Discovery of mineral wealth in the Utah desert could give the United States an advantage

In the technological race, having quality and rare raw materials has proven essential to advance in this quarrel. Recently, a North American company announced that it had discovered high concentrations of different rare and critical earth minerals in Silicon Ridge, Utah, USA. The land was leased for production activities for electric vehicles, with nanosilicon for lithium-ion batteries. The region, however, has much more in store.

What are rare earths? Understand how these minerals are extracted and why they have become so coveted around the world
Contested worldwiderare earths mobilize 11.5 billion reais in 8 projects that will explore a third of the country’s reserves by 2029

Ionic MT said it discovered high concentrations of 16 different types of minerals at the site, including lithium, alumina, germanium, rubidium, cesium, vanadium and niobium, it told the Wall Street Journal.

These minerals have acquired even greater geopolitical importance with the trade war promoted by US President Donald Trump. Its use is present in several sectors, from everyday battery technology to defense equipment. According to the company, this new discovery would give it an advantage over China, which currently dominates this market.

— You can’t make a vehicle without these metals, you can’t make a fighter jet without some of them — Andre Zeitoun, founder and CEO of Ionic MT, told the Wall Street Journal.

Today, the United States relies on imports from other countries to obtain certain minerals, such as rubidium and cesium, used in atomic clocks, and scandium, essential to the aerospace industry.

In Brazil, eight ongoing rare earth element (REE) mining projects could develop more than a third of the country’s potential reserve, considered the second largest in the world.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Utah lands already have mining licenses, which will speed up production. The minerals will be processed by the company at a nearby unit within the state.

The Interior Ministry recently expanded the list of minerals considered critical by the country, including for example copper and uranium. The country has spared no effort to strengthen the supply. The Wall Street Journal recalled a speech by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at a conference in Washington:

— We have assets in this country that are publicly owned: public lands, public minerals, on land and at sea, in a scale and abundance that virtually no country in the world can imagine — he said last week.