Nordic Resources (NNL:AU) has announced Major Finland Gold Transaction
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There are 17 rare earth elements (REEs) in all — 15 lanthanides plus yttrium and scandium. It’s a fairly diverse group, with each rare earth mineral having different applications, pricing and available supply.
However, REEs are often placed in the same basket because they do not occur separately from each other in nature. Aside from that, separation is tricky — before modern methods were available, the process was too difficult and expensive to pursue.
Despite the market’s complexity, it’s worth taking a closer look at the different rare earths and their uses. As global governments take steps to meet energy transition goals, demand is expected to grow immensely, creating opportunities for investors with knowledge of the sector. Read on to learn more about this important group of critical metals.
In this article
Are rare earth elements really rare?
Many rare earth investors will be familiar with the adage that rare earth minerals are not that rare — in fact, according to the US Geological Survey, most rare earths are more plentiful in the Earth’s crust than gold, silver and platinum.
As of 2024, there were more than 90 million metric tons of rare earth reserves. Rare earths can be found in carbonatite deposits, alkaline igneous systems, ion-adsorption clay deposits and monazite-xenotime-bearing placer deposits.
The key point to note is that even though REEs are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust worldwide, “minable concentrations are less common than for most other mineral commodities,” as per the US Geological Survey.
In terms of the availability of specific elements, lanthanum and cerium are relatively abundant in rare earths mineral deposits, while neodymium and praseodymium are much less so; meanwhile, erbium, ytterbium and lutetium are rare. Yttrium is as common as lanthanum and cerium in some types of deposits, but scandium is also very rare.
Rare earth minerals are usually divided into ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ varieties based on their atomic weight. While the concentration of different REEs varies within each given deposit, every deposit is usually dominated by either heavy or light rare earths, with some elements being much more abundant.
What is the difference between rare earth minerals, rare earth elements and rare metals?
Rare earth elements and rare earth metals refer to the specific category of 17 elements on the periodic table, and rare earth minerals refers to the minerals, such as monazite, that contain these metals.
While some use the phrase rare earth minerals to refer to the metals themselves, rare earths are not minerals in the strict sense of the term. Due to their chemical properties, the 17 rare earth elements are classified as metals on the periodic table. However, rare earth elements are not found as pure metals in nature, but are rather locked up in minerals that are mined and refined to obtain the metals.
The term rare metals instead refers to a loosely defined group of resources, including tantalum, niobium, indium, zirconium and gallium. These metals are genuinely rare and valuable, but they are not members of the REE category. However, their important use in technologies such as microtechnologies, superconducting magnets, touch screens and new energy technologies can often lead them to be confused with rare earth elements.
How are rare earths used in manufacturing and industry?
As mentioned, although REEs are grouped together in the ground, their applications vary widely.
In the light rare earth category, cerium is used as a polishing agent for different types of glass, including LCD screens. Cerium is the most abundant rare earth, and is about as common in the Earth’s crust as copper.
Lanthanum is used as a catalyst for refining petroleum and to improve the alkali resistance of glass, especially in camera lenses. This light REE is also used to make the carbon arc lights used by the motion picture industry.
Europium is used in chemical formulations for LEDs, CRT displays and florescent bulbs.
As for heavy rare earths, yttrium is also used in LEDs and florescent bulbs. While erbium has several uses, it’s most commonly used to make glass optical fibers as it can amplify network signals.
As mentioned earlier, one of the REEs that is rare in terms of mine supply is scandium, a critical metal that is as strong as titanium, as light as aluminum and as hard as ceramic. There are a number of new applications emerging for scandium, including alloys for high-end sports equipment, as well as for automotive and airplane parts.
Rare earths are also critical to modern defense systems and military equipment such as radar, guidance systems, precision-guided munitions, lasers, satellites and night vision goggles.
Several rare earth metals are essential to rare earth magnets, which you can learn more about below.
What are rare earth magnets and how are they used?
Rare earth magnets are stronger in terms of weight or volume than any other magnet type. The REEs praseodymium, neodymium, samarium and dysprosium are often used in rare earth magnets, which are finding increasing uses, especially when space is limited.
