WVU Researchers Extract Rare Earths from Coal Mine Drainage, Aiming for 300 Tons Annual Production

【SMM Rare Earth Flash】 American Rare Earths has signed an MOU with Novex to convert separated rare earth oxides from its Halleck Creek project in Wyoming into metals for permanent magnets, building a domestic U.S. mine-to-magnet supply chain. Novex will support improving recovery, purity, and product qualification rates for NdPr, Tb, Dy, Sm, and Y, and will receive oxides from the demonstration plant to convert into magnet precursor metals. The parties will also co-design a metal production facility and study a fully U.S.-sourced and processed supply chain.

【SMM Rare Earth Flash】 Canadian critical minerals developer Leading Edge Materials has completed the second tranche of its private placement, bringing total funds raised to **C$4.3 million** (approx. US$3.1 million) toward a C$6 million target, with the remainder expected by September 25. Proceeds will fund pre-feasibility studies and environmental permitting for the Norra Karr heavy rare earth project in southern Sweden, as well as studies on a potential restart of the Woxna graphite mine and 12 months of working capital. Norra Karr was granted a 25-year mining concession on June 28. The eudialyte-hosted deposit has an Inferred Resource of 110 million tonnes at 0.5% TREO, with 52% HREO. According to a 2021 PEA, the project could operate for 26 years, producing an average of 5,340 t/y mixed rare earth oxides, including 248 t/y Dy₂O₃ and 36 t/y Tb₂O₃. The company targets production within approximately four years.

【SMM Rare Earth Flash】 Australian miner Arafura Rare Earths has extended a binding offtake agreement with an existing global wind turbine OEM partner for up to 8 years. Under the new terms, Arafura will supply 500 t/y of NdPr oxide equivalent over 5 years, with an option to extend to 8 years. Pricing will reference global price indices. The company will no longer disclose the offtake partner's identity to protect commercial sensitivity. Arafura made a final investment decision on its Nolans project in Australia's Northern Territory in May, targeting production in early-to-mid 2029 at 4,440 t/y NdPr oxide and 470 t/y mixed medium-heavy rare earth oxides containing Dy and Tb. According to the IEA, wind power demand for NdFeB magnets is now growing faster than the EV sector, with global annual wind capacity additions projected to triple from 9.25 GW in 2025 to 33.65 GW by 2030.