Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 08, 2026
Ares Strategic Mining to Open U.S. Fluorspar Plant in Delta, Utah
TLDR
- Ares Strategic Mining opens a Utah fluorspar plant, enabling domestic metspar supply and reducing reliance on foreign sources for steel and aluminum industries.
- Ares processes raw fluorspar from its Lost Sheep Mine into metallurgical-grade metspar at its new Delta, Utah facility, with an acidspar plant planned.
- Ares Strategic Mining's new plant revives domestic fluorspar production, supporting U.S. manufacturing jobs and critical mineral independence for a stronger tomorrow.
- Ares Strategic Mining celebrates a ribbon-cutting for its Utah fluorspar plant, marking a key step in bringing back domestic processing of this essential mineral.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it signals a tangible step toward rebuilding a domestic supply chain for fluorspar, a critical mineral that has long been imported. By opening the Lumps Plant, Ares Strategic Mining is not only creating jobs and economic activity in Utah but also enhancing U.S. national security and industrial resilience. Fluorspar is essential for steel and aluminum production, and a reliable domestic source reduces dependence on foreign suppliers, which is increasingly important amid global supply chain disruptions. The project’s support from federal and state officials underscores the strategic priority of securing critical minerals. Furthermore, the planned Acidspar Flotation Plant could eventually supply higher-purity fluorspar for advanced technologies, including semiconductors and renewable energy systems, positioning the U.S. to compete in key high-tech sectors. For investors, this milestone demonstrates execution capability and could lead to revenue generation, while for the broader public, it represents a step toward more stable and sustainable manufacturing ecosystems.
Summary
Ares Strategic Mining Inc. (CSE: ARS) (OTCQX: ARSMF) (FRA: N8I1) is set to host an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, October 9, 2026, at its ARES Processing Facility in Delta, Utah, marking the opening of its new Lumps Plant and a major milestone in the return of domestic fluorspar processing to the United States. The event will bring together federal and state officials, strategic partners, industry leaders, and local stakeholders to recognize the completion of infrastructure that connects Ares’ fully permitted Lost Sheep Mine to a purpose-built U.S. processing operation. The new facility processes raw fluorspar into industry-ready metallurgical-grade fluorspar, or metspar, which is used principally in steel and aluminum production as a fluxing material. Ares has begun transporting mined ore to Delta and introducing live material into the processing circuit, with the operations team now optimizing the plant around the characteristics of Lost Sheep ore as production ramps up.
Confirmed attendees include U.S. Representative Mike Kennedy, Carson Brown from the Office of U.S. Senator John Curtis, Utah State Senator David P. Hinkins, Emy Lesofski of the Utah Office of Energy Development, Dana Dean of the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, James Walker, President and CEO of Ares, and Peter Godart, President and CEO of Found Industries. Ares is also coordinating attendance from representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, and Defense Logistics Agency. The ceremony will recognize the State of Utah’s support, including an $11 million state-supported loan through the Utah Community Impact Board and 2025 legislation that broadened the definition of a “throughput infrastructure project” to include critical minerals. Ares has previously announced a Memorandum of Understanding with global commodities trader Cremer Erzkontor Inc. for distribution of its metspar product across North America. The Lumps Plant is the first major processing component of Ares’ broader Utah strategy, with the Company also advancing construction of its complementary Acidspar Flotation Plant to produce higher-purity acid-grade fluorspar for chemical, technology, energy, and strategic-material applications. The original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Ares Strategic Mining to Open U.S. Fluorspar Plant in Delta, Utah
