chain challenges.

CMI Presents “The Race to Achieve a Critical Minerals Supply Chain ROW” at the Critical Minerals Summit on Wednesday, November 9th

Toronto, October 31, 2022 – The Critical Minerals Institute, which was founded for education, collaboration, and to provide professional opportunities to meet the critical minerals supply chain challenges, is pleased to announce the inaugural Critical Minerals Summit (CMS 2022) on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at the historic National Club in Toronto, Canada from 9 AM to 4 PM EST.

“With automakers planning on spending nearly $1.2 trillion by 2030,” says Critical Minerals Institute founder Tracy Weslosky, “it is equally as important to discuss not only where these battery materials are coming from and the technologies involved, but also where will we find the skilled professionals it requires.”

Themed The Race to Achieve a Critical Minerals Supply Chain, the Chairman of the Critical Minerals Institute Jack Lifton will begin the event with opening remarks aptly titled Scalability, Why the EV Timelines Simply do not Work.

Geoff Atkins, Founder of Cheetah Resources and previously Managing Director of Vital Metals who succeeded in bringing the Nechalacho rare earths mine into production will kick off the day with his keynote speech titled The Perfect Storm: Prioritizing the Demand Drivers Necessary for Mission Critical Minerals Supply Chain. 

A one-day, in person event, the Critical Minerals Summit is a bi-annual event designed to bring industry leaders and investors together to address scalability, resource and human capital needs, not only to meet the EV market demands, but to achieve the aggressive legislative timelines set around sustainability and climate change.

In the context of this theme, a special presentation designed by Prof. Saleem H. Ali, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Geography & Spatial Sciences, who is a Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment from University of Delaware, will be presented during lunch. Author of a new book on environmental systems titled How Natural Laws Define Human Life (Oxford Univ. Press), his presentation will be followed by a Q&A style interview on the Global Critical Minerals Market with international expert and renowned market leader Constantine Karayannopoulos, President, CEO and Director of Neo Performance Materials Inc. (TSX: NEO).

Throughout the day, a series of 5 panels will be hosted by CMI Directors and the “Who’s Who” of international critical minerals experts, with leading industry CEOs participating as panelists. Highlights include the following panels:

• Securing the Capital to build a Supply Chain for the ROW.
• The Extraction & Processing Timeline Advantage
• Global Challenges in Advancing the Critical Minerals Supply Chain
• Dealing with the Resource Challenge, the Critical Minerals Shortage.
• The Power of Politics: Government Investment in the Critical Minerals Market

In addition to the above, the CMI will have Ed Buiel PhD, President & CEO, Coulometrics, LLC, speak on the paradox of producing graphite in North America and competing with China, along with special guest and Acting Consul-General, Greg Quinn from the British Consulate-General Toronto, who will address the key points from the recently released UK national critical minerals strategy.

The Critical Minerals Summit will be held at the historic National Club in Toronto from 9 AM to 4 PM EST. Space is strictly limited. For more information go to CriticalMineralsInstitute.com. To purchase a delegate pass, click here.

About the Critical Minerals Institute: The Critical Mineral Institute (CMI) is an international organization for companies and professionals focused on battery materials, technology metals, defense metals, ESG technologies and practices, the general EV market, and the use of critical minerals for energy and alternative energy production. Offering an online site that features job opportunities that range from consulting roles to Advisory Board positions, the CMI offers a wide range of B2B service solutions. Also offering online and in-person events, the CMI is designed for education, collaboration, and to provide professional opportunities to meet the critical minerals supply chain challenges. 

Special Thanks to the following Critical Minerals Institute Corporate Sponsors: ACME Lithium Inc., American Rare Earths Limited, Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp., Auxico Resources Canada Inc., Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., Critical Metals PLC, Elcora Advanced Materials Corp., Energy Fuels Inc., Grant Thornton LLP, Imperial Mining Group Ltd., Neo Performance Materials Inc., Power Nickel Inc., Save Canadian Mining, Texas Mineral Resources Corp., and WCPD Inc.

For more information email Tracy Weslosky at [email protected] or dial +1 416 792 8228 (CriticalMineralsInstitute.com | Twitter | LinkedIn).