Magnets made from neodymium, boron and iron, called neodymium magnets, are the strongest available, and these magnets can be found in the motors of wind turbines, as well as electric vehicles. Fellow rare earth elements dysprosium or terbium are sometimes added to neodymium magnets to improve their ability to operate at high temperatures.
Samarium-cobalt magnets are favored in military applications such as jet engines and missile systems because these magnets can operate at extremely high temperatures.
Praseodymium and dysprosium are also commonly used in industrial magnets in order to improve coercivity and resistance to corrosion.
One of the most promising markets for rare earth magnets is electric vehicle motors. However, it’s important to note that permanent neodymium magnets are not strictly necessary to the construction of any electric vehicle. In fact, Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model S main motor does not contain any type of magnet.
How will rare earth elements be used in the future?
Applications for rare earth magnets are rapidly growing as new technologies evolve. However, lack of secure supply has driven some industries to seek out alternative technologies that don’t require REE magnets.
Still, rare earth magnets are not going away anytime soon. REEs are an important part of the technology that drives modern life. They can be found in smartphones, computers and televisions, and are an important component in green energy technologies such as wind turbines and many electric vehicle motors. Plus, their role in defense technology makes rare earth sources critical.
Understanding the different types of rare earths is the first step toward making an investment in this space. It’s also useful to understand rare earth supply and demand dynamics, from the top-producing countries to the nations with the top rare earth reserves. Being aware of the outlook for the rare earth industry can also help investors make the right moves.
For investors who decide they are interested in the longer-term potential for the rare earth metals sector, there are plenty of ways to invest in rare earths, including the biggest rare earth companies and the top rare earth stocks.
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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Gold may be grabbing headlines with record-breaking highs in 2025, but silver is quietly making its own impressive climb, rising 17 percent since the start of the year.
Long supported by industrial demand, the silver market is also benefiting from its reputation as a safe-haven asset. However, mounting economic uncertainty has rattled investors in recent months.
While there are many driving forces behind this uncertainty, the ongoing tariff threats from US President Donald Trump and his administration have spooked equity markets worldwide.
What happened to the silver price in Q1?
After reaching a year-to-date high of US$34.72 per ounce in October 2024, the price of silver spent the rest of the year in decline, bottoming out at US$28.94 on December 30.
A momentum shift at the start of the year caused it to rise. Opening at US$29.53 on January 2, silver quickly broke through the US$30 barrier on January 7, eventually reaching US$31.28 by January 31.
Silver price, January 2 to April 4, 2025
Chart via Trading Economics.
Silver’s gains continued through much of February, with the white metal climbing to US$32.94 on February 20 before retreating to US$31.13 on February 28. Silver rose again in March, surpassing the US$32 mark on March 5 and closing above US$32 on March 12. It peaked at its quarterly high of US$34.43 on March 27.
Heading into April, silver slumped back to US$33.67 on the first day of the month; it then declined sharply to below US$30 following Trump’s tariff announcements on April 2.
Tariff fears lift silver, but industrial demand uncertainty looms
Precious metals, including silver, have benefited from the volatility created by the Trump administration’s constant tariff threats since the beginning of the year. These threats have caused chaos throughout global equity and financial markets, prompting more investors to seek safe-haven assets to stabilize their portfolios.
“We don’t really have any indication yet that industrial demand has weakened. There is, of course, a lot of concern regarding industrial demand, as tariffs could cause demand destruction as costs go up,” he said.
Krauth noted that for solar panels there is an argument that tariffs could positively affect industrial demand if countries have a greater desire for self-sufficiency and reduced reliance on energy imports.
He referenced research by Heraeus Precious Metals about a possible slowdown in demand from China, which accounts for 80 percent of solar panel capacity. However, any slowdown would coincide with a transition from older PERC technology to newer TOPCon cells, which require significantly more silver inputs.
“This, along with the gradual replacement of older PERC solar panels with TOPCon panels, should support silver demand at or near recent levels,” Krauth said.
Recession could provide headwinds
Another potential headwind for silver is the looming prospect of a recession in the US.
At the beginning of 2024, analysts had largely reached a consensus that some form of recession was inevitable.
