American Resources Unveils Mobile Modular Rare Earth Leaching Solution to Extract Value from Coal and Mine Waste

Rhea-AI Summary

American Resources (NASDAQ:AREC) has unveiled a groundbreaking mobile modular rare earth leaching solution to extract valuable materials from coal and mine waste. The company plans to deploy this technology across its 30,000-acre property and offer licensing options globally.

Through its ReElement Technologies division, the company has demonstrated successful economic recovery of magnet-grade rare earth elements (Nd, NdPr, and Dy) from coal waste, along with valuable byproducts like High Purity Alumina and Silicon Dioxide. Initial testing showed concentration of over 500 ppm of rare earth content in their West Virginia property.

The company is evaluating capitalization strategies, including a Form D offering and potential tokenized platform. ReElement is currently the only U.S. company producing both heavy and light rare earth oxides at magnet-grade purity, using a proprietary refining process that requires fewer chemicals and lower capital costs.

Positive

• First and only U.S. company producing both heavy and light rare earth oxides at magnet-grade purity
• Controls 30,000 acres of land with proven rare earth content of over 500 ppm
• New technology enables economic recovery of valuable byproducts alongside rare earth elements
• Potential for additional revenue through global licensing of the technology

Negative

• Requires additional capital raising to expand production
• Technology deployment and licensing strategy still in early stages
• Dependent on successful Form D offering or tokenized platform implementation

Insights

Mining and Metals Analyst

AREC's new rare earth extraction technology targets coal waste conversion, establishing domestic supply chains against Chinese dominance while creating new revenue streams.

American Resources 's new modular leaching solution represents a potentially disruptive innovation in the critical minerals space. The technology addresses two significant industry challenges simultaneously: extracting value from billions of tons of coal waste globally while reducing dependence on Chinese rare earth supply chains - a matter of national security importance.

The technical breakthrough here is the ability to economically process low-concentration materials that traditional methods couldn't viably handle. What makes this particularly compelling is ReElement's capability to recover not just rare earths (including both heavy and light varieties) but also valuable byproducts like High Purity Alumina and Silicon Dioxide - significantly improving the economics of these operations.

With 30,000 acres of controlled property containing millions of tons of previously mined coal waste showing 500+ ppm rare earth content, AREC has secured a substantial feedstock base. The dual business model - deploying units on their property while licensing to others globally - creates multiple revenue streams while positioning the company as both a technology provider and materials producer.

This development aligns with critical mineral security initiatives and could potentially transform environmental liabilities (mine waste) into strategic assets. However, investors should note that while the company has demonstrated the technology's effectiveness at recovering materials, the announcement doesn't provide specific production volumes, timelines for full-scale operations, or details on the economics of the licensing model - all critical factors for assessing true commercial viability.

Financial Analyst

AREC launches new revenue stream through rare earth extraction technology with licensing model, potentially transforming coal waste liabilities into strategic assets.

This announcement represents a strategic pivot that could significantly enhance AREC's business model and revenue potential. The company is effectively creating a dual-revenue approach: direct production from their 30,000 acres of controlled properties and a licensing/royalty model from third-party deployments globally.

The market opportunity is substantial. By targeting the rare earth elements market, which is critical for defense and infrastructure applications, AREC is positioning itself in a high-demand sector with significant national security implications. The company's ability to process materials that were previously considered waste (with 500+ ppm rare earth content) potentially transforms environmental liabilities into revenue-generating assets.

From a capital structure perspective, the mention of a Form D offering and tokenized platform suggests AREC is exploring innovative financing mechanisms to fund expansion without necessarily diluting existing shareholders in traditional ways. This could provide project-level funding while maintaining corporate equity integrity.

The technology's competitive advantage appears to be its economic viability for processing low-concentration materials and recovering multiple valuable components simultaneously. If scaled successfully, this could create sustainable margins in a sector typically challenged by processing economics.

Investors should particularly note the company's unique position as potentially the only U.S. producer of both heavy and light rare earth oxides at magnet-grade purity, which could command premium pricing in domestic markets prioritizing secure supply chains. However, the announcement lacks specific financial projections, implementation timelines, or capital requirements - key metrics needed to fully evaluate the impact on AREC's financial performance.

Billions of tons of coal and mine waste globally hold untapped potential for producing concentrates of rare earth, critical minerals, and other valuable metals

American Resources will deploy processing solution across its 30,000-acres of controlled property and offer a licensing option to other land and surface rights owners globally

ReElement Technologies has demonstrated economic recovery and refining of magnet-grade Nd, NdPr and Dy from coal waste - alongside valuable byproducts including High Purity Alumina and Silicon Dioxide

FISHERS, IN / ACCESS Newswire / April 17, 2025 / American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC) ("American Resources" or the "Company"), a producer and processor of raw material for the infrastructure and defense sectors, has announced the development of a groundbreaking modular, mobile, and scalable leaching solution. This innovative approach enables the extraction of rare earth concentrates from coal and other mine waste - materials that currently represent environmental liability worldwide. The Company plans to deploy these units across its controlled 30,000-acres, as well as license such units to landowners and mining operators globally to generate royalty-based revenue. The resulting leachate produced will be supplied to ReElement Technologies ("ReElement") as a feedstock to be refined into ultra-pure rare earth products for domestic and allied-nation magnet manufacturers.

ReElement Technologies has successfully demonstrated its capability to produce high-purity, separated rare earth oxides from coal waste. In addition, ReElement is actively collaborating with a U.S.-based partner to source rare earth concentrates derived from mine water liabilities, further expanding a sustainable and domestic supply chain for critical minerals.

