American Rare Earths Advances Halleck Creek with Oxide Production and Resource Boost
American Rare Earths has successfully produced Mixed Rare Earths Oxide from its Halleck Creek ore, marking a key technical milestone. The company also updated its resource estimate and strengthened leadership as it advances towards becoming a major U.S. rare earths supplier.
- Successful production of Mixed Rare Earths Oxide using updated processing flowsheet
- Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for Cowboy State Mine area with significant reclassification
- Appointment of Mark Wall as new CEO with extensive mining experience
- Expanded strategic partnerships with Tetra Tech and University of Wyoming
- Strong cash position of A$23.98 million supports ongoing development
Technical Breakthroughs at Halleck Creek
American Rare Earths Limited (ASX, ARR) has marked a significant step forward in its Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project with the successful production of Mixed Rare Earths Oxide (MREO) from ore processed through its updated mineral flowsheet. This achievement represents a crucial technical milestone, demonstrating the company’s ability to convert raw ore into a tangible product, which is essential for downstream processing and eventual commercialisation.
The oxide production followed impurity-removal testwork that addressed historical challenges linked to allanite-hosted rare earth mineralisation. The company’s ongoing beneficiation optimisation and updated processing flowsheet further underpin its metallurgical strategy, although these remain preliminary and subject to refinement as technical studies progress.
Resource Upgrade Strengthens Project Foundations
Complementing the metallurgical advances, ARR updated its Mineral Resource Estimate for the Cowboy State Mine area within Halleck Creek. This update reclassified 68.4 million tonnes into the indicated category, providing a stronger geological foundation for the prefeasibility study and future development phases. The resource upgrade is a critical step in de-risking the project and enhancing confidence among investors and stakeholders.
Leadership and Strategic Partnerships
Corporate developments during the quarter included the appointment of Mark Wall as Chief Executive Officer. With over 30 years of global mining experience, Wall’s leadership is expected to accelerate the company’s technical and corporate initiatives. Additionally, Jason Beckton joined as a Non-Executive Director, bringing expertise in capital markets and corporate growth strategies, while Hugh Keller resigned from the board.
Strategic partnerships expanded with Tetra Tech, focusing on exploring U.S. government funding to develop integrated mine-to-magnet capabilities domestically. Meanwhile, collaboration with the University of Wyoming’s STAR Project aims to identify commercial applications for byproducts from rare earth extraction, potentially improving project economics and sustainability.
Financial Position and Outlook
ARR enters 2026 with a robust cash position of nearly A$24 million, bolstered by recent option exercises and asset sales. This financial strength supports ongoing technical work, permitting efforts, and preparations for a demonstration plant to validate processing at scale. The company is also advancing drilling programs to increase geological confidence and is exploring a potential U.S. stock market listing to align capital markets presence with its asset base.
The broader U.S. policy environment, emphasising domestic critical minerals supply chain security, provides a favourable backdrop for ARR’s ambitions. The recent trade proclamation under Section 232 highlights the strategic importance of reducing reliance on foreign rare earth sources, aligning well with ARR’s project development timeline and objectives.
Bottom Line?
American Rare Earths is positioning itself at the forefront of U.S. rare earth supply, but the path to production hinges on continued technical validation and regulatory progress.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the updated processing flowsheet perform at demonstration plant scale?
- What are the timelines and hurdles for securing final permits in Wyoming?
- How might evolving U.S. critical minerals policies impact funding and market demand?