In this InvestorIntel PDAC 2022 Panel on “Building the Rare Earths and Critical Materials’ Supply Chain to Meet EV Market Demand”, host Byron W King is joined by “all star” guests Ucore Rare Metals Inc.‘s (TSXV: UCU | OTCQX: UURAF) Chairman and CEO Pat Ryan, Vital Metals Limited‘s (ASX: VML | OTCQB: VTMXF) Managing Director Geoff Atkins, Stormcrow Capital Ltd.‘s President and Director Dr. Jonathan Hykawy, and Boyd Davis, Principal of Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc..

In the video, which can also be viewed in full on the InvestorIntel YouTube channel (click here), the panel discusses the race to supply North American rare earths needs and limitations on domestic production. Boyd Davis observes that over the next 10 to 12 years, “how much we want to get away from China will be dictated by the cost and supply security and the ability to get raw materials.” Dr. Jonathan Hykawy discusses China’s own domestic supply issues and how it imports lithium and heavy mineral sands for processing. Geoff Atkins also points out the risk of sole-suppliers with EV and other rare earths reliant manufacturers “needing a diversified supply chain and assessing their risks on single point of failure.” Regardless, he says EV manufacturing represents a shift from basic commodities to high technology materials. He and Pat Ryan of Vital Minerals agree that both North America and China will become increasingly reliant on automation to counter rising labor costs.

The panel also discusses whether critical materials mining permitting and processing is likely to be fast-tracked in future to meet industry demand, and whether there will be more vertical integration by EV manufacturers.

To access the full InvestorIntel interview, click here

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About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metals resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore has a 100% ownership stake in the Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Earth Element Project in Southeast Alaska, USA. Ucore’s vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.

Through strategic partnerships, Ucore’s vision includes disrupting the People’s Republic of China’s control of the US REE supply chain through the development of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility – the Alaska Strategic Metals Complex in Southeast Alaska and the long-term development of Ucore’s heavy-rare-earth-element mineral-resource property located at Bokan Mountain on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.

To learn more about Ucore Rare Metals Inc., click here

About Vital Metals Limited

Vital Metals Limited (ASX: VML) is Canada’s first rare earths producer following commencement of production at its Nechalacho rare earths project in Canada in June 2021. It holds a portfolio of rare earths, technology metals and gold projects located in Canada, Africa and Germany.

To know more about Vital Metals Limited, click here

About Stormcrow Capital Ltd.

Stormcrow Capital Ltd. is an Exempt Market Dealer registered with the Ontario Securities Commission and the Autorité desmarchés financiers (Quebec). Stormcrow has both issuer and investor clients. Stormcrow is also a financial and technical/scientific consultant that provides certain of its clients with some or all of the following services: (i) an assessment of the client’s industry, business plans and operations, market positioning, economic situation and prospects; (ii) certain technical and scientific commentary, analysis and advice that is within the expertise of Stormcrow’s staff; (iii) advice regarding optimization strategies for the client’s business and capital structure; (iv) due diligence investigation services; and (v) opinions regarding the future expected value of the client’s or a offeror/offeree’s equity securities so as to allow the client to then make capital market, capital budgeting and capital structure plans. With the consent of Stormcrow’s issuer client, the client and/or its industry sector may be the subject of an investment or financial research report, newsletter, bulletin or other publication by Stormcrow where such publication is made publicly available at www.stormcrow.ca or elsewhere or is otherwise distributed by Stormcrow. Any such publication is limited to generic, non-tailored advice or opinions and should not be construed as investment advice that is suitable for the reader or recipient. Stormcrow does not offer personalized or tailored investment advice to anyone (other than its current investor clients) and Stormcrow’s research reports should not be relied upon by anyone in making any investment decisions. Rather, investors should speak in person with their personal financial advisor(s) to obtain suitable investment advice.

To learn more about Stormcrow Capital Ltd., click here
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About Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc.

Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. is a privately owned Canadian company located in Kingston, Ontario. Our interdisciplinary team includes engineers, scientists, chemists, technicians, and modellers, led by co-owners Boyd Davis and Alain Roy. Our clients include large multi-national mining and metallurgical companies, as well as companies specialized in industrial chemistry, advanced materials, and energy.

To learn more about Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc., click here

Disclaimer: Ucore Rare Metals Inc. and Vital Metals Limited are advertorial members of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

In this InvestorIntel PDAC 2022 Panel on rare earths and “Building the EV Material Supply Chain”, host Byron W King is joined by Search Minerals Inc.‘s (TSXV: SMY | OTCQB: SHCMF) President, CEO, and Director Greg Andrews, Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.‘s (CSE: API | OTCQX: APAAF) President Frederick Kozak, Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.‘s (TSX: AVL | OTCQB: AVLNF) President, CEO and Director Don Bubar, and Vital Metals Limited‘s (ASX: VML | OTCQB: VTMXF) Managing Director Geoff Atkins.