While real GDP in the US rose 2.8 percent year-on-year for 2024, data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s GDPNow tool shows a projected -2.8 percent growth rate for the first quarter.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis won’t release official real GDP figures until April 30, but the Atlanta Fed’s numbers suggest a troubling fall in GDP that could signal an impending recession.
“When the economy slows down, demand for manufactured goods, including silver, decreases, which means that buying in the next six months is unlikely to be a wise decision,” she said.
Solar panels account for significant demand, with considerable amounts also used in electric vehicles. Tariffs on US vehicle imports and a possible recession could create added pressure for silver.
“Another important factor is silver’s connection to the electric vehicle market. Previously, this sector supported demand for the metal, but now its growth has slowed down. In Europe and China, interest in electric cars is no longer so active, and against the background of economic problems, sales may even decline,” Khandoshko said.
Silver demand from solar panel production stands at 232 million ounces annually, with an additional 80 million ounces used by the electric vehicle sector. A recession could lead consumers to postpone major purchases, such as home improvements or new vehicles, particularly if coupled with the extra costs of tariffs.
Although the impact of tariffs on the economy — and ultimately demand for silver — remains uncertain, the Silver Institute’s latest news release on March 3 indicates a fifth consecutive annual supply deficit.
Silver price outlook for 2025
“I think silver will hold up well and rise on balance over the rest of this year,” Krauth said.
He also noted that, like gold, there have been shipments of physical silver out of vaults in the UK to New York as market participants try to avoid any direct tariffs that may be coming.
Khandoshko suggested silver’s outlook is more closely tied to consumer sentiment. “The situation may also change when the news stops discussing the high probability of a recession in the US,” she remarked.
With Trump announcing a sweeping 10 percent global tariff along with dozens of specific reciprocal tariffs on April 2, there appears to be more instability and uncertainty ahead for the world’s financial systems.
This uncertainty has spread to precious metals, with silver trading lower on April 3 and retreating back toward the US$31 mark. Investors might be taking profits, but it could also be a broader pullback as they determine how to respond in a more aggressively tariffed world. In either scenario, the market may be nearing opportunities.
“There is some risk that we could see a near-term correction in the silver price. I don’t see silver as currently overbought, but gold does appear to be. I think we could get a correction in the gold price, which would likely pull silver lower. I could see silver retreating to the US$29 to US$30 level. That would be an excellent entry point. In that scenario, I’d be a buyer of both the physical metal and the silver miners,” Krauth said.
With increased industrial demand and its traditional safe-haven status, silver may present a more ideological challenge for investors in 2025 as competing forces exert their influence. Ultimately, supply and demand will likely be what drives investors to pursue opportunities more than its safe-haven appeal.
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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The first quarter of 2025 was dynamic and often volatile for the tech sector. Initial optimism, fueled by investor enthusiasm after a strong 2024, quickly gave way to economic headwinds and market anxieties.
Concerns over monetary policy, global trade tensions and individual company performances led to variations in tech stock valuations, with the Magnificent Seven ultimately experiencing losses by March.
However, Q1 also brought groundbreaking developments in artificial intelligence (AI), intense competition in the semiconductor industry and new developments in AI agents and robotics.
How did tech stocks perform in Q1?
The performance of major tech companies was influenced by a confluence of events and trends in Q1.
The sector began the year in positive territory, reflecting optimism from investors who saw US President Donald Trump’s November victory as a boon for business. However, this upward trend proved short-lived.
Economic headwinds, most notably cautious monetary policy and investor anxieties about global trade disruption, triggered a market downturn that resulted in periods of tech stock selloffs.
The tech market did demonstrate some signs of recovery in the final week of the quarter.
AI results impact major tech players
Outside overall market impacts, tech companies experienced their own fluctuations in Q1.
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) was boosted by acquisition rumors and a stronger-than-expected Q4 performance, after starting the year down nearly 60 percent from January 2024. Leadership changes mid-March and reports of a restructuring to its chip-manufacturing business further improved the firm’s share price performance.
