The world of rare earths is, for many, a topic reserved for experts and industry insiders. However, given the rising demand in sectors from technology to automotive, it’s essential for us to grasp its implications. A recent discussion hosted by the Critical Minerals Institute (CMI) shed light on this last week, emphasizing the potential and challenges associated with ionic clay, a noteworthy source of these minerals.

The dialogue was set into motion by Tracy Weslosky, an industry expert and the Managing Director for the CMI. One of the first points brought to the fore was by CMI Co-Chair Jack Lifton, who underscored the paramount importance of heavy rare earths. These are not just minerals beneath the ground; they are pivotal for the creation of high temperature resistant magnets. Lifton’s concern over China’s supremacy in the supply of these minerals was palpable, especially given the significance of elements like dysprosium (Dy) in propelling the green revolution.

Now, while it may seem like dysprosium (Dy) or terbium (Tb) can be extracted from various global deposits, CMI Co-Chair Ian Chalmers provided a reality check. He underscored the complexities and challenges in extracting these minerals economically and efficiently. And what added to the intrigue was his skepticism about the volume of claims surrounding ionic clay deposits, especially those originating from Australia. Both Lifton and Chalmers converged on one point: the paramount importance of understanding what exactly “ionic clays” are and the necessity of detailed feasibility studies before any decisive actions.

Delving deeper, the conversation steered towards understanding ionic clay deposits better. What are they, how do they form, and what characteristics do they possess? These deposits, laden with potential, are surrounded by a maze of extraction costs, supply chain complexities, and strategic considerations. One issue that particularly stood out was the apprehension regarding the U.S.’s level of awareness of these challenges, especially when juxtaposed with China’s advanced expertise in this domain.

As the discussions progressed, a representative from Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX: ARA) illuminated an initiative unfolding in Chile. The focus? The significant U.S. investments pouring into the value chain and the emergence of separation plants. But the conversation did not stop there. It ventured into the realm of the automotive industry, unearthing the immense need for elements like neodymium (Nd) in the heart of electric vehicle motors.

Various voices in the conversation zoomed in on diverse facets— from the geographical spread of these deposits to the painstakingly long formation processes, from economic conundrums surrounding extraction to the pragmatic challenges in ensuring high recovery rates.

So, where does this leave us? The undeniable truth is the vast potential harbored by ionic clays as a source for neodymium and heavy rare earths. But potential, on its own, isn’t enough. We’re faced with a tapestry of challenges— be it in extraction, processing, or navigating supply chain intricacies. These materials aren’t just geological wonders; they are the lifeblood of industries, particularly the automotive one. This, in essence, amplifies the urgency and significance of such discussions. The future, it seems, is as much about rare earths as it is about innovation and strategic foresight.

For more information on attending a monthly CMI Summit, click here

August 18, 2023 — The Critical Minerals Institute (CMI) is delighted to announce its upcoming online summit titled What is All the Ionic Clay Buzz Really About? Scheduled for Wednesday, September 6, from 7-8 PM EST, this CMI virtual summit will explore the fascinating world of ionic adsorption in clays and its critical role in sourcing heavy rare earths.

To register for this event, click here

The CMI Co-Chairs, Jack Lifton and Ian Chalmers, accompanied by moderator Tracy Weslosky, CMI Director, will shed light on the significance of these ionic clays and their implication on the global supply chain, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.

About the Critical Minerals Institute (CMI):

CMI is a leading international platform for experts, companies, and professionals delving deep into battery materials, technology metals, defense metals, and ESG technologies and practices. Focusing on the general EV market and the utilization of critical minerals for energy and alternative energy production, CMI offers a plethora of B2B service solutions. Whether you are seeking job opportunities, latest industry news, or B2B resources, CMI is your go-to source. Visit the Events section on the CMI site for more details on the upcoming summit.

Decoding the Ionic Clay Conundrum:

The ionic clay buzz is all about sourcing the pivotal rare earth elements: neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium. These elements are essential for creating permanent magnets used in automotive drive motors, as they maintain magnetism even under temperature extremes, ranging from 0°F to 400°F.

Jack Lifton, the CMI Co-Chair, emphasized the significance of these clays, stating, “Without these materials, we cannot produce the essential magnets for the automotive sector. The primary sources of these clays are currently located in China and parts of Southeast Asia, making the U.S. and Europe heavily dependent on them. Although we have identified potential sources in Brazil, Malaysia, and Vietnam, our dependency on China remains a challenge.”

