ReElement Technologies Corporation and Impossible Metals Announce Collaboration on First U.S. Deep Sea Nodule Refinement Program
ReElement Technologies, a portfolio company of American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Impossible Metals to establish the first U.S. deep sea nodule refinement program. The collaboration aims to create a sustainable domestic supply chain for rare earth and critical minerals.
The partnership combines Impossible Metals' proprietary nodule collection technology, including their Eureka III autonomous underwater collection platform, with ReElement's advanced critical mineral refining capabilities. The initiative will focus on processing essential elements including copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements, creating an end-to-end U.S. supply chain from seabed mining near American Samoa to refining operations in Indiana.
This strategic collaboration aligns with President Trump's April 2025 Executive Order on offshore critical minerals and represents a significant step toward establishing a non-China dependent critical mineral supply chain in the United States.
ReElement Technologies, società controllata da American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC), ha firmato un Memorandum d'Intesa (MOU) con Impossible Metals per avviare il primo programma statunitense di raffinazione di noduli marini profondi. La collaborazione punta a creare una filiera sostenibile nazionale per terre rare e minerali critici.
La partnership unisce la tecnologia proprietaria di raccolta dei noduli di Impossible Metals, inclusa la loro piattaforma autonoma subacquea Eureka III, con le avanzate capacità di raffinazione di minerali critici di ReElement. L’iniziativa si concentrerà sul trattamento di elementi essenziali come rame, cobalto, nichel, manganese e terre rare, creando una filiera integrata statunitense che va dall’estrazione sul fondale vicino a Samoa Americana fino agli impianti di raffinazione in Indiana.
Questa collaborazione strategica è in linea con l’Ordine Esecutivo del Presidente Trump di aprile 2025 sui minerali critici offshore e rappresenta un passo importante verso l’istituzione di una filiera di minerali critici negli Stati Uniti indipendente dalla Cina.
ReElement Technologies, una empresa del portafolio de American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC), ha firmado un Memorando de Entendimiento (MOU) con Impossible Metals para establecer el primer programa estadounidense de refinación de nódulos de aguas profundas. La colaboración tiene como objetivo crear una cadena de suministro nacional sostenible para tierras raras y minerales críticos.
La asociación combina la tecnología propietaria de recolección de nódulos de Impossible Metals, incluyendo su plataforma autónoma submarina Eureka III, con las avanzadas capacidades de refinación de minerales críticos de ReElement. La iniciativa se centrará en procesar elementos esenciales como cobre, cobalto, níquel, manganeso y tierras raras, creando una cadena de suministro integrada en EE. UU. desde la minería en el lecho marino cerca de Samoa Americana hasta las operaciones de refinación en Indiana.
Esta colaboración estratégica está alineada con la Orden Ejecutiva del Presidente Trump de abril de 2025 sobre minerales críticos offshore y representa un paso significativo hacia el establecimiento de una cadena de suministro de minerales críticos en Estados Unidos que no dependa de China.
ReElement Technologies는 American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC)의 포트폴리오 회사로서, Impossible Metals와 미국 최초의 심해 마개 정제 프로그램을 설립하기 위한 양해각서(MOU)를 체결했습니다. 이 협력은 희토류 및 중요 광물의 지속 가능한 국내 공급망 구축을 목표로 합니다.
이번 파트너십은 Impossible Metals의 독자적인 마개 수집 기술과 Eureka III 자율 수중 수집 플랫폼을 ReElement의 첨단 중요 광물 정제 역량과 결합합니다. 이 프로젝트는 구리, 코발트, 니켈, 망간, 희토류 등 필수 원소의 가공에 집중하며, 미국령 아메리칸 사모아 인근 해저 채굴부터 인디애나의 정제 작업까지 미국 내 완전한 공급망을 구축할 예정입니다.
이번 전략적 협력은 2025년 4월 트럼프 대통령의 해양 중요 광물 관련 행정명령과 부합하며, 미국 내 중국 의존도 없는 중요 광물 공급망 구축을 위한 중요한 진전입니다.
ReElement Technologies, une société du portefeuille de American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC), a signé un protocole d'accord (MOU) avec Impossible Metals pour établir le premier programme américain de raffinage de nodules en eaux profondes. Cette collaboration vise à créer une chaîne d'approvisionnement nationale durable pour les terres rares et les minéraux critiques.
Le partenariat combine la technologie propriétaire de collecte de nodules d'Impossible Metals, y compris leur plateforme autonome sous-marine Eureka III, avec les capacités avancées de raffinage des minéraux critiques de ReElement. L'initiative se concentrera sur le traitement d'éléments essentiels tels que le cuivre, le cobalt, le nickel, le manganèse et les terres rares, créant une chaîne d'approvisionnement américaine complète allant de l'extraction au fond de la mer près de Samoa américaines jusqu'aux opérations de raffinage dans l'Indiana.
Cette collaboration stratégique est en accord avec le décret exécutif du président Trump d'avril 2025 sur les minéraux critiques offshore et représente une étape importante vers l'établissement d'une chaîne d'approvisionnement en minéraux critiques aux États-Unis indépendante de la Chine.
ReElement Technologies, ein Unternehmen im Portfolio von American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC), hat eine Absichtserklärung (MOU) mit Impossible Metals unterzeichnet, um das erste US-amerikanische Tiefsee-Nodul-Raffinerieprogramm zu etablieren. Die Zusammenarbeit zielt darauf ab, eine nachhaltige inländische Lieferkette für Seltene Erden und kritische Mineralien aufzubauen.
Die Partnerschaft vereint die proprietäre Nodul-Sammeltechnologie von Impossible Metals, einschließlich ihrer Eureka III autonomen Unterwasser-Sammelplattform, mit den fortschrittlichen kritischen Mineralraffinerie-Fähigkeiten von ReElement. Das Projekt konzentriert sich auf die Verarbeitung wichtiger Elemente wie Kupfer, Kobalt, Nickel, Mangan und Seltene Erden und schafft eine durchgängige US-Lieferkette vom Meeresbodenabbau nahe Amerikanisch-Samoa bis zu Raffinerieanlagen in Indiana.
Diese strategische Zusammenarbeit steht im Einklang mit der Exekutivverordnung von Präsident Trump vom April 2025 zu Offshore-kritischen Mineralien und stellt einen bedeutenden Schritt zur Etablierung einer von China unabhängigen Lieferkette für kritische Mineralien in den USA dar.
- Creation of first U.S.-based complete supply chain for critical minerals from deep sea nodules
- Strategic partnership reduces dependence on Chinese critical mineral supply chain
- Integration of advanced autonomous collection technology with proven refining capabilities
- Alignment with federal initiatives and regulatory support for deep-sea mineral exploration
- Expansion into new mineral sources through deep sea nodule processing
- Project success depends on unproven commercial-scale deep sea mining technology
- Significant capital investment likely required for infrastructure development
- Environmental concerns and regulatory challenges associated with deep-sea mining
- Timeline uncertainties with Eureka III deployment scheduled for 2026
Insights
ReElement-Impossible Metals partnership targets critical mineral independence from China through innovative deep-sea nodule processing.
This partnership between ReElement and Impossible Metals represents a strategic move to establish America's first vertically integrated deep-sea critical minerals supply chain. The collaboration aims to combine Impossible Metals' autonomous underwater nodule collection technology with ReElement's mineral refining capabilities to process copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements - all essential components for defense systems, electric vehicles, and renewable energy technologies.
The toll-processing framework is particularly significant, as it allows ReElement to generate revenue by refining materials for Impossible Metals' customers without taking on the risks associated with seabed mining operations. This arrangement creates a clear path to commercialization while minimizing capital exposure.
This MOU directly responds to the April 2025 Executive Order on offshore critical minerals and addresses a crucial national security vulnerability. China currently controls approximately 85
The timeline is meaningful - with Impossible Metals planning to deploy its commercial Eureka III collection platform in 2026. Their technology, which claims to collect nodules without disturbing visible marine life, addresses one of the primary environmental concerns that has historically slowed deep-sea mining development.
While this remains an early-stage agreement rather than a definitive contract, the collaboration represents significant strategic positioning in a sector increasingly recognized as critical to industrial competitiveness and national security. The companies' shared emphasis on sustainable practices may help navigate the regulatory scrutiny that has challenged previous deep-sea mining initiatives.
Joint effort aims to create a sustainable, domestic supply chain for rare earth and critical minerals from deep sea nodules
Impossible Metals is an innovative sustainable deep sea nodule harvesting company
ReElement is commercially producing magnet-, specialty- and defense-grade, separated critical minerals and rare earth oxides in the United States
FISHERS, IN / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC) ("American Resources" or the "Company"), along with its holding in ReElement Technologies Corporation ("ReElement"), a leading U.S. innovator in rare earth element (REE) and critical mineral refining, is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Impossible Metals, Inc. ("Impossible Metals"), a pioneer in sustainable deep-sea nodule harvesting.
The MOU outlines a strategic collaboration to jointly investigate developing and deploying a vertically integrated critical mineral supply chain solution, combining Impossible Metals' proprietary nodule collection technology with ReElement's innovative and industry-leading critical mineral refining platform to create a globally competitive, sustainable, and independent rare earth supply chain in the United States.
Key highlights of the MOU include:
Focus on essential elements: Copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements.