More broadly, the market’s response to earnings reports highlighted the significant impact of cloud computing, AI investment strategies and future guidance for Big Tech companies.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), for example, fell after its results revealed weakness in its cloud computing unit despite revenue that exceeded estimates. Similarly, Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) saw their share prices decline after capacity restraints were cited as a limitation for both companies.
In contrast, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) surged after it announced substantial AI investments and released results that exceeded expectations. Meanwhile, concerns about Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) AI strategy and sales in Asia led to turbulence in its trading patterns throughout the quarter. Even NVIDIA’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) share price initially dipped following strong earnings, driven by market concerns about competition and geopolitical tensions.
Emergent player CoreWeave’s (NASDAQ:CRWV) journey to its initial public offering demonstrated the volatile and challenging nature of going public in the rapidly evolving AI sector. After its initial announcement revealed a 700 percent increase in 2024 revenue, the company made major moves leading up to its debut, acquiring Weights & Biases for US$1.7 billion before securing a five year, US$11.9 billion cloud services contract with OpenAI.
However, CoreWeave’s March 28 IPO coincided with a hotter-than-expected inflation reading, and the company raised roughly US$1 billion less than its target, with both the number of shares and share price lower than expected.
China’s DeepSeek makes AI market waves
Beyond individual company performances, the quarter was marked by key developments in AI.
The release of China’s open-source AI model, DeepSeek-R-1, created a significant market disruption when it was reported to perform comparably to models from OpenAI and Anthropic at a significantly lower training cost: US$5.6 million compared to the US$500 million OpenAI reportedly spent to train o1.
The market’s reaction resulted in a 17 percent loss to NVIDIA’s market cap, the largest single-day loss for any company on Wall Street. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (INDEXNASDAQ:SOX) lost 9.2 percent.
OpenAI’s Sam Altman expressed curiosity and excitement about the competitor, while others saw it as a development that could increase return on investment for companies using AI and drive further innovation.
“We still don’t know the details and nothing has been 100 percent confirmed … but if there truly has been a breakthrough in the cost to train models from US$100 million+ to this alleged US$6 million number this is actually very positive for productivity and AI end users,” said Jon Withaar, senior portfolio manager at Pictet Asset Management.
Since its release, DeepSeek has been noted to have potential issues with accuracy and security.
Other companies making strides in AI training speed this past quarter include Foxconn Technology (TPE:2354), which reportedly trained its large language model (LLM), FoxBrain, in four weeks.
Celestial AI secured funding to advance photonics technology for more efficient AI computing, and Cohere introduced Command A, an LLM focused on business needs and optimized for efficient inference.
Pluralis Research received funding for its work on decentralized AI systems and “protocol learning,” a method designed to enable collaborative and distributed AI model training.
NVIDIA’s chip-making competitors
Competition within the chip industry heated up in the first quarter as AI spending enthusiasm shifted to other semiconductor companies and custom chip development advanced.
Barclay’s (NYSE:BCS,LSE:BARC) analyst Thomas O’Malley reaffirmed his ‘buy’ rating for NVIDIA on January 20 and raised his price target to US$175, but warned that NVIDIA’s customers are looking for alternatives to its GPUs.
He identified Marvel Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL) and Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) as NVIDIA’s biggest contenders, adjusting their price targets to US$150 and US$260, respectively.
For its part, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) (NYSE:TSM) has continued to experience strong demand for its chip-making services. Its quarterly profits for Q4 2024 reached a record, and the company is anticipating strong revenue growth moving forward. The firm has planned significant investments in technology and capacity, including US$100 billion for new facilities to boost US chip production.
ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML), the sole producer of the EUV lithography machines crucial for advanced AI chips, also exceeded Q4 earnings expectations, resulting in a positive effect on its share price.
AI agents and other emerging tech
Looking ahead, the market for AI agents — autonomous entities that can take actions to achieve specific goals — is poised for expansion. At its annual GPU Technology Conference, held from March 17 to 21, NVIDIA’s CEO emphasized a shift from generative AI to physical AI, describing AI agents as a “multi-trillion dollar opportunity.’
Strategic acquisitions, such as ServiceNow’s intention to buy Moveworks, underscore the growing importance of agentic AI in enterprise solutions. Amazon Web Services is developing a team focused on developing agentic AI, betting on increased client spending for automation. Meta is gearing up to test AI agents for small businesses, and OpenAI is developing premium agent offerings for business and academic pursuits.
