5E Advanced Materials Files Foundational U.S. Patent to Protect Closed-Loop In-situ Boron Mining and Production Technology

Rhea-AI Summary

5E Advanced Materials (NASDAQ:FEAM) filed an omnibus U.S. patent application on December 17, 2025 for a proprietary, closed-loop in-situ leach (ISL) boron mining and production process that includes 167 invention claims. The application covers end-to-end steps from injection to recovery, processing, reinjection, and impurity management and aims to protect production of boric acid, gypsum, and sodium chloride.

The company cites prior ISL pilots (1981–1988), federal/state permits from the 1990s, an EPA approval in November 2023, recommencement of ISL mining in January 2024, and pilot horizontal wells converted in July 2025. The Small-Scale Facility has reportedly produced commercial-spec boric acid and gypsum. The filing is described as foundational to 5E's IP and domestic critical-mineral strategy.

Positive

• Omnibus patent application with 167 claims
• EPA approval to commence mining in November 2023
• Recommenced ISL mining in January 2024
• Converted two wells to horizontal with fiber optics in July 2025
• Small-Scale Facility produced commercial-spec boric acid and gypsum

Negative

• Patent application is filed (pending), not yet granted
• Company identified as development-stage, indicating early commercial scale
• No quantified financial guidance or revenue figures provided in the announcement

Key Figures

Patent claims 167 claims Omnibus USPTO application covering end-to-end borate mining process

Pilot operations history 1981–1988 Three ISL pilot programs at Fort Cady across early 1980s

Vertical injection wells 4 wells Initial ISL mining using four vertical injection-recovery wells

Converted wells 2 wells Two vertical wells converted to horizontal in July 2025

Major permits 1990–1994 Record of Decision and key permits obtained by 1994

EPA mining approval Nov 2023 Approval to commence mining at Fort Cady project

Mining recommencement Jan 2024 ISL mining recommenced following EPA approval

Mining duration nearly two years Consistent ISL mining operations referenced by management

Market Reality Check

$3.57 Last Close

Volume Volume 64,000 is below the 20-day average of 73,609 ahead of this patent news. normal

Technical Price $3.70 is trading below the 200-day MA of $4.16, and well under the $24.84 52-week high.

Peers on Argus 1 Up

Peers showed mixed moves: ALTO (-4.3%), LOOP (-7.54%), TSE (-13.24%) declined while NTIC (+3.58%) and AMTX (+0.71%) rose. With only one peer in momentum scans and no clear common direction, FEAM’s patent news appears more company-specific than sector-driven.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 09	Investor conference update	Neutral	-1.4%	CEO presenting strategic and commercial update at virtual minerals conference.
Dec 09	Customer trial progress	Positive	+4.3%	Final LCD glass tank trial using twenty tons of boric acid for qualification.
Nov 19	Resource upgrade	Positive	+1.9%	Measured and indicated borate and lithium resources materially increased at Fort Cady.
Nov 14	Q1 project update	Positive	-9.9%	Q1 call highlighting critical mineral status, EXIM support, and 2026 FID path.
Nov 10	Earnings call scheduling	Neutral	+13.2%	Announcement of upcoming Q1 investor call on operations and market positioning.

Pattern Detected

Recent news often tied to project progress and strategic positioning; price reactions have mostly aligned with the positive or neutral tone, with one notable divergence on a positive Q1 call update.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, 5E Advanced Materials has highlighted milestones at its Fort Cady project, including a substantial resource upgrade on Nov 19, 2025, LCD glass qualification trials, and steps toward a 2026 Final Investment Decision. Investor events and conference presentations on Nov 10 and Dec 9 supported the commercial narrative. Today’s patent-focused announcement extends that trajectory by emphasizing protection of its ISL-based processing platform and long-term strategic positioning.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock moved -7.8% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite the patent filing would contrast with prior mostly aligned responses to operational progress updates. While securing intellectual property around ISL processes supports long-term positioning, recent SEC filings have highlighted substantial doubt about going-concern status and the need for additional financing, which may weigh on sentiment. Past patterns suggest that even constructive project news can be overshadowed when balance-sheet or funding risks remain prominent.

Key Terms

united states patent and trademark office regulatory

"filed an omnibus application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)"

A U.S. government agency that reviews and issues patents for inventions and registers trademarks for brand names and logos, acting like an official office that grants property deeds for ideas and branding. Investors care because patents and trademarks can create legal barriers to competition, support higher pricing, enable licensing revenue, and affect a company’s long‑term value and legal risk—so decisions by this office can materially influence a firm’s prospects.

in-situ leach technical

"for a proprietary, closed-loop in-situ leach (ISL) mining and production process"

In-situ leach is a mining method that recovers minerals by circulating a dissolved chemical solution through an underground ore body and pumping the mineral-rich fluid back to the surface for processing, like brewing tea where the flavor is extracted without digging up the leaves. It matters to investors because it typically requires lower upfront capital, faster startup and smaller visible footprint than conventional mining, but carries regulatory and environmental risks — especially groundwater contamination and long-term cleanup obligations — that can affect project costs and permits.