Mark Jensen, Chairman and CEO of American Resources and ReElement states, "This is a pivotal moment for our country - one where we must, and will, break China's dominance over the global critical mineral supply chains which are essential to our national defense and security. ReElement has proven its ability to produce rare earth oxides from a diverse range of feedstocks, including end-of-life permanent magnets, virgin ores, and coal and mine waste streams. Traditionally, extracting rare earths from coal waste has been prohibitively complex using legacy solvent extraction methods. However, ReElement's innovative technology economically refines both heavy and light rare earth elements from these challenging materials, while also capturing value from alumina, silicon, yttrium, and other byproducts - something not feasible with conventional solvent extraction methods. With the launch of this new platform and project-level financing solution, we are not only advancing the domestic production of rare earth oxides, but also providing investors an opportunity to participate in this growth through American Resources - delivering critical materials for our country while generating meaningful returns on capital."

American Resources' controlled sites, including its property in West Virginia, contain millions of tons of previously mined coal waste. Initial testing has demonstrated a concentration of over 500 ppm of rare earth content, validating the potential to help nationalize the supply chain using ReElement's patented technology. To advance this opportunity, American Resources is launching this new platform that can raise additional capital to expand production of rare earth concentrates from coal and other mining refuse. The Company is also evaluating capitalization strategies, including a Form D offering and the potential use of a tokenized platform.

Mr. Jensen continued, "Rare Earth elements are not rare, they are present throughout the world. The real challenge lies in their low concentration levels and the presence of other materials like alumina, silica, calcium, and zinc, which make traditional refining methods inefficient and costly. ReElement uses an innovative refining process that not only isolates and purifies these critical elements to ultra-high purity, but also allows us to economically recover and monetize the other valuable byproducts. Our approach uses fewer chemicals and requires significantly lower capital and operating costs. Without our technology, coal waste and similar materials wouldn't be financially viable to process. With it, we're turning them into a strategic asset for national security."

Key Updates:

• ReElement is currently the only company in the United States producing both heavy and light rare earth oxides at magnet-grade purity.

• ReElement's proprietary refining technology is uniquely capable of being deployed locally and at scale across the U.S. and globally, processing a wide range of feedstocks.

• American Resources Corporation controls over 30,000 acres of land in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana, and is actively exploring additional sites for future growth and concentration hubs.

• The Company is expanding its global sourcing partnerships to secure feedstock for refining other strategic elements including antimony, germanium, molybdenum, key battery materials, and other rare earth concentrates that can be refined through ReElement's platform.

About American Resources Corporation

American Resources Corporation is a leader in the critical mineral supply chain, developing innovative solutions both upstream and downstream of the refining process. The company and its affiliates focus on the extraction and processing of metallurgical carbon and iron ore, essential ingredients in steelmaking, as well as critical and rare earth minerals for the electrification market and recycled metals.

Leveraging its affiliation and former parent status of ReElement Technologies Corporation, a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth and critical battery elements, American Resources is investing in and developing efficient upstream and downstream critical mineral operations. These operations include mining interests in conventional and unconventional sources, recycling, and manufacturing.

American Resources has established a nimble, low-cost business model centered on growth, which provides a significant opportunity to scale its portfolio of assets to meet the growing global infrastructure and electrification markets while also continuing to acquire operations and significantly reduce their legacy industry risks. Its streamlined and efficient operations are able to maximize margins while reducing costs. For more information visit americanresourcescorp.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About ReElement Technologies Corporation

ReElement Technologies Corporation, a portfolio company of American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC), is a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth and critical battery elements. Its multi-mineral, multi-feedstock platform technology focuses on the refining of recycled material from rare earth permanent magnets and lithium-ion batteries, concentrated ores and brines, as well as coal-based waste streams and byproducts to create a cost effective and environmentally-safe, circular supply chain. ReElement has developed its innovative and scalable "Powered by ReElement" process which collaboratively utilizes its exclusively licensed intellectual property within its partners' material processing flow sheets to more efficiently support the global supply chain's growing demand for magnet and battery-grade products. For more information visit reelementtech.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Learn more about ReElement Technologies' process and technology here - Video.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond American Resources Corporation's control. The words "believes", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", "continue", "seeks", "anticipates", "plans", "expects", "intends", "estimates", or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved.

Investor Contact:

JTC Team, LLC
Jenene Thomas
(908) 824 - 0775
arec@jtcir.com

Media Inquiries:

Marjorie Weisskohl
703-587-1532
mweisskohl@allseasonspr.com

Company Contact:

Mark LaVerghetta
317-855-9926 ext. 0
investor@americanresourcescorp.com

SOURCE: American Resources Corporation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What is the new technology announced by American Resources (AREC)?

AREC announced a modular, mobile leaching solution that extracts rare earth concentrates from coal and mine waste, which will be deployed across their 30,000-acre property and licensed globally.

How much rare earth content was found in AREC's West Virginia property testing?

Initial testing of AREC's West Virginia property demonstrated a concentration of over 500 ppm of rare earth content in the coal waste.

What makes ReElement's rare earth processing technology unique?

ReElement's technology can economically process both heavy and light rare earth elements while recovering valuable byproducts, using fewer chemicals and lower costs compared to traditional methods.

What financing options is AREC considering for this rare earth project?

AREC is evaluating capitalization strategies including a Form D offering and the potential use of a tokenized platform.

What territories does American Resources (AREC) currently control?

AREC controls over 30,000 acres of land across Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana.