ReElement Technologies Corporation Joins DARPA-Funded Critical Minerals Forum
Rhea-AI Summary
ReElement Technologies, a subsidiary of American Resources (NASDAQ:AREC), has joined the DARPA-funded Critical Minerals Forum (CMF), a non-profit trade association focused on building resilient critical minerals supply chains. This development aligns with a recent executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to enhance domestic mineral production.
ReElement's technology stands out as the only economically viable solution for separating and refining heavy rare earth elements in the U.S. Their advanced refining process offers key advantages including:
- Aqueous chemistry eliminating toxic solvents
- Lower capital expenditures through efficient chromatography units
- High versatility across various feedstocks
- Modular and scalable capacity
- Localized processing capabilities
The CMF collaboration, through DARPA's OPEN program, utilizes AI-driven forecasts for pricing, supply, and demand data, enabling members to make informed investment decisions.
Positive
- Only economically viable heavy rare earth element processor in the U.S.
- Strategic partnership with DARPA-funded Critical Minerals Forum
- Alignment with Defense Production Act initiatives
- Cost-effective technology requiring fewer processing units
- Environmental advantage through non-toxic processing methods
Negative
- None.
Insights
ReElement's membership in the DARPA-funded Critical Minerals Forum represents a strategic positioning that aligns perfectly with emerging national security priorities. The timing is particularly significant following President Trump's invocation of the Defense Production Act to strengthen domestic mineral production capabilities.
This development should be viewed through a national security lens rather than merely a commercial one. The U.S. government has identified critical mineral dependency as a strategic vulnerability, with over 80% of rare earth processing currently dominated by China. ReElement's claimed position as the only American company economically refining heavy rare earth elements addresses a crucial gap in domestic capabilities.
The DARPA connection provides more than just prestige - it potentially offers ReElement access to the OPEN program's AI-driven forecasting tools and a network of critical mineral stakeholders. This ecosystem access could prove invaluable for capturing opportunities as Defense Production Act implementation accelerates.
ReElement's aqueous chemistry approach eliminates dependence on environmentally problematic solvents typical in traditional rare earth processing, aligning with both Pentagon sustainability goals and critical manufacturing requirements. Their modular, scalable system enables rapid deployment and expansion - precisely the agility needed for national security applications.
While not an immediate revenue driver, this positions ReElement at the intersection of industrial policy and national security - a potentially lucrative space as the U.S. government allocates resources to address critical mineral vulnerabilities.
ReElement's integration into the Critical Minerals Forum represents a significant advantage in the challenging rare earth elements (REE) market. Their claimed breakthrough in economically viable heavy rare earth element refining addresses the most complex part of the REE supply chain - the separation and purification processes that typically require thousands of repetitive extraction cycles.
The company's technological advantages merit attention. Their chromatography-based approach reportedly replaces hundreds of mixer-settler units with just a few processing units - a capital expenditure reduction that could fundamentally alter project economics. This directly addresses the primary barrier that has prevented reshoring of REE processing: prohibitive startup costs.
What's particularly valuable is their multi-feedstock capability. Rather than being tied to a specific ore body or concentration method, ReElement can apparently process recycled magnets, battery materials, and various mineral concentrates. This feedstock flexibility creates resilience in a market historically vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The integration with American Resources provides vertical integration advantages, potentially allowing ReElement to source from coal-based waste streams - an abundant domestic resource. Their "Powered by ReElement" process suggests a licensing/partnership model that could accelerate technology deployment.
While joining an industry forum isn't typically market-moving news, this particular relationship with a DARPA-funded initiative offers credibility and positions ReElement advantageously as domestic critical mineral policy implementation accelerates. For a company with American Resources' market capitalization, securing even modest government contracts through these relationships could be transformative.
ReElement's versatile, multi-mineral refining platform is the only rare earth oxide producer capable of economically separating and refining heavy rare earth elements in the U.S.
ReElement's advanced refining process and American Resources' feedstock sourcing capabilities empower the U.S. and allied nations to achieve mineral independence
FISHERS, IN / ACCESS Newswire / March 28, 2025 / American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC) ("American Resources" or the "Company"), through its holding in ReElement Technologies Corporation ("ReElement"), a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth, critical defense and battery elements, today announced its membership in the Critical Minerals Forum (CMF), a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) - funded not-for-profit trade association dedicated to building resilient and diversified critical minerals supply chains.
This announcement comes at a pivotal moment, following President Donald Trump's recent executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to bolster domestic mineral production and reduce reliance on foreign sources. ReElement's work with CMF will contribute to the national push for mineral security and strengthens ReElement's commitment to securing critical mineral resources to meet the United States' strategic national security and economic objectives.
The CMF is a coalition of critical minerals miners, processors, investors, and end-users committed to building resilient and diversified supply chains. CMF collaborates with DARPA through the Open Price Exploration for National Security (OPEN) program. This partnership leverages AI-driven forecasts to provide transparent and credible pricing, supply, and demand data, empowering members to make informed investment decisions. Members benefit from innovative tools and actionable insights that promote supply chain stability and economic security.
ReElement's advanced separation and purification technology offers key benefits, including:
Aqueous Chemistry - Eliminates the need for toxic and hazardous organic solvents, making the process safer and more environmentally friendly.
Lower Capital Expenditures - A few chromatography units can replace hundreds or even thousands of mixer-settlers to achieve the same throughput and product requirements.
High Versatility - An intrinsic-parameter-based design and predictive simulation tools allow for rapid, adaptable refining across various feedstocks and production scales.
Modular and Scalable Capacity - Easily expands processing volumes in alignment with growing feedstock availability.
Localized Processing - Reduces the need for raw ore transportation across the globe, strengthening supply chain security and efficiency.
Learn more about ReElement Technologies' process and technology here - Video.
About ReElement Technologies Corporation
ReElement Technologies Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary 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.
About American Resources Corporation
American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC) is a next-generation, environmentally and socially responsible supplier of high-quality raw materials to the new infrastructure market. The Company is focused on the extraction and processing of metallurgical carbon, an essential ingredient used in steelmaking, critical and rare earth minerals for the electrification market, and reprocessed metal to be recycled. American Resources has a growing portfolio of operations located in the Central Appalachian basin of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia where premium quality metallurgical carbon and rare earth mineral deposits are concentrated.
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.
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 Technologies joining the DARPA-funded Critical Minerals Forum?
How does ReElement's refining technology differentiate from competitors in the rare earth processing market?
What are the key benefits of ReElement's (AREC) processing technology for rare earth elements?
How does the Critical Minerals Forum support AREC's ReElement Technologies operations?
