American Rare Earths Announces: Test Mining Commences To Extract Feedstock for Demonstration Plant at The Cowboy State Mine
American Rare Earths (OTCQX: AMRRY) has initiated test mining operations at its Cowboy State Mine, part of the Halleck Creek deposit in Wyoming. The company successfully completed its first blast, targeting the extraction of 3,200 tonnes of ore to serve as feedstock for a demonstration plant.
The mining process involves two phases: first, extracting weathered material from 3.6 meters below surface, followed by accessing and crushing underlying non-weathered ore to approximately 5-centimeter pieces. The extracted material will support metallurgical testing, process optimization, demonstration plant operations, and sample production for potential offtake partners.
This milestone represents a crucial step in de-risking full-scale development, validating processing flowsheets, and refining engineering and cost models for future plant construction.
American Rare Earths (OTCQX: AMRRY) ha avviato operazioni di prova di estrazione presso la Cowboy State Mine, parte del giacimento Halleck Creek nel Wyoming. La società ha portato a termine con successo il primo brillamento, mirato a estrarre 3.200 tonnellate di minerale da utilizzare come materia prima per un impianto dimostrativo.
Il processo minerario prevede due fasi: inizialmente si rimuoverà materiale alterato a 3,6 metri di profondità, per poi accedere al minerale non alterato sottostante e frantumarlo in pezzi di circa 5 centimetri. Il materiale estratto servirà per prove metallurgiche, ottimizzazione dei processi, attività dell’impianto dimostrativo e produzione di campioni per potenziali partner di offtake.
Questa tappa segna un passo fondamentale per ridurre i rischi legati allo sviluppo su scala commerciale, convalidare i flussi di processo e affinare i modelli ingegneristici e dei costi per la futura costruzione dell’impianto.
American Rare Earths (OTCQX: AMRRY) ha iniciado operaciones de prueba de minería en su Cowboy State Mine, parte del yacimiento Halleck Creek en Wyoming. La compañía completó con éxito su primera voladura, destinada a extraer 3.200 toneladas de mineral para servir como materia prima para una planta demostrativa.
El proceso minero consta de dos fases: primero se extraerá material meteorizado a 3,6 metros de profundidad y, a continuación, se accederá al mineral no meteorizado subyacente para triturarlo hasta piezas de aproximadamente 5 centímetros. El material extraído apoyará pruebas metalúrgicas, optimización de procesos, operaciones de la planta demostrativa y la producción de muestras para potenciales socios de offtake.
Este hito representa un paso clave para reducir el riesgo del desarrollo a escala completa, validar los planes de procesamiento y perfeccionar los modelos de ingeniería y costes para la futura construcción de la planta.
American Rare Earths (OTCQX: AMRRY)가 와이오밍의 Halleck Creek 광상에 속한 Cowboy State Mine에서 시험 채광 작업을 시작했습니다. 회사는 시연 플랜트의 원료로 사용할 3,200톤의 광석을 채취하기 위한 첫 폭파를 성공적으로 완료했습니다.
채광 공정은 두 단계로 진행됩니다: 먼저 지표면 아래 3.6미터에서 풍화된 물질을 제거하고, 그 다음에 그 아래에 있는 풍화되지 않은 광석을 약 5센티미터 크기로 분쇄하여 채취합니다. 채취된 물질은 야금학적 시험, 공정 최적화, 시연 플랜트 운영 및 잠재적 오프테이크 파트너용 샘플 생산에 사용될 예정입니다.
이 이정표는 상업 규모 개발의 리스크를 낮추고, 처리 흐름도를 검증하며, 향후 플랜트 건설을 위한 엔지니어링 및 비용 모델을 다듬는 데 중요한 단계입니다.
American Rare Earths (OTCQX: AMRRY) a lancé des opérations d'exploitation minières test à sa Cowboy State Mine, partie du gisement Halleck Creek dans le Wyoming. La société a mené avec succès son premier tir, visant à extraire 3 200 tonnes de minerai destinées à alimenter une usine de démonstration.
Le procédé minier se déroule en deux étapes : d'abord l'extraction de matériau altéré à 3,6 mètres de profondeur, puis l'accès au minerai non altéré sous-jacent qui est concassé en morceaux d'environ 5 centimètres. Le matériau extrait servira aux essais métallurgiques, à l'optimisation des procédés, au fonctionnement de l'usine de démonstration et à la production d'échantillons pour d'éventuels partenaires d'offtake.
Cette étape constitue un jalon important pour réduire les risques liés au développement à grande échelle, valider les schémas de traitement et affiner les modèles d'ingénierie et de coûts pour la construction future de l'usine.