In the video, which can also be viewed in full on the InvestorIntel YouTube channel (click here), the panel discusses whether there is enough rare earths supply to meet the future demand for electric vehicles. Vital Minerals’ Geoff Atkins talks about the shift from government pressure to move to electric vehicles to increasing consumer demand for EVs, especially outside the United States, and the different processing requirements for EV batteries and rare earths magnet components which make “just in time” supply chain inventory management impossible.

Avalon President Don Bubar notes that China’s rare earths dominance came from how “they saw before anyone in the West how you have to create the downstream manufacturing and processing capacity in order to justify creating the primary supply, and that’s a foreign concept to the traditional mining industry here in Canada.” Greg Andrews agrees that the challenge is “trying to create rare earths industry in Canada that doesn’t exist,” but as Appia president Frederick Kozak points out, the new Saskatchewan rare earths processing facility makes domestic processing more attractive “as opposed to having to ship it to China for processing.”

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About Search Minerals Inc.

Led by a proven management team and board of directors, Search is focused on finding and developing Critical Rare Earths Elements (CREE), Zirconium (Zr) and Hafnium (Hf) resources within the emerging Port Hope Simpson – St. Lewis CREE District of southeast Labrador. The Company controls a belt 63 km long and 2 km wide and is road accessible, on tidewater, and located within 3 local communities. Search has completed a preliminary economic assessment report for FOXTROT, and a resource estimate for DEEP FOX. Search is also working on three exploration prospects along the belt which include: FOX MEADOW, SILVER FOX and AWESOME FOX.

Search has continued to optimize our patented Direct Extraction Process technology with support from the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and from the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency. We have completed two pilot plant operations and produced highly purified mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate and mixed rare earth concentrate for separation and refining. We also recognize the continued support by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for its Junior Exploration Program.

Search Minerals was selected to participate in the Government of Canada Accelerated Growth Service (“AGS”) initiative, which supports high growth companies. AGS, as a ‘one-stop shop’ model, provides Search with coordinated access to Government of Canada resources as Search continues to move quickly to production and contribute to the establishment of a stable and secure rare earth element North American and European supply chain.

To learn more about Search Minerals Inc., click here

About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.

Appia is a Canadian publicly-listed company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company is currently focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, as well as exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 105,026 hectares (259,525 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 12,545 hectares (31,000 acres), with rare earth element and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario.

To learn more about Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp., click here

About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in sustainably-produced materials for clean technology. The Company now has four advanced stage projects, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, cesium and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on developing its Separation Rapids Lithium Project near Kenora, Ontario while continuing to advance other projects, including its 100%-owned Lilypad Cesium-Tantalum-Lithium Project located near Fort Hope, Ontario. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.

PDAC 2022 is underway, and InvestorIntel is one of the media sponsors at the world’s largest mining and exploration convention. We are busy looking for new stories and meeting old friends at the first in-person PDAC since 2020.

Monday through Wednesday (June 13-15), InvestorIntel is conducting exclusive interviews with industry leaders, presidents and CEOs of some of the most interesting silver, gold, rare earths, uranium and other critical materials companies.

On Monday our first panel was Rare Earths, Sustainability & Meeting the EV Market Demand hosted by InvestorIntel CEO and Founder Tracy Weslosky with panelists Mark Chalmers, President and CEO of Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU | TSX: EFR) and Constantine Karayannopoulos, President, CEO and Director of Neo Performance Materials Inc. (TSX: NEO).

Our next panel discussion was hosted by Chris Thompson of eResearch on Silver, The Technology Metal & Market with Byron W. King, InvestorIntel columnist, Bald Eagle Gold Corp.‘s (TSXV: BIG) CEO Chris Paul, Silver Bullet Mines Corp.‘s (TSXV: SBMI) VP Capital Markets and Director Peter Clausi, and Simon Ridgway, Founder, Director, President and CEO of Volcanic Gold Mines Inc. (TSXV: VG).

