US Critical Materials and Idaho National Laboratory Collaborate to Strengthen U.S. National Security with Next-Generation Rare Earth / Critical Minerals Processing Plant

Environmentally Responsible Demonstration Facility to be Built on Idaho National Laboratory Campus

SALT LAKE CITY, June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- US Critical Materials Corp. and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) are taking decisive action to secure America's access to critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs)—resources essential to the nation's defense, energy independence, and technological leadership. This initiative aligns with President Donald J. Trump's March 20, 2025, Executive Order declaring a National Emergency over America's reliance on foreign adversaries for these strategic materials.

For decades, the United States has been dangerously dependent on China for rare earth supply chains—China controls the mining, processing, and refining of these essential elements, posing a direct threat to national security. Rare earths are integral to advanced military systems, including fighter jets, missile guidance systems, radar, and electronic warfare capabilities. Without a secure domestic source, America's defense infrastructure remains vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions.

To combat this risk, US Critical Materials and INL have entered into a Phase II Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to establish a pilot-scale processing plant capable of producing rare earths domestically. The facility will process high-grade ore from the Sheep Creek deposit in Montana, which holds critical minerals and rare earths—including neodymium, praseodymium, niobium, strontium, samarium, scandium, and heavy rare earths such as gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, and yttrium. Sheep Creek also contains high grade gallium, which will be one of the first minerals to be processed—and is vital for national security applications.

INL, globally recognized for its expertise in Advanced Separation Science and Engineering, serves as the U.S. Department of Energy's primary Separation Sciences R&D Testbed. INL scientists will contribute technical expertise to ensure the pilot plant integrates cutting-edge, environmentally responsible refining processes that can scale to full production.

Key National Security Objectives:

• Reduce U.S. reliance on adversarial nations for critical minerals
• Secure a domestic supply chain for rare earths used in defense systems
• Advance mineral processing technologies essential for national resilience

Key Project Highlights:

• Pilot Plant Capacity: 1 to 2 tons of ore per day, based on a validated bench-scale flow sheet
• Objective: Demonstrate innovative mineral processing and separation technologies
• Impact: Establish intellectual property and scalable domestic production capabilities for critical materials

"There is no more pressing national security issue than securing America's supply of rare earths and critical minerals," stated Jim Hedrick, President of US Critical Materials, and former US Geological Survey (USGS) Rare Earths Commodity Specialist. "These materials are the backbone of our military, energy, and technological dominance. This pilot plant will accelerate the development of next-generation separation and refining methods to ensure America no longer relies on foreign adversaries for resources essential to national defense."

Since early 2024, Phase I CRADA researchers have confirmed the high concentrations of gallium and rare earth elements in the Sheep Creek ore body. The pilot facility will now validate proprietary processing methodologies at scale, ensuring full-scale production capability for America's defense needs.

This collaboration is a significant step toward safeguarding U.S. strategic minerals, fortifying national security, and ensuring America remains technologically and militarily competitive in an increasingly complex global landscape.

About US

US Critical Materials Corp. is a privately held rare earth exploration and process development company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. With substantial mineral holdings in Montana and Idaho, the company is dedicated to securing a domestically sustainable, high-grade supply of rare earth elements and gallium, reducing US reliance on imports, and ensuring a stable, independent supply chain for national security. We are currently utilizing and developing multiple environmentally friendly technologies for exploration and processing of rare earths and critical minerals. Home - US Critical Materials

Contact:
Rachel Winn
US Critical Materials Corp.
4190 S Highland Dr Suite #230
Salt Lake City, UT 84124
[email protected]
Office: 801-322-3401 

Brigit Hennaman
Rubenstein Public Relations
[email protected]
212-805-3005

SOURCE US Critical Materials Corp