closed-loop technical

"developed a closed-loop process designed to lower costs, improve sustainability"

A closed-loop system automatically measures its own output and feeds that information back to adjust inputs, operating without the need for constant human intervention — like a thermostat that senses room temperature and turns the heater on or off to keep a set point. Investors pay attention because closed-loop products often deliver more consistent performance, lower operational costs, and stronger regulatory or competitive advantages, which can improve revenue prospects, margins and risk profiles for companies that make or use them.

injection-recovery wells technical

"initially utilized four vertical injection-recovery wells where recovered leached solution"

Injection-recovery wells are pairs or networks of boreholes used to push fluids into the ground and then draw them back out so a target substance can be dissolved, displaced, or separated underground. Think of it like injecting water into a sponge to wash out a desired ingredient and then collecting the liquid that comes back up. For investors, these wells determine how much resource can be produced, the running costs, the environmental footprint, and the permits and liabilities that affect a project’s value and timeline.

record of decision regulatory

"major permitting initiative commenced in 1990 with the Record of Decision from the United States"

A record of decision is an official written statement from a government regulator that explains and finalizes its approval or denial of a proposed project after reviewing environmental and legal factors. For investors, it matters because it removes a major regulatory uncertainty — like a referee’s final whistle — allowing a project to move forward, be funded, or be halted, which can change timelines, costs, and potential liabilities.

conditional use permit regulatory

"a Conditional Use Permit and Reclamation Plan from the California Department of Conservation"

A conditional use permit is a government approval that allows a property or business to operate in a way not normally allowed under local zoning rules, provided it meets specific requirements or limits. For investors it matters because the permit can unlock a project's value or revenue but also imposes conditions, timelines and compliance risks that affect costs, approval uncertainty and the asset’s resale appeal—think of it as permission to proceed with strings attached.

reclamation plan regulatory

"Conditional Use Permit and Reclamation Plan from the California Department of Conservation"

A reclamation plan is a regulatory roadmap that describes how a company will restore land or industrial sites to a safe, stable and usable condition after activities such as mining, drilling, or major construction. It sets out steps, schedules and estimated costs for cleanup and rehabilitation, and matters to investors because those costs and legal obligations affect a project’s profitability, cash needs and long‑term liability—like a repair and landscaping plan after a major renovation.

open-pit mining technical

"limit surface disturbance compared with conventional open-pit mining"

Open-pit mining is a surface method of extracting minerals by digging a large, terraced hole in the ground, like scooping out a giant bowl to reach rock that contains metal or other valuable materials. It matters to investors because it determines a project’s upfront costs, production scale, environmental impacts, permitting risks and long-term operating costs—factors that affect profitability, timetable and potential liabilities.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Claims Would Strengthen Competitive Moat and Reinforce Market Leadership

Omnibus Application includes 167 Invention Claims Covering 5E's End-to-End Borate Mining, Bolstering Long-term IP Protection

HESPERIA, CA / ACCESS Newswire / December 17, 2025 / 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. ("5E" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:FEAM)(ASX:5EA), a U.S. development-stage company focused on becoming a vertically integrated global leader and supplier of refined borates and advanced boron derivative materials, has filed an omnibus application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a proprietary, closed-loop in-situ leach (ISL) mining and production process that has lowered 5E's operating costs, reduced its environmental footprint, and, if granted, will create meaningful barriers to competitors seeking to replicate the Company's ISL technology. The patent application includes 167 claims covering 5E's mining process and production for boric acid, gypsum, sodium chloride, as well as the management of metal impurities. Over the coming weeks, 5E intends to file several additional standalone applications. The patents would form a cornerstone of 5E's intellectual property portfolio, covering key steps from injection to recovery, processing, and reinjection.

"With 5E filing the omnibus application, we are taking an important step to secure the intellectual property that underpins our differentiated ISL mining and processing platform that has led to our technical successes," said Paul Weibel, Chief Executive Officer of 5E Advanced Materials. "5E performed ISL pilot operations in the 1980's and has been mining consistently for nearly two years. Building on this experience, our team developed a closed-loop process designed to lower costs, improve sustainability, and enhance mining efficiency. This patent filing is intended to protect that know-how and support our long-term commercial and strategic objectives through the protections provided by the USPTO."

ISL borate mining techniques at the Fort Cady Project trace back to pilot programs in the early 1980s with the discovery of mineral resources dating to 1964. Primary exploration work and land acquisition occurred over the next two decades. A series of ISL pilot programs occurred on three separate occasions from 1981 to 1982, 1986 to 1987, and 1987 to 1988. The major permitting initiative commenced in 1990 with the Record of Decision from the United States Bureau of Land Management and a Conditional Use Permit and Reclamation Plan from the California Department of Conservation and San Bernardino County obtained in 1994. This unique history, combined with permits from federal, state and local agencies, positions 5E with one of the most strategically advanced and de-risked ISL boron assets in the United States.