To finish off Monday’s schedule, InvestorIntel columnist and renowned critical materials expert Byron W. King, led a panel discussion on Building the EV Material Supply Chain with Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.‘s (CSE: API | OTCQB: APAAF) President Frederick Kozak, Search Minerals Inc.‘s (TSXV: SMY | OTCQB: SHCMF) President, CEO, and Director Greg Andrews, Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.’s (TSX: AVL | OTCQB: AVLNF) President, CEO and Director, Don Bubar, and Vital Metals Limited‘s (ASX: VML | OTCQB: VTMXF) Managing Director, Geoff Atkins.

If you are at PDAC, be sure to visit the InvestorIntel media studio on Level 700.

In this InvestorIntel interview with host Tracy Weslosky, Vital Metals Limited‘s (ASX: VML | OTCQB: VTMXF) Managing Director Geoff Atkins talks about the company moving from rare earths miner to producer in the coming months.

In the interview, which can also be viewed in full on the InvestorIntel YouTube channel (click here), Geoff talks about production from Vital’s Nechalacho rare earths project in the Northwest Territories going to its Saskatoon extraction plant, with production of high purity rare earth carbonate forecast to commence in June 2022, and its rare earths product to be sold to Vital’s take off partner in Norway later this year. Geoff goes in to explain, for Vital “this year is that transformational process from developer through to operator.”

Being an Australian company with both its cornerstone project and processing facility in North America, Geoff also discusses increasing the company’s presence in the North American markets in the coming months as it moves to producer.

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About Vital Metals Limited

Vital Metals Limited (ASX: VML) is Canada’s first rare earths producer following commencement of production at its Nechalacho rare earths project in Canada in June 2021. It holds a portfolio of rare earths, technology metals and gold projects located in Canada, Africa and Germany.

To know more about Vital Metals Limited, click here

Disclaimer: Vital Metals Limited is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

The rare earths sector has been doing very well lately, especially the highly valued magnet rare earths for which prices have doubled over the past year. Neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr) are the key magnet rare earths used commonly in electric motors. They also fall into the category of the ‘light rare earths’. Another group of rare earths, known as the ‘heavy rare earths‘, also have value. They include europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium and yttrium. Dysprosium (Dy) in particular is very valuable and is critically necessary for and used in alloys for neodymium based magnets subject to high temperature swings in operation.

Today’s company is working towards becoming a North American producer of both light and heavy rare earths.

Vital Metals Limited (ASX: VML | OTCQB: VTMXF) (Vital) is a rare earths ore producer from their Nechalacho Rare Earths Mine in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada. Nechalacho has a measured, indicated and inferred resource of 94.7Mt at 1.46% REO for 1.3Mt contained TREO. The focus to date has been on the high-grade, light rare earths, found in the bastnaesite mineralization there.

Vital has off-take agreements with REEtec in Norway and with Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU | OTCQX: UURAF) in the USA. In both cases, Vital is working with them to develop a qualified feed stock for them end at commercial scale. In some good recent news, offtake buyer, REEtec,  signed a supply agreement with Germany’s large OEM automotive supplier,Schaeffler, thereby potentially securing Vital’s revenue from the sale of its product to REEtec.

Vital is currently constructing a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, based cracking and leaching facility, with first feed to the facility expected in June 2022. An additional C$5 million of funding/reimbursement was recently achieved to help support the commissioning and ramp-up stage. Vital aims to produce a minimum of 5,000 tons annually of contained REO by 2025 at the Nechalacho Mine.

Vital Metals’ Managing Director Geoff Atkins stated: “With production forecast to commence in June 2022, this will make Vital North America’s only producer of high purity rare earth carbonate with feed from its own mines providing security of supply for the global rare earths supply chain.”

Expansion into heavy rare earths

As announced on April 29, 2022, Vital is now planning to expand their existing light rare earths mine operation to also include heavy rare earths. Vital plans to investigate developing a zone of xenotime mineralization, the principle heavy rare earth hard-rock mineral, at Nechalacho’s North T pit, targeting a 10-year operation from the zone.  Xenotime,  is an yttrium phosphate mineral, and is the only known commercially feasible hard-rock source of dysprosium and terbium, which are the critical magnet rare earth additives for high temperature operations. As Vital stated: “Tardiff contains elevated heavy rare earths mineralization which may complement North T’s xenotime deposit as part of Vital’s strategy to produce heavy and light rare earths.”