While these advancements are exciting, challenges remain, with Gartner predicting a sharp rise in AI agent-related security breaches by 2028. To address reliability, Microsoft is developing ‘deep reasoning agents.’
The first quarter of 2025 also signaled a major acceleration in robotics development, with Google’s new Gemini Robotics models and partnership with Apptronik indicating AI and robotic integration. The US$2 billion valuation for Kyle Vogt’s the Bot Company suggests the robotics sector is poised for growth and market expansion.
Advances like Eliza Wakes Up’s humanoid and Figure AI’s in-house development signal the potential for near-term commercial availability. Funding activity, with Field AI seeking a US$2 billion valuation and Aescape securing US$83 million in strategic funding, demonstrates investor confidence in the potential of robotics.
AI data centers signal growth
The massive investments in data centers announced in Q1 foreshadow an expansion of AI infrastructure.
The Trump administration has partnered with executives from Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), OpenAI and SoftBank (TSE:9984) for a four year, US$500 billion AI infrastructure project dubbed Stargate. MGX, an Abu Dhabi-based technology investment firm focused on AI, is another equity partner in the Stargate project.
Separately, MGX is a founding partner in the AI Infrastructure Partnership, a group that includes BlackRock (NYSE:BLK), Global Infrastructure Partners and Microsoft. It is reportedly aiming to invest up to US$100 billion in US and OECD AI infrastructure. NVIDIA and xAI joined the consortium in the first quarter.
This large-scale infrastructure development is mirrored by substantial investment and product development plans from individual tech giants. Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta have all revealed plans for significant AI-related investments in the coming months that include data center builds and product releases, while NVIDIA has committed to spending ‘hundreds of billions of dollars in the US,’ emphasizing TSMC’s manufacturing role in supply chain resilience.
OpenAI is also reportedly finalizing the design for its first in-house AI chip, with a long-term goal of mass production at TSMC by 2026; it is also in talks to build its first data center for storage in Texas near the Stargate data center.
These developments point to a future where data centers become the battleground for AI dominance, with significant implications for energy consumption, hardware demand and technological advancement.
Investor takeaway
Wrapping up the quarter, Nick Mersch, portfolio manager at Purpose Investments, hosted an ‘ask me anything’ session on Reddit (NASDAQ:RDDT) to share insights on what investors should consider when evaluating tech stocks.
“The number one predictor of stocks over time is their earnings power. Invest in companies that are growing earnings more than the overall market and you will win. This is easy in theory but difficult in practice. You need to look at secular trends in order to skate to where the puck is going. It is much easier to pick a winner in a sector that has strong overall growth than picking through the rubble of a beaten-down industry,’ said Mersch.
“However, you do also have to recognize that sometimes, this is cyclical. That’s why I like to pick companies that are what I call ‘compounders.’ These are companies that are growing both top line (revenue) and bottom line (earnings) at a solid rate and are reinvesting in new growth avenues. At the end of the day, you need cash flow generative companies.’
Mersch added, “Look for three things — earnings, earnings, and earnings.”
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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Galan Lithium (GLN:AU) has announced Trading Halt
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Carbonxt Group (CG1:AU) has announced Additional A$1.5 M raised to support Kentucky Investment
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CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM: CTL, Frankfurt:T2N), an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ignacio Mehech, former Country Manager of Albemarle in Chile, as the Chief Executive Officer (‘CEO’) and director of CleanTech Lithium.