5E obtained its approval to commence mining from the United States Environmental Protection Agency in November 2023 and recommenced ISL mining in January 2024. Mining occurs via ISL technology and initially utilized four vertical injection-recovery wells where recovered leached solution is processed at 5E's Small-Scale Facility (SSF). In July 2025, two vertical injection-recovery wells were converted to horizontal wells with downhole fiber optics to pilot ISL techniques and demonstrate baseline head grades, temperatures, impurity profiles, injection rates, and recovery rates. Mined solution is processed into boric acid and gypsum at the SSF where it has demonstrated meeting the highest commercial product specifications.

The novel processing technology produces boric acid, gypsum and calcium chloride via ISL technology while regenerating hydrochloric acid via aqueous chemistry, with the overall mining process being a closed loop where mining feedstock is regenerated and recycled. This closed-loop ISL approach is designed to minimize waste, reduce reagent consumption, lower water and energy use, and limit surface disturbance compared with conventional open-pit mining. These advantages are aligned with increasing demand from customers and end-markets for more sustainable mineral production.

By submitting for patent protection for its proprietary ISL process in the United States, 5E aims to underpin a secure, domestic source of boron, a U.S.-designated critical mineral used in defense, clean energy, and high-tech applications, at a time when supply chain resilience has become a strategic priority for both government and industry. The patent filings align with 5E's strategy to advance toward scaled production and long-term offtake discussions.

About 5E Advanced Materials, Inc.

5E Advanced Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:FEAM)(ASX:5EA) is focused on becoming a vertically integrated global leader and supplier of refined borates and advanced boron materials, complemented by calcium-based co-products, and potentially other by-products such as lithium carbonate. The Company's mission is to become a supplier of these critical materials to industries addressing global decarbonization, energy independence, food, national security, and the defense sector. The Company believes factors such as government regulation and incentives focused on domestic manufacturing and supply chains and capital investments across industries will drive demand for end-use applications like solar and wind energy infrastructure, neodymium-ferro-boron magnets, defense applications, lithium-ion batteries, and other critical material applications. The business is based on the Company's large domestic boron resource, which is located in Southern California and designated as Critical Infrastructure by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and with the U.S. Government's 2025 Critical Minerals List following boron's inclusion.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release may contain "forward-looking statements" that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the success and enforceability of the Company's patent applications and other intellectual property protections, development plans, production capabilities, commercialization strategy, offtake discussions, customer qualification processes and success thereof, market demand for boron and lithium, the potential applications of its products across energy, defense, and industrial markets, and ability to access and secure any government-based financing. Any forward-looking statements are based on 5E's current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the timing, outcome, and enforceability of the Company's patent applications and other intellectual property protections and statements regarding the Company's development plans, production capabilities, commercialization strategy, offtake discussions, customer qualification processes, market demand for boron and lithium, and potential applications of its products across energy, defense, and industrial markets, and ability to access and secure any government-based financing. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause our actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in 5E's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based on information available to 5E as of the date hereof and are made only as of the date of this release. 5E undertakes no obligation to update such information except as required under applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing 5E's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. In light of the foregoing, investors are urged not to rely on any forward-looking statement in reaching any conclusion or making any investment decision about any securities of 5E.

For further information contact:

Investor Relations
Brett Maas
Hayden IR, LLC
FEAM@haydenir.com
Ph: +1 (480) 861-2425

Media Relations
Paola Ashton
PRA Communications
team@pracommunications.com
Ph: +1 (604) 681-1407

SOURCE: 5E Advanced Materials, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What did 5E Advanced Materials (FEAM) file with the USPTO on December 17, 2025?

5E filed an omnibus U.S. patent application for a closed-loop ISL mining and production process containing 167 claims covering injection, recovery, processing, and reinjection.

How does the FEAM patent filing affect 5E's boric acid and gypsum production?

The filing aims to protect the company's proprietary ISL process used to produce commercial-spec boric acid and gypsum at its Small-Scale Facility.

What operational milestones did 5E (FEAM) report before the patent filing?

5E reported EPA approval in November 2023, recommencing ISL mining in January 2024, and converting two wells to horizontal with fiber optics in July 2025.

Does the FEAM patent application guarantee exclusive rights to 5E's ISL technology?

No; the application is pending—granting a patent is subject to USPTO examination and is not guaranteed.

What areas does the FEAM patent application cover for the Fort Cady Project?

The application covers end-to-end ISL mining and production steps for boric acid, gypsum, sodium chloride, and management of metal impurities.

Will the FEAM patent filing support U.S. critical-mineral strategy?

The company positions the filing as supporting a secure domestic source of boron, a U.S.-designated critical mineral used in defense, clean energy, and high-tech applications.