American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Wyoming Rare, has secured a facility at the Western Research Institute to progress the Halleck Creek rare earths project and enhance its operational capabilities in the region.
The Institute, located in Laramie, is a multi-million dollar, not-for-profit research organization for work in advanced energy systems, environmental technologies, and materials research and technologies.
The facility will serve as a hub for exploration, processing and future development activities, enabling American Rare Earths to align its efforts with state-backed initiatives to bolster critical mineral development.
The announcement follows the recent award of a $7.1 million grant from the state of Wyoming to support the advancement of the company’s rare earth processing initiatives.
Its Halleck Creek project was named by Mining Intelligence last year as one of the world’s top 10 rare earth projects measured in total rare earth oxides (TREO). The Wyoming Rare unit recently rejected a $400 million SPAC takeover offer.
The facility will house all drill core and assay samples collected to date, providing a central location for streamlined operations, the company said, adding that the space will accommodate the construction of a pilot plant, advancing the development and testing of processing capabilities for the project.
“The support of the state of Wyoming and our collaboration with the Western Research Institute highlights Wyoming’s commitment to becoming a leader in critical minerals development,” Wyoming Rare president Joe Evers said in a news release.
“This facility helps to advance our mission of onshoring critical mineral supply chains for the USA while highlighting Wyoming’s position as a leader in critical minerals and rare earth elements,” Evers added.
