A Utah-based company, Ionic Minerals Technology (Ionic MT), has found a massive deposit of rare earth minerals essential for building electric vehicles, semiconductors, satellites, and magnets. The Silicon Ridge mine is suspended in clay, making it easier to extract, and contains 16 critical minerals, including gallium and germanium.
CEO Andre Zeitoun says the discovery could support efforts to electrify transportation and bolster defense while reducing dependence on foreign markets. The US is currently reliant on China for these metals, which recently restricted exports.
Geologist Katie Potter suggests that this find could lead to a “halloysite gold rush” in Utah. Ionic MT plans to extract materials with zero waste and no explosives or chemicals, aiming to be a responsible mining operation. The company’s manufacturing plant processes the mineral into components for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels.
The discovery is seen as a major breakthrough by state leaders, who hope it will position Utah as a leader in clean energy. Governor Spencer Cox calls it “a huge win” for the nation, which aims to double its energy production over the next decade through his “Operation Gigawatt” initiative.
Key points:
* Ionic Minerals Technology (Ionic MT) has discovered a massive deposit of rare earth minerals at Silicon Ridge.
* The company plans to extract materials with zero waste and no explosives or chemicals.
* The discovery supports efforts to electrify transportation and bolster defense while reducing dependence on foreign markets.
* Utah state leaders see the find as an opportunity to position the state as a leader in clean energy.
Source: https://grist.org/energy/utah-mine-critical-minerals-rare-earths