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Ares Strategic Mining Opens U.S. Fluorspar Lumps Plant in Utah

Ares Strategic Mining opens U.S. fluorspar lumps plant in Delta, Utah, reviving domestic production after decades. CEO James Walker leads critical mineral independence.

This news matters because it marks a pivotal shift in U.S. critical mineral independence. For over three decades, the United States has been 100% reliant on foreign fluorspar imports, a mineral essential for steel, aluminum, and numerous high-tech applications. The reopening of domestic fluorspar production reduces supply chain vulnerabilities, supports national security, and fosters economic growth in rural Utah. With a $168.9 million Department of Defense contract and plans to produce acidspar for EV batteries and semiconductors, Ares Strategic Mining is positioning itself at the forefront of a broader effort to re-shore strategic industries. The company's collaboration with Found Industries to recover gallium and germanium—metals crucial for energy, communications, space, and defense—further underscores the potential for a new American industrial base. This development not only strengthens national security but also creates jobs, revitalizes local communities, and demonstrates how public-private partnerships can rebuild domestic supply chains for the technologies of the future.