Silicon Ridge confirms a strategic U.S. source of Rare Earths and Critical Minerals

Ionic Mineral Technologies has made a press release informing about a major, high-grade deposit of rare earth and critical minerals at its fully permitted Silicon Ridge project in Utah.

IAC-Plus profile

Independent assays conducted by ALS Chemex validate Silicon Ridge as a halloysite-hosted ion-adsorption clay deposit, a geological formation that underpins a substantial share of global rare earth production. What distinguishes Silicon Ridge is its unique “IAC-Plus” profile: rare earth concentrations comparable to leading international deposits, combined with hydrothermal and magmatic enrichment of critical technology metals, including gallium, germanium, scandium, lithium, vanadium, tungsten, niobium, and a full suite of light and heavy rare earth elements.

This confirmation establishes Silicon Ridge as one of North America’s most significant domestic holdings of materials essential for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, permanent magnets, defense and surveillance systems, and next-generation energy technologies.

Pivotal discovery

Andre Zeitoun, Founder and CEO of Ionic MT, described the announcement as a pivotal stating: “This confirmation is a watershed moment for American resource independence. For the first time, we have a domestic, shovel-ready source for a full spectrum of critical minerals, all extractable with a faster, cleaner process than traditional hard rock mining and extraction”.

The strategic importance of this discovery comes at a time of heightened global supply chain risk. Recent export restrictions on key technology metals and rare earth elements, coupled with identified shortfalls in U.S. critical material inventories, have underscored the urgency of developing secure, domestic alternatives. Silicon Ridge directly addresses this vulnerability.

Geological survey

Initial exploration results from more than 100 boreholes and extensive trenching across a 650-acre area indicate a combined rare earth and critical metal grade of approximately 2,700 ppm within the halloysite clay fraction, levels that compare favorably with established ion-adsorption clay deposits worldwide. Importantly, these results cover only a fraction of the total project area and depth, pointing to substantial upside potential as exploration continues. A Preliminary Economic Assessment is now underway, with completion targeted for the first half of 2026.

Utah’s support

Utah’s leadership has highlighted the broader significance of the project, emphasizing its role in strengthening national security, supporting cleaner energy transitions, and creating long-term economic opportunities. Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams stated: “Utah is once again proving we have the greatest resources, vision and determination to power America’s future” while Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz said: “Our energy and national security depend on having a reliable supply of critical minerals – and Utah is uniquely positioned to lead the way”

Technology

Ionic MT’s vertically integrated model further differentiates the project. From a single halloysite clay feedstock, the company produces three high-value co-product streams: critical metals for defense and technology, high-purity alumina for aerospace and advanced manufacturing, and Ionisil™ nano-silicon, a next-generation lithium-ion battery anode material currently under qualification with tier-one OEMs. This approach maximizes value recovery, minimizes waste, and enables a cleaner, low-temperature processing pathway without the need for energy-intensive roasting or aggressive chemical treatments.

Support

The Silicon Ridge discovery is being interpreted with the guidance of Dr. Eric H. Christiansen, a leading authority on Utah’s volcanology and geology, whose decades of experience provide critical insight into the full scale and significance of the deposit.

Together, these developments position Ionic MT and Silicon Ridge at the forefront of building a resilient, American-made supply chain for materials that are essential to the nation’s technological leadership, energy future, and security.