He further adds, “I want to highlight the importance of these materials over their cost. Electric car production will come to a standstill without a consistent supply. The focus should now be on exploring ‘ancient clays’ found in regions like Manitoba, the Dakotas, and Australia, despite extraction being costlier.”

Join the discussion and delve deeper into the world of ionic clays, the challenges surrounding their extraction, and their pivotal role in the EV market. Those interested can RSVP to receive a calendar invitation.

For press inquiries or additional information, please contact Tracy Weslosky at [email protected] or dial direct at +1 416 792 8228. More information may be accessed at CriticalMineralsInstitute.com or to secure a ticket, click here

Toronto, February 28, 2023 – The Critical Minerals Institute (CMI), which was founded for education, collaboration, and to provide professional opportunities to meet the critical minerals supply chain challenges, is pleased to announce that it has appointed renowned rare earths executive Ian Chalmers as its Co-Chair, and industry expert Lara Smith as a new director.

Ian Chalmers is a geologist and graduate of the Western Australia Institute of Technology (Curtin University) and has a Master of Science degree from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. He has worked in the mining and exploration industry for over 50 years. Ian has a 35-year involvement with ASX listed company Alkane Resources Ltd. (ASX: ALK) as both Technical Director and Managing Director, and has steered Alkane through discovery, feasibility, construction and development of gold and gold-copper projects in New South Wales, Australia.

With a 30-year involvement in the rare metal and rare earth industry, Ian was involved with the discovery and evaluation of the Brockman rare metal and rare earth project in northern Western Australia, and has managed the geology, process development and global marketing effort for the Dubbo rare metal and rare earth project in New South Wales, advancing it to the threshold of development.

“I am delighted that Ian has joined the Critical Minerals Institute as a director and Co-Chair,” said CMI Founder Tracy Weslosky. “No one knows better how to actually develop a critical minerals resource or its importance to battery materials and electric vehicles, as well as future green technologies and energy production. We all look forward to working with Ian to make the Critical Minerals Institute the leading international organization for critical mineral companies and professionals designed to address relevant issues relating to the establishment of secure supply chains from mine to manufacturing.”

“I am also pleased to welcome Lara Smith as a new director of the Critical Minerals Institute,” Tracy continued. “Lara is COO and President of Molten Metals Corp. (CSE: MOLT) (formerly “Battery Elements”), and Founder and Managing Director of Core Consultants Pty (Guernsey) Ltd, an internationally recognized name in the natural resources industry.” Lara is a renowned industry writer and speaker in the field of business and economics, commodity analysis, and forecasting. “Lara has been a keynote speaker at international mining and business conferences in over 20 countries,” Tracy said, “and brings a wealth of practical rare earths experience to the CMI.”

The Critical Minerals Institute held its sold out inaugural summit in November, 2022 in Toronto, Canada, with over a hundred international experts, investors and critical minerals companies gathered to hear over 20 speakers and world-renown panelists. This year’s expanded summit, “Driving To The Near Future – Critical Minerals For the EV Transformation”, is scheduled for June 14-15, 2023, in Toronto. Keynote speakers such as Constantine Karayannopoulos from Neo Performance Materials Inc. (TSX: NEO) and Mark Chalmers of Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU | TSX: EFR) have already confirmed and early registration is now open at https://criticalmineralsinstitute.com/the-critical-minerals-institute-summit/ .

The Critical Minerals Institute website at www.criticalmineralsinstitute.com 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. 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 www.criticalmineralsinstitute.com or to secure a CMI Corporate Membership, please contact CMI Director Tracy Weslosky at [email protected]. For CMI inquiries, please contact Director, Membership Services Tom Park at +1 416 792 8228 or email [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.

Special Thanks to the Critical Minerals Institute Corporate Sponsors, which include the following companies: ACME Lithium Inc., American Rare Earths Limited, Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp., Auxico Resources Canada Inc., Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., Clean Air Metals Inc., Critical Metals PLC, Critical Minerals Americas Inc., Defense Metals Corp., dynaCERT Inc., Elcora Advanced Materials Corp., Energy Fuels Inc., F3 Uranium Corp., Geophysx Jamaica Ltd., Grant Thornton LLP, Imperial Mining Group Ltd., Kraken Energy Corp., Lithium Ionic Corp., Nano One Materials Corp., Neo Performance Materials Inc., Panther Metals PLC, Power Nickel Inc., Save Canadian Mining, Search Minerals Inc., Silver Bullet Mines Corp., Texas Mineral Resources Corp., Ucore Rare Metals Inc., and WCPD Inc.

For more information, go to CriticalMineralsInstitute.com or email [email protected] for more information. You may also call +1 416 792 8228.

