A discovery in Utah’s Silicon Ridge may mark a turning point in America’s supply of rare earth and other critical minerals, reducing reliance on China’s global dominance in these essential resources. A U.S. company confirmed a high-grade deposit of 16 strategic elements vital for modern technology and defense, with existing permits and processing infrastructure accelerating the path to production. The find elevates U.S. resource security and aligns with federal efforts to secure domestic supply chains.
Ionic Mineral Technologies, an advanced materials firm, revealed that its Silicon Ridge project in Utah County’s Lake Mountains hosts a broad suite of rare earths and critical minerals including lithium, gallium, germanium, rubidium, cesium, scandium, vanadium, tungsten, and niobium. The deposit was identified while mining clay for nano-silicon battery materials and has been characterized by independent assays as a halloysite-hosted ion-adsorption clay, a geological type similar to the formations that supply a large share of China’s rare earth output.
The halloysite clay system is significant because its soft clay matrix allows easier and cleaner extraction compared with traditional hard-rock mining, and early results indicate mineral concentrations that could rival Chinese deposits. Analysts describe this profile as “IAC-Plus,” with enriched grades of rare earths plus commercially critical metals. This combination enhances the site’s value for industries ranging from aerospace to semiconductor manufacturing.
The Trump administration has prioritized onshoring critical mineral supply chains to blunt strategic vulnerabilities and confront China’s dominant position. Washington has pursued regulatory streamlining, joint international ventures, and support for domestic mining ventures to reduce foreign dependencies. This Utah discovery dovetails with those efforts, coming as U.S. policymakers work to secure materials essential for defense systems, electric vehicle batteries, and advanced technologies.
Ionic MT already holds active mining permits for Silicon Ridge and operates a permitted processing facility in Provo, which could allow a more rapid transition from discovery to commercial production than typical mining projects. The company reports that its extraction process uses lower-temperature ion exchange methods that can achieve high recovery rates without heavy acids or high heat, which are common drawbacks in traditional mineral extraction.
Local and state leaders have hailed the discovery for its economic and national security implications, noting that the U.S. has historically been dependent on foreign sources, especially China, for many of the minerals that power modern technologies. Utah already contributes significantly to domestic production of several critical minerals and this new reserve adds momentum to the state’s role as a strategic resource hub. China currently controls a large portion of the global rare-earth supply chain, from mining to processing and export, which has been a leverage point in trade and diplomatic tensions. A substantial domestic deposit like Silicon Ridge undercuts that leverage by offering a homegrown alternative and a boost for American industrial capacity.