Joint commitment to explore a sustainable, non-China critical mineral supply chain to meet growing global demand.
Toll-processing framework: ReElement to refine deep sea nodules and deliver separated minerals to Impossible Metals' customers.
Strategic collaboration to enhance and secure the global critical mineral value chain and identify further joint opportunities.
Integration of ReElement's platform, delivering high-throughput, low-waste, cost-effective refining of ultra-pure critical minerals.
End-to-end U.S. supply chain: From seabed mining in federal waters near American Samoa to refining operations in Indiana.
The MOU follows President Trump's April 2025 Executive Order, Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, which underscores the urgency of domestic collaboration across the exploration, harvesting, processing, and environmental stewardship of seabed mineral resources.
Impossible Metals has played a direct role in shaping global policy on responsible seabed mining. At the regulatory level, Impossible Metals successfully requested the Department of the Interior to initiate permitting for deep-sea minerals in U.S. federal waters and has personally updated members of the U.S. Congress on the importance of this unique feedstock.
On the technical front, Impossible Metals is preparing to deploy Eureka III in 2026 - the commercial embodiment of its autonomous underwater collection platform. The system is capable of selectively collecting polymetallic nodules without disturbing visible life and builds on years of successful prototype development and in-ocean trials.
Mark Jensen, CEO and Chairman of ReElement, commented, "I have known Oliver for over 4 years now and the scientific and technical progress he and his team have made is extremely impressive. We're excited to bring ReElement's advanced refining capabilities to this important mission and serve as the toll processor for materials essential to America's energy and defense security."
Oliver Gunasekara, CEO and Co-Founder of Impossible Metals, added, "We're thrilled to begin our collaboration with ReElement. Both of our teams share a clear vision for establishing an efficient, scalable, and
The agreement marks another key milestone in the journey to deliver U.S.-processed, high-purity rare earth products to the global value chain and reinforces both companies' commitment to building a resilient, environmentally sound and sustainable supply network.
About Impossible Metals
Impossible Metals (YC, Public Benefit Corporation) is a North American underwater robotics company unleashing sustainable critical minerals from the deep ocean. The company has built the Eureka collection system, which is the world's first autonomous underwater robotics platform for selectively collecting polymetallic nodules while preserving and protecting the marine ecosystem.
About American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ: AREC)
American Resources Corporation is a leader in the critical mineral supply chain, developing innovative solutions both upstream and downstream of the refining process. The company and its affiliates focus on the extraction and processing of metallurgical carbon and iron ore, essential ingredients in steelmaking, as well as critical and rare earth minerals for the electrification market and recycled metals.
Leveraging its affiliation and former parent status of ReElement Technologies Corporation, a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth and critical battery elements, American Resources is investing in and developing efficient upstream and downstream critical mineral operations. These operations include mining interests in conventional and unconventional sources, recycling, and manufacturing.
American Resources has established a nimble, low-cost business model centered on growth, which provides a significant opportunity to scale its portfolio of assets to meet the growing global infrastructure and electrification markets while also continuing to acquire operations and significantly reduce their legacy industry risks. Its streamlined and efficient operations are able to maximize margins while reducing costs. For more information visit americanresourcescorp.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About ReElement Technologies Corporation
ReElement Technologies Corporation, a portfolio company of American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC), is a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth and critical battery elements. Its multi-mineral, multi-feedstock platform technology focuses on the refining of recycled material from rare earth permanent magnets and lithium-ion batteries, concentrated ores and brines, as well as coal-based waste streams and byproducts to create a cost effective and environmentally-safe, circular supply chain. ReElement has developed its innovative and scalable "Powered by ReElement" process which collaboratively utilizes its exclusively licensed intellectual property within its partners' material processing flow sheets to more efficiently support the global supply chain's growing demand for magnet and battery-grade products. For more information visit reelementtech.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Learn more about ReElement Technologies' process and technology here - Video.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond American Resources Corporation's control. The words "believes", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", "continue", "seeks", "anticipates", "plans", "expects", "intends", "estimates", or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved.
Investor Contact:
JTC Team, LLC
Jenene Thomas
(908) 824 - 0775
arec@jtcir.com
Media Inquiries:
Marjorie Weisskohl
703-587-1532
mweisskohl@allseasonspr.com
Company Contact:
Mark LaVerghetta
317-855-9926 ext. 0
investor@americanresourcescorp.com
SOURCE: American Resources Corporation
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
FAQ
What is the significance of ReElement and Impossible Metals' collaboration for AREC stock?
How will ReElement Technologies process deep sea nodules from Impossible Metals?
When will Impossible Metals' Eureka III deep sea mining system be operational?
What areas will be targeted for deep sea nodule mining by AREC and Impossible Metals?
How does this partnership align with U.S. government initiatives?
