Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
July 21, 2026
Ares Strategic Mining Commissions Fluorspar Lumps Plant in Utah
TLDR
- Ares Strategic Mining starts commissioning of its metspar plant, securing a first-mover advantage in U.S. fluorspar supply for steel industries.
- The Lumps Plant commissioning involves four weeks of integrated testing of process flows, controls, and parameters to ensure commercial production readiness.
- Ares establishes a domestic fluorspar source, reducing reliance on foreign imports and supporting U.S. industrial self-sufficiency and jobs.
- Watch the entire processing plant power up for the first time in a video on the commissioning milestone.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it marks a critical step toward establishing a domestic U.S. supply of fluorspar, a mineral essential for steel production and various high-tech industries. Currently, the U.S. relies heavily on imports for fluorspar, creating supply chain vulnerabilities. By ramping up production, Ares Strategic Mining aims to reduce this dependency, bolster national security, and support American manufacturing jobs. For investors, it signals progress toward revenue generation and potential growth in the critical minerals sector.
Summary
Ares Strategic Mining Inc. (CSE: ARS) (OTCQX: ARSMF) (FRA: N8I1) has reached a significant milestone by commencing commissioning of its Metallurgical Lumps Plant at its processing facility in Delta, Utah. For the first time, the entire plant is powered up and operating as one fully integrated system, initiating a four-week commissioning program. The Lumps Plant is designed to process ore from the Company's Lost Sheep Mine into metallurgical-grade fluorspar lumps, known as "metspar," which is primarily supplied to U.S. steel industries. This marks a critical step toward establishing a secure domestic supply of this essential mineral.
During the commissioning phase, comprehensive integrated testing will be conducted across all plant systems to verify performance and optimize operations. Activities include verifying complete process flows from ore feed to finished product, testing PLC control systems and HMI interfaces, monitoring operating parameters such as temperatures and pressures, validating alarm systems, and assessing crushing, drying, and product quality to ensure metspar meets customer specifications. James Walker, President and CEO, expressed excitement, stating, "It's incredibly rewarding to see the entire Lumps Plant operating together for the first time." As commissioning progresses, fluorspar ore stockpiled at the Lost Sheep Mine will be transported to the Delta facility to support testing and initial ramp-up production runs, which are expected to begin on August 15, 2026.
Commercial offtake agreements are already in place covering the Company's expected initial metspar production for the first five years, as per the Company’s Press Release of March 27, 2024. The Lumps Plant has a designed processing capacity of approximately 150,000 tonnes per annum, providing capacity to support increased mine output and expansion across the Lost Sheep Project and the wider Spor Mountain Range. Ares Strategic Mining aims to become a significant supplier of high-grade fluorspar to North American markets, supporting industries vital to modern technology and infrastructure. The Lost Sheep Fluorspar Project in Delta, Utah, is 100% owned, fully permitted, and includes mining permits approved by the BLM.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Ares Strategic Mining Commissions Fluorspar Lumps Plant in Utah