Click link to watch interview with Ignacio Mehech: https://youtu.be/4iMx2vIZw9g
Highlights:
· Mr Mehech spent seven years up to 2024 at Albemarle with the last three years as Country Manager in Chile, managing a workforce of 1,100 employees and key stakeholder relationships, including Government and indigenous communities
· Albemarle is the world’s largest producer of battery grade lithium with Chile accounting for 30 – 40% of its production*
· Native to Chile, Spanish speaking and fluent in English, Mr Mehech has deep leadership and project development experience in lithium production
· Managed high profile engagements with investors, customers, NGOs, analysts, scientists and international government representatives
· Before Albemarle, Mr Mehech led the legal strategy for the El Abra copper operation in Chile, a joint venture with Codelco, and leading US mining company Freeport McMoRan
· Throughout his career Mr Mehech has led profound transformations in organisations to generate sustainable value
· Mr Mehech holds a law degree from the Universidad de Chile and a master’s degree in Energy and Resources Law from the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Ignacio Mehech, Chief Executive Officer, CleanTech Lithium PLC said:
‘I’ve been following CleanTech Lithium’s progress in Chile for the past couple of years and have been impressed at the progress that has been achieved, with the Company being one of the most active in Chile in seeking to develop a more sustainable means of producing lithium from Chile’s abundant brine resources.
I’m truly excited to take on the role as CEO to advance CleanTech’s Laguna Verde project and the other business opportunities in Chile. The immediate focus is entering direct negotiations with the Chilean government and progressing the CEOL application for Laguna Verde and delivering the Pre-Feasibility Study to initiate strategic partner conversations. I look forward to leading CleanTech Lithium’s project development alongside a dedicated team and to deliver value to all our stakeholders whilst supporting the ambitions of Chile’s National Lithium Strategy.’
Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman, CleanTech Lithium PLC, said:
‘We are delighted that Ignacio has agreed to join us as CEO. His experience in Chile is invaluable, having been Country Manager for leading lithium producer Albemarle, and working on the EL Abra copper mine in Chile for US mining giant Freeport McMoRan. Ignacio joins CleanTech at a crucial point in our development and his significant experience will be instrumental in leading our Laguna Verde project into the next phase.’
‘I will continue in my role as Executive Chairman intending to move back to being the Company’s Non-Executive Chairman when our Board believes the time is right. I look forward to working with Ignacio and remain confident in the long-term potential of CleanTech Lithium.’
Figure 1: Ignacio Mehech (centre) participating in a panel discussion at the Future Mining and Energy Congress in Santiago, Chile October 2023. Photo credit: Future Mining and Energy Congress
Background on Ignacio Mehech
During his tenure at Albemarle, a US-listed company with a current market cap of around US$6 billion as of 8th April 2025, Mr Mehech played a pivotal role in driving production growth, strategic negotiations, and sustainability initiatives, significantly impacting Albemarle’s operations in Chile and the broader region. Since 2015, Chile has been Albemarle’s largest single operation – depending on market prices – accounting for 30 to 40% of its global production.
A landmark achievement under his guidance was securing the first-ever IRMA (Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance) certification for a lithium operation worldwide at the Salar de Atacama plant-a testament to his commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
Previously to Albemarle, Mr Mehech has worked as a legal manager at Freeport-McMoRan, one of the largest copper and molybdenum producers in the world, with multiple assets around the globe. In Chile, it operates SCM El Abra, a joint venture with Codelco, located in Calama and where Mr Mehech was responsible for developing and leading the legal strategy for the business, assuring operational continuity, building relationships with regional authorities, indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
Ignacio Mehech Castellon, aged 42, has held the following directorships and/or partnerships in the past 5 years:
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Current |
Past |
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Cobreloa SADP |
Fundacion Chilena Del Pacifico Club Sirio Unido UN Global Compact, Chilean Chapter |
Mr Mehech currently holds no ordinary shares or other securities in the Company.
There is no further information on Ignacio Mehech required to be disclosed under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) (i)-(viii) of the AIM Rules for Companies.
*Statistic taken October 2024 – Albemarle is the world’s largest lithium producer – Mining.com https://www.mining.com/web/ranking-the-worlds-top-lithium-producers/
The information communicated within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No 596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. The person who arranged for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company was Gordon Stein, Director and CFO.
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For further information contact: |
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CleanTech Lithium PLC |
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Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter |
Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321 Chile office: +562-32239222 |
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Or via Celicourt |
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Celicourt Communications Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani |
+44 (0) 20 7770 6424 cleantech@celicourt.uk |
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Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak |
+44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
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Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker) Daniel Fox-Davies |
+44 (0) 20 3884 8450 daniel@fox-davies.com |
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Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker) James Asensio |
+44 (0) 20 7523 4680 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited (‘Beaumont Cornish’) is the Company’s Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish’s responsibilities as the Company’s Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.