Next steps

In 2022, in addition to commencing production at the Saskatoon facility and working on expanding into heavy rare earths, Vital plans further drilling at the Tardiff zone to define a maiden Ore Reserve. 

Vital Metals 3 stage strategy to become a North American producer of both light & heavy rare earths

Source: Vital Metals March 2022 quarterly report

Closing remarks

Vital Metals continues to march forward at a rapid pace. In late June 2021 the Nechalacho mine came into production, notably being Canada’s first-ever producing rare earths mine. Then only a year later in June 2022, the Saskatoon cracking and leaching facility’s first production of a mixed rare earth carbonate is set to commence.

If that wasn’t good enough the Company is now planning to also produce heavy rare earths, also from the Nechalacho Mine. Once achieved Vital announced that they would become the “the world’s first producer of both heavy and light rare earth oxides.”

Vital Metals trades on a market cap of A$204 million. Exciting times ahead.

In a recent InvestorIntel interview, Peter Clausi spoke with Geoff Atkins, Managing Director of Vital Metals Limited (ASX: VML) about Vital Metals’ recent news release on redesigning the North T Pit at Vital’s Nechalacho Rare Earths Mine after the ore sorter exceeded expectations.

In this InvestorIntel interview, which may also be viewed on YouTube (click here to subscribe to the InvestorIntel Channel), Geoff Atkins went on to say that Vital Metals’ Nechalacho ore sorter is now able to sort even lower grade materials allowing Vital to process significant quantities of material previously identified as waste. He went on to explain the unique nature of mineralization at the North T Deposit allowing Vital to classify ore and waste visually without having to send materials to a lab for assaying.

To watch the full interview, click here.

About Vital Metals Limited

Vital Metals Limited is Canada’s first rare earths producer following commencement of production at its Nechalacho rare earths project in Canada in June 2021. It holds a portfolio of rare earths, technology metals and gold projects located in Canada, Africa and Germany.

Nechalacho Rare Earth Project – Canada

The Nechalacho project is a high grade, light rare earth (bastnaesite) project located at Nechalacho in the Northwest Territories of Canada and has potential for a start-up operation exploiting high-grade, easily accessible near surface mineralisation. The Nechalacho Rare Earth Project hosts within the Upper Zone, a JORC Resource of 94.7MT at 1.46% TREO comprised of a Measured Resource of 2.9MT at 1.47% TREO, an Indicated Resource of 14.7MT at 1.5% TREO, and an Inferred Resource of 77.1MT at 1.46% TREO.

To learn more about Vital Metals Limited, click here

Disclaimer: Vital Metals Limited is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

In this episode of the Critical Minerals Corner, Critical Materials’ industry expert and InvestorIntel Editor-in-Chief Jack Lifton is joined by Critical Minerals Corner Co-Host & InvestorIntel Columnist Byron King, and Geoff Atkins, Managing Director of Vital Metals Limited (ASX: VML) to discuss how Vital Metals plans to guarantee feedstock to the non-Chinese rare earths supply chain and about how a rare earths project is different from any other mining project.

In this InvestorIntel interview, which may also be viewed on YouTube (click here to subscribe to the InvestorIntel Channel), the panel discussed the high grades of neodymium and praseodymium found at Vital Metals’ Nechalacho Rare Earths Project in Canada. With a growing push from the governments globally to establish rare earths supply chains outside of China, Geoff provided an update on Vital’s off-take agreements signed with new separation facilities entering Europe and North America.

To watch the full interview, click here.

About Vital Metals Limited

Vital Metals Limited is Canada’s first rare earths producer following commencement of production at its Nechalacho rare earths project in Canada in June 2021. It holds a portfolio of rare earths, technology metals and gold projects located in Canada, Africa and Germany.

Nechalacho Rare Earth Project – Canada

The Nechalacho project is a high grade, light rare earth (bastnaesite) project located at Nechalacho in the Northwest Territories of Canada and has potential for a start-up operation exploiting high-grade, easily accessible near surface mineralisation. The Nechalacho Rare Earth Project hosts within the Upper Zone, a JORC Resource of 94.7MT at 1.46% TREO comprised of a Measured Resource of 2.9MT at 1.47% TREO, an Indicated Resource of 14.7MT at 1.5% TREO, and an Inferred Resource of 77.1MT at 1.46% TREO.

To learn more about Vital Metals Limited, click here

Disclaimer: Vital Metals Limited is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].