Utah Company Discovers Treasure Trove That Could End China’s Stranglehold On Critical Minerals

A Utah company found rare earth minerals that could allow the U.S. to stop relying on China for critical resources, a recent report shows.

Ionic Mineral Technologies, which produces nanosilicon for lithium-ion batteries, found the host of minerals in the clay of the land it had been leasing, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Thursday.

Ionic MT said this may be the most significant critical mineral reserve in the U.S., as it found high grades of 16 different types of minerals, ranging from germanium to niobium. (RELATED: Trump Proves How Feckless Europe Is As Continent Caught In Limbo, World Leader Cries For Help)

Ionic MT has only drilled nearly 600 acres to a depth of 100 feet, but said there is still much more to explore.

“We know this is a sizable deposit, and we know that’s just scratching the surface,” Andre Zeitoun, founder and CEO of the company, told The Wall Street Journal.

“You can’t make a vehicle without these, you can’t make a fighter jet without some of these metals,” Zeitoun said, adding that such minerals are also necessary for artificial intelligence and semiconductor chips.

China holds a near monopoly on the critical minerals market, supplying nearly 90% of rare earths globally, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Spring has finally sprung in Utah and that means it is drilling season!

Our Phase 2 drilling is scheduled to begin in June and we are excited to uncover additional reserves. Follow us for updates on our solution to addressing the domestic #criticalmaterials supply chain. #Mining pic.twitter.com/q26b5qRa3j

— Ionic Mineral Technologies (@ionic_mt) May 13, 2024

In late October, President Donald Trump announced that China would “continue to flow” such materials into the U.S. “openly and freely,” as the minerals are used in important technologies for innovation and defense.

Ionic MT seeks to find regional “independence” as “America’s critical supply chains are weaponized,” according to its website.

Ionic MT said it had also spoken with Trump’s administration and that officials have shown “clear enthusiasm about our work and its potential national impact,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

Outside of merely locating the minerals, Zeitoun said that due to the site’s location and districting, the mining should be relatively quick and easy.

The mine sits on the bed of an ancient lake that dried over many millions of years, meaning the mining can be done from the surface, which consists of very soft clay, according to Zeitoun.

The district is also already set apart for mining, meaning not only is infrastructure already in place, but all of the permitting has already been done, Zeitoun said.

Republican Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz said that “our energy and national security depend on having a reliable supply of critical minerals — and Utah is uniquely positioned to lead the way,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

The White House has not responded to the Daily’s request for comment.