Notes
CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N) is an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, and exploration stage project in Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for battery grade lithium production.
The two most advanced projects: Laguna Verde and Viento Andino are situated within basins controlled by the Company, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. All three projects have good access to existing infrastructure.
CleanTech Lithium is committed to utilising Direct Lithium Extraction (‘DLE’) with reinjection of spent brine resulting in no aquifer depletion. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine with higher recoveries, short development lead times and no extensive evaporation pond construction. For more information, please visit: www.ctlithium.com
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Private specialty chemicals company Maverick Metals has raised US$19 million in a seed funding round led by Olive Tree Capital to accelerate the commercialization of its flagship lixiviant technology, LithX.
Unlike traditional acid-based processes, LithX enables cost-effective, ambient temperature leaching of refractory ores like chalcopyrite, unlocking metals previously considered uneconomical or too environmentally burdensome to process.
“As the US accelerates its push for domestic critical metals production, LithX provides a scalable, commercially viable path to securing essential materials,” said Eric Herrera, co-founder and CEO of Maverick.
The US$19 million funding round includes participation from high-profile investors such as Y Combinator, Hanwha Group, Liquid 2 Ventures, Nomadic Venture Partners, Soma Capital and TechNexus Venture Collaborative.
The capital will enable the company to expand pilot deployments in collaboration with major mining companies and scale its commercialization efforts.
Meeting rising metals demand with tech solutions
Global copper demand is expected to double by 2035, reaching approximately 50 million metric tons annually, driven largely by energy transition technologies, electric vehicles and infrastructure development.
But even as mining companies race to keep pace, challenges like declining ore grades, environmental restrictions and rising costs continue to limit production.
Maverick states that its proprietary lixiviant works at ambient temperatures and neutral pH levels, offering a safer, cheaper and more sustainable alternative to traditional acid leaching.
The technology enables the recovery not only of copper, but also valuable by-products such as molybdenum, gold, silver and even rare earths from a variety of unconventional sources — including tailings, smelter slag and coal fly ash.
According to Maverick, its LithX technology has demonstrated a range of benefits that could reshape the economics and the overall environmental footprint for metals processing.
For instance, the technology increases recovery rates at ambient temperatures, significantly reducing energy costs. It also eliminates the need for acid addition, offering a safer and more sustainable alternative to traditional methods.
In addition, Maverick notes that the process mitigates the risk of acid contamination and hazardous reagent exposure, enhancing worker safety — a key concern in traditional mining operations.
“We are pleased to announce our investment in and support of Maverick Metals,” said Nichola Eliovits, managing partner at Olive Tree Capital, in the company’s release. “We believe LithX has the potential to significantly increase the range of viable resources available to help alleviate global supply constraints.”
While copper remains a primary focus, LithX has shown versatility for a range of critical metals, such as high lithium extraction from spodumene and enhanced rare earths and gallium recovery from minerals like allanite and monazite.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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Highlights
- Attributable resource to CEL 6.9 Moz AuEq2 across El Guayabo (100%) and Colorado V (50%).
- Significant upside remains: The resource is based on drilling 5 of the 15 major anomalies, with all 13 anomalies drilled returning mineralisation.
- Completion of exploration in Ecuador enables the Company to commence the value realisation process, including strategic divestment options.
Commercial Advantages of the Project
- Large-Scale Opportunity: The updated MRE positions Challenger Gold’s Ecuador assets among the largest undeveloped gold resources in South America, with 567Mt @ 0.50g/t AuEq for 9.1Moz AuEq on a total project basis.
- Premium High-Grade Core Enhances Economics: The resource includes a higher-grade core of 2.1 Moz @ 1.0g/t AuEq, including 1.2 Moz @ 1.2g/t AuEq, offering potential for early-stage production and strong cash flow generation.
- Strategic Location Validates District Potential: The projects are adjacent to Lumina Gold’s 20.5Moz Cangrejos project4 , which recently secured a $300M financing deal with Wheaton Precious Metals, confirming the district’s world-class potential as a globally significant gold-copper region.