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[Note from the Publisher: This InvestorIntel interview is about the Alkane Resources Limited: Investment in Clean Metal Processing Technology news release put out on June 6, 2019 that starts: “Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK) (Alkane) through its wholly owned subsidiary Australian Strategic Materials Limited (ASM) has executed a binding agreement with Zirconium Technology Corporation (a South Korean company) (Ziron Tech) to fund the final stage research and feasibility in relation to a clean metal process to convert metal oxide – including key Dubbo Project metals – to metals of high marketable purity (Technology).”

InvestorIntel did a follow-up column titled Alkane deal with Ziron Tech to reduce metallization costs in excess of 50% for zirconium, hafnium, and titanium metals on July 15, 2019 as we deem this news to be disruptive for the overall critical materials sector.]

“It is an electrolysis process. So it uses standard electrolysis but through a solid oxide membrane rather than a carbon electrode. That is a big step because it takes carbon out of the equation. The really exciting thing for us was, the solid oxide membrane that they use is a yttria stabilized zirconia. Here are two products that we will produce from Dubbo, we can actually produce yttria stabilized zirconia used in the process, so there was an added bonus for us. The beautiful thing about the process is that it generates only oxygen as waste material and produces high purity metals” States Ian Chalmers, Technical Director of Alkane Resources Ltd. (ASX: ALK | OTCQX: ANLKY), in an interview with InvestorIntel’s Tracy Weslosky.

Ian went on to say that the Ziron Tech Electrolysis Process is estimated to reduce metallisation costs by in excess of 50% and is applicable to the majority of Dubbo Project products, including zirconium, hafnium, titanium, neodymium and praseodymium. Ian also said that the process doesn’t add much to the capital and operating cost of the Dubbo Project and expects that by the end of 2020 this technology will be available to the global critical material market.

To access the complete interview, click here

Disclaimer: Alkane Resources Ltd. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

“Surprisingly the rare earth market still has not shown the jumps that we believe it would have by now. The equity market is still very skeptical of us. I think that is a combination of things. Eventually the customers, the equity market are going to lock on or understand that if we are going down this path, which we all believe we are going, then the demand for rare earth magnets is just going to have to increase dramatically and there is not the supply around at this point in time.” States Ian Chalmers, Technical Director of Alkane Resources Ltd. (ASX: ALK | OTCQX: ANLKY), in an interview with InvestorIntel Corp. CEO Tracy Weslosky.

Tracy Weslosky: Ian, the headlines everywhere, we have got U.S.-China trade negotiations happening. We have China and Canada at each other. What is happening with the rare earth market? 

Ian Chalmers: That is a good question actually. It is pretty hard to summarize in a short space of time. Surprisingly the rare earth market still has not shown the jumps that we believe it would have by now. The equity market is still very skeptical of us. I think that is a combination of things. Eventually the customers, the equity market are going to lock on or understand that if we are going down this path, which we all believe we are going, then the demand for rare earth magnets is just going to have to increase dramatically and there is not the supply around at this point in time. At some point in the not too distant future the market is going to crack and we are going to see some really, really strong interest.

Tracy Weslosky: Ian I think we are both getting our updates on what is happening with Lynas for instance from just the general news media. What is your understanding of what is happening right now? 

Ian Chalmers: My understanding, and again like you I am just getting it from the public domain, is that Lynas had been instructed that they have to come up with a solution to the radioactive waste. Now in the meantime they have stopped production. I understand it was only initially for a month while this review was completed, but they have to come up with an issue to deal with the radioactive waste that is already on site. It is a serious problem, but it is a problem I do not believe the Malaysian government cannot resolve because there is too much outside influence on the Malaysian government. There is a strong relationship between Japan and Malaysia and really a lot of Lynas’ product goes to Japan. I think I would be very surprised if the Malaysian government shut down the operation.

Tracy Weslosky: I really appreciate the update with that. Speaking of updates, considering the size and the magnitude of your critical material resource, can you give us an update on what is happening with the Dubbo Project?

Ian Chalmers: Basically the Dubbo Project is ready to go. We are continuing to work on offtake agreements. We are continuing to work on the finance. One of our major issues is our customers, particularly in the rare earth space keep wanting to see discounts. They want to see discounts to Chinese domestic price. In other words they are saying to us, yeah we will sign an off take contract, but you accept the 7%-8% vet as a discount and you put another small discount on top of that as the Chairman stated at the lead in to our annual general meeting back earlier in November…to access the complete interview, click here

Disclaimer: Alkane Resources Ltd. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.