Utah discovery could be one of the most significant US critical mineral finds in years

Ionic Mineral Technologies reports rich concentrations of lithium, rubidium, and cesium

by · TechSpot

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What just happened? What began as a nanosilicon mining operation in Utah has turned into what Ionic Mineral Technologies describes as a potentially historic find in US critical mineral exploration. The company, which produces nanosilicon for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, said that routine exploration at its leased property in Silicon Ridge revealed unusually high concentrations of valuable elements across a broad spectrum.

According to Ionic, independent analyses identified elevated grades of 16 minerals, including lithium, alumina, germanium, rubidium, cesium, vanadium, niobium, and scandium. These materials are essential to producing the semiconductors, defense components, and clean-energy technologies that underpin major industries.

The company said the geological characteristics of the Utah deposit – described as a halloysite-hosted ion-adsorption clay – mirror those found in soil formations that dominate China's rare-earth production.

China currently supplies roughly 90 percent of the world's rare earth elements, an imbalance that has prompted renewed focus on domestic mineral supply chains. The Trump administration has classified critical mineral development as a national security issue and recently announced a joint commitment with Australia to invest more than $3 billion in exploration and extraction initiatives. Ionic said representatives have met with administration officials, who expressed interest in the project's potential scale and strategic value.

Company founder and CEO Andre Zeitoun said early drilling suggests that the resource at Silicon Ridge extends well beyond initial estimates. Exploratory work has so far covered more than 600 acres to a depth of about 100 feet, but the full property spans roughly 8,000 acres of already permitted mining land with existing roads, utilities, and water access. The company plans to process extracted materials at its nearby facility in Provo, which could accelerate commercialization. "We know this is a sizable deposit, and we know that's just scratching the surface," Zeitoun told The Wall Street Journal.

The discovery includes critical elements with applications that range from aerospace to precision electronics. Rubidium and cesium are used in atomic clocks, quantum sensors, and telecommunications systems. Scandium serves as a strengthening agent in aluminum alloys for aircraft and fuel cells. Lithium remains the cornerstone of battery manufacturing for electric vehicles and grid storage systems. Zeitoun said the composition of the deposit – essentially soft clay from an ancient dried lake bed – offers advantages for surface-level extraction.

Mining experts said the find could help reduce US dependence on imports, though challenges remain. Barbara Arnold, professor of practice in mining engineering at Pennsylvania State University, noted that ion-adsorption clays can complicate extraction. "Often, the elements are tied up in the clay mineral matrix, making extraction more difficult and requiring more energy for mining and processing," she said.

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The Department of the Interior has recently broadened its list of designated critical minerals to include copper and uranium. At a Washington, D.C., conference last week, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the US holds vast, untapped reserves across public lands, calling for more strategic efforts to harness those assets to support industrial stability and energy independence.

For Ionic, the Utah discovery may elevate its position from a nanosilicon producer to a central player in America's critical minerals future. "This is a district, not a mine," Zeitoun said.