- Development-Ready Infrastructure: Located just 35km from a deepwater port with existing power, water, and road access on granted Mining Leases, the project benefits from reduced development costs and logistical efficiencies.
Value Realisation Strategy for Ecuador
Challenger Gold Limited plans to unlock the value of its Ecuador assets through several strategic options:
- Strategic Sale: Divest the assets outright which could generate immediate capital for advancing Challenger’s flagship Hualilan Gold Project in Argentina.
- Farm-In Partnership: Partner with a major mining company to fund development while retaining exposure through royalties or equity participation.
Focus on the Hualilan Gold project The upgraded MRE concludes Challenger Gold Limited’s exploration program in Ecuador, enabling the Company to focus entirely on advancing its flagship Hualilan Gold Project in Argentina, which features:
- A total resource of 2.8Moz AuEq1 , including a high-grade core of 1.5 Moz @ 5.6g/t AuEq1
- Mineralisation which remains open in all directions
- This cashflow will be allocated towards the construction of the standalone Hualilan Gold project
- Positioning Hualian as one of South America’s premier near-term production opportunities
Monetisation of the Ecuador assets will ensure shareholders benefit directly from both value realisation in Ecuador and production growth at Hualilan.
Commenting on the resource, CEL Managing Director, Mr Kris Knauer, said
“I would like to congratulate our exploration team in Ecuador for their outstanding work in doubling project resources from 4.5Moz to 9.1Moz AuEq, including a high-grade core of 2.1Moz at 1.0g/t AuEq.
This resource update represents a transformational milestone for Challenger Gold shareholders, enabling us to move forward with unlocking significant value from our Ecuador assets while focusing entirely on bringing our flagship Hualilan project into production.
This is only the beginning for the asset – the current resource is based on drilling just five of fifteen major anomalies identified across our Ecuador projects, with all thirteen anomalies drilled so far returning significant mineralisation.’
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Major offtake and funding deal to advance development and exploration activities
American West Metals Limited (American West or the Company) ( ASX: AW1) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a binding agreement with global metal trading and advisory group Ocean Partners Holding Ltd (OP or Ocean Partners) which will comprise an equity investment in American West as well as project development funding and copper-silver offtake to OP for the Storm Copper Project.
- US$3.5m Royalty funding brought forward. Taurus Mining Royalty has agreed to advance the US$3.5m second tranche of the Royalty payment based on the positive Storm PEA results, with payment of US$2.8m to be made to American West this month
Dave O’Neill, American West’s Managing Director, said:
“We are very pleased to announce a strategic partnership and funding package for the Storm Copper Project which secures the long-term future of the Project. This is another significant milestone for Storm and continues to position Storm as the next potential copper mine in Canada, joining other very successful base metal mines in the region such as Polaris (22Mt @ 14.1% Zn, 4% Pb) and Nanisivik (18Mt @ 9% Zn, 0.7% Pb)
“American West’s ability to attract and partner with global companies like Ocean Partners speaks volumes to the high-quality of the Project and the management team, and emphasises the low-risk pathway to potential development.
“Ocean Partners’ existing partnerships and experience with ore-sorting and direct shipping ore (DSO) copper products are a natural fit with Storm and will help strengthen and streamline the technical aspects of the processing work flow for the PFS and beyond.
“On the back of the recently released Storm PEA, Taurus has agreed to advance the second tranche of the royalty payment. This tranche of funding will now be available immediately and demonstrates Taurus’ strong belief in the development and growth potential of Storm.
“The funding package and strategic partnership will allow American West to execute the dual strategy of aggressive exploration and streamlined development during 2025. We look forward to updating investors as the work programs are finalised and get underway.”
Brent Omland, Ocean Partners CEO, also commented:
“We are delighted to be partnering with American West on the Storm Copper Project which is rapidly emerging as a long-life, district-scale copper opportunity. Our shared goal is the timely success of the Project and we look forward to working closely with the American West team as they continue to make significant advances through process innovation and resource growth. Ocean Partners has extensive experience in marketing and trading DSO into global markets and are confident in the marketability and attractiveness of the Storm copper-silver product.”
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