[CW17] Lithium rush in the U.S.; Rare Earth rebellion, and the Silent Power play
Once upon a time, the most valuable thing you could dig up was gold. Then oil stole the spotlight.
Today? It’s lithium, rare earths, cobalt, and friends — the "ingredients" of our high-tech, low-carbon, energy transition future.
This week’s edition highlights developments in lithium extraction and processing within the U.S., as well as non-Chinese rare earths refining (separation) of both light and heavy rare earths.
In such an uncertain world, the basic rule of thumb is: follow the money — and in this case, we're talking about none other than Australia’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart.
Additionally, we spotlight "under-the-radar" innovations with disruptive potential: emerging lithium-sulfur battery technologies and thin-film photonics materials like lithium niobate.
America, meet your new best Lithium friend
Forget the Lithium Triangle for a second. A colossal lithium deposit in Arkansas was discovered recently, with estimated reserves between 5 and 19 million tons.
Translation? Enough lithium to meet global demand for a decade.
Cue the champagne — or maybe environmentally sustainable mineral water, given the extraction challenges ahead.
This discovery has the potential to rewire the global supply chain balance, decreasing America's reliance on South America and giving China something to really worry about.
Note: Don’t forget that "Trade Wars" starts with "trade" — for now, China holds the better hand, but can it maintain it in the future?
Before you start imagining a "Lithium Gold Rush 2.0," remember: permitting headaches and environmental hurdles loom large. Mining isn’t exactly a "pop it open and sell it on eBay" operation.
U.S. permitting for new mining projects is notoriously slow, often dragging on for 5 to 10 years due to environmental reviews, litigation from local stakeholders, and regulatory complexity.
Additionally, lithium extraction methods — especially direct lithium extraction from brines — are under increasing scrutiny for water usage and potential ecological disruption.
In short: this discovery is a massive opportunity, especially under current circumstances — but it’s fraught with bureaucratic and environmental minefields.
ReElement: America's newest powerhouse in Rare Earths
Meanwhile, American Resources Corporation’s ReElement Technologies has hit a huge milestone by completing Phase 2 of its expansion in Indiana.
Now producing 99.5%+ pure rare earth oxides (and poised to triple production by mid-2025), ReElement might just be the domestic miracle the U.S. defense sector has been praying for.
Even better? They're processing both light and heavy rare earths — a rare feat outside China’s tight grip.
Using Ligand Assisted Displacement (LAD) chromatography (no, it’s not a cocktail recipe), ReElement claims to have a cleaner, cheaper, and modular separation process.
In a world where China has pulled the export plug on various rare earths (and magnets), this could be a pivotal moment for the U.S.
Remaining questions we should be asking:
Where is the feedstock coming from? And will there be enough of it?
Not all feedstock is “ready to use” — it’s vital to understand the basket composition and impurity levels from the famous Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate. Different compositions/impurities require different treatments.
How scalable is the technology? How will ReElement achieve it?
Modular technology sounds great, but history teaches us that scaling laboratory or pilot success into full industrial production often reveals hidden technical and financial challenges.
Moreover, details on ReElement’s capex requirements, margins, and return-on-investment projections remain sparse.
Will there be government support? Season 2 of this story is yet to be released.
The Billionaire who's betting big
If you thought Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest woman, was going to sit on her $30 billion fortune sipping cocktails, think again.
She has plowed $800 million into rare earth companies like MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earths, effectively positioning herself as a kingmaker in America's rare earth ambitions.
Her advocacy for merging Lynas and MP Materials shows she’s not here for passive dividends — she’s here to redraw the map.
Not only that, but she is also backing rare earth exploration and development in Brazil.
For a mining entrepreneur, she is truly jumping headfirst into the future of the sector.
If Rinehart succeeds, expect a leaner, meaner, non-Chinese rare earth supply chain.
Watch her movements closely — Gina doesn’t play to lose.
Note: Gina’s bold investments in U.S. rare earth companies, although strategically brilliant, are not immune to political friction. Increased scrutiny — especially from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) — could slow or block further expansion, particularly as rare earths are increasingly viewed through a national security lens.
Additionally, calls for “resource nationalism” could pressure governments to favor domestic ownership over foreign stakes.
Of course, it’s much better to have Gina, a self-made billionaire in mining, as a partner than a Chinese state-owned company.
Either way, investors following Rinehart’s moves should stay alert to regulatory headwinds, not just market dynamics.
Australia's strategic gamble
Speaking of Down Under, Australia unveiled a $1.2 billion critical minerals stockpile plan.
Yes, they’re literally buying and hoarding minerals now.
Between this, billions in tax incentives, and a federal election looming, Australia is signaling: "We’re done being a quarry for China."
However, depending on the election outcome, the country could pivot — hard — either doubling down on green minerals or backtracking toward natural gas.
Buckle up: policy risk is real.
The Tech breakthroughs you probably missed
Researchers from Hong Kong developed a laser printing technique for lithium-sulfur batteries, which could massively speed up production.
Bonus: these batteries might soon eclipse today’s lithium-ion tech.Meanwhile, thin-film lithium niobate is making waves in photonics, with the potential to supercharge quantum computing and communications — it could be the new silicon.
These innovations remind us: raw materials are crucial, but the technology to manipulate them unlocks real value.
Africa and Sierra Leone: The Next Frontier?
Moore Global partnered with the U.S.-Africa Energy Forum to catalyze investment into Africa’s mineral wealth.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone is reinventing itself — from "blood diamond" infamy to critical minerals powerhouse.
It’s ambitious. It’s risky. But if successful, Africa could emerge as a major player in the global supply chain — or conversely, become the next geopolitical hotspot.
Either way, ignoring it would be a mistake.
Insights and Takeaways
The U.S. is moving aggressively to secure domestic supplies of lithium and rare earths. Expect an influx of private and government capital into mining and refining.
Australia is serious about becoming a critical minerals superpower — but political volatility could swing the pendulum.
China’s squeeze on mineral exports is not just economic posturing — it’s the opening move of a long-term supply chain war.
Innovation matters. Lithium-sulfur batteries and thin-film electro-optics could radically shift what materials are "critical" five years from now.
Follow the money. Billionaires like Gina Rinehart don’t invest $800 million on a whim. They move when tectonic shifts are underway.
Things to Keep an Eye On
U.S. government announcements on new critical mineral funding
The outcome of Australia’s federal elections
Further tightening or retaliation from China
Emerging market developments, especially in Africa
ETFs focused on critical minerals, junior mining stocks with strong permitting positions, and companies innovating in mineral recycling technologies could offer outsized returns as geopolitical and environmental factors tighten supply.
We typically use the SETM ETF to represent the "Critical Minerals market” — but if you’re in investment banking, asset management, or ETF structuring, and see the opportunity here, reach out: Let’s create the first true Critical Minerals ETF!
Stay ahead with Critical Minerals Journal — where insight meets impact.
“Gina, a self-made billionaire in mining.” Well, no doubt she knows her stuff, but inheriting a mining empire was not a bad start.