American Rare Earths (OTCQX: AMRRY) hat Testabbaubetriebe in seiner Cowboy State Mine begonnen, die zum Halleck Creek-Lager in Wyoming gehört. Das Unternehmen führte erfolgreich die erste Sprengung durch, mit dem Ziel, 3.200 Tonnen Erz als Rohmaterial für eine Demonstrationsanlage zu gewinnen.
Der Abbau erfolgt in zwei Phasen: Zunächst wird verwittertes Material aus 3,6 Metern Tiefe gewonnen, anschließend wird das darunterliegende unverwitterte Erz aufgefahren und auf etwa 5 Zentimeter zerkleinert. Das geförderte Material dient metallurgischen Tests, Prozessoptimierung, dem Betrieb der Demonstrationsanlage sowie der Probenproduktion für potenzielle Offtake-Partner.
Dieser Meilenstein ist ein wichtiger Schritt, um das Risiko einer Vollskalierung zu verringern, Verarbeitungsabläufe zu validieren und die Engineering- sowie Kostenmodelle für den zukünftigen Anlagenbau zu verfeinern.
- Successful initiation of test mining operations with first blast completed safely
- Planned extraction of 3,200 tonnes of ore for demonstration plant validation
- Test mining provides valuable data for future mine design and operations
- Project advances toward commercial validation and potential offtake partnerships
- Project still in early testing phase, far from commercial production
- Additional blasts and processing steps required before demonstration plant operation
Highlights
- First Blast Successfully and Safely Completed
- Excavation of Weathered Material & Construction of Test Mine Underway
- Bulk sample collection initiated for processing optimization & demonstration plant ore stockpile
DENVER, Aug. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) (“ARR” or the “Company”), through its subsidiary Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc. (“WRI”), has commenced construction of a test mine at the Cowboy State Mine (“CSM”), part of the Halleck Creek deposit, under its State of Wyoming License to Explore by Dozing.
The test mining program will extract approximately 3,200 tonnes of ore, which will serve as feedstock for a demonstration plant. The collection of bulk samples will also support ongoing mineral processing optimization work.
The first of two scheduled blasts was safely executed, fracturing weathered material to a depth of approximately 3.6 metres below the surface. This material will be excavated and stockpiled over the next week (see Figure 1 & 2). Once removed, the underlying non-weathered ore will be exposed, blasted and crushed on-site to a top size of approximately 5 centimeters.
The crushed ore will be used for:
- Metallurgical testing and process optimization;
- Building a stockpile for the demonstration plant; and
- Producing samples for potential offtake partners.
The weathered material will be used to backfill the test pit upon completion.
The test mining work also provides mining-related data, such as drill penetration rates, blast fragmentation, and other information applicable to mine design.
Why it matters? The commencement of test mining at CSM is a critical milestone in the Company’s development pathway. Demonstration plants require substantial volumes of ore to validate processing flowsheets, generate end-product samples and support future technical studies. A demonstration plant is a proof of concept that enables the Company to:
- De-risk full-scale development by proving processing performance at scale
- Produce end-product samples for potential offtake partners
- Refine engineering and cost models for future plant construction
- Strengthen investor and stakeholder confidence through a tangible process period.
Figure 1 – Aerial view of excavating the blasted, weathered material at the CSM Test Mine
Figure 2 – Excavation of the blasted, weathered material at the CSM Test Mine
This release was authorized by the Board of American Rare Earths.
About American Rare Earths Limited:
American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) is a critical minerals company at the forefront of reshaping the U.S. rare earths industry. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc. (“WRI”), the company is advancing the Halleck Creek Project in Wyoming—a world-class rare earth deposit with the potential to secure America’s critical mineral independence for generations. Located on Wyoming State land, the Cowboy State Mine within Halleck Creek offers cost-efficient open-pit mining methods and benefits from streamlined permitting processes in this mining-friendly state.
With plans for onsite mineral processing and separation facilities, Halleck Creek is strategically positioned to reduce U.S. reliance on imports—predominantly from China—while meeting the growing demand for rare earth elements essential to defense, advanced technologies, and economic security. As exploration progresses, the project’s untapped potential on both State and Federal lands further reinforces its significance as a cornerstone of U.S. supply chain security. In addition to its resource potential, American Rare Earths is committed to environmentally responsible mining practices and continues to collaborate with U.S. Government-supported R&D programs to develop innovative extraction and processing technologies for rare earth elements.
Investors can follow the Company’s progress at www.americanree.com
For further information contact:
| Susan Assadi Media Relations US sassadi@americanree.com 347 977 7125 | Beverly Jedynak Investor Relations US Beverly.jedynak@viriathus.com 312 943 1123 |
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7f38902-7b0f-454c-820a-8bf43005340a
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/870368b1-6262-4433-9e86-673b17d91411
FAQ
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