American Rare Earths advances downstream strategy with oxide-to-metal study for Halleck Creek
American Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:ARR, OTCQX:ARRNF) has commissioned a key technical study aimed at advancing its ambitions to move further down the rare earths value chain, engaging US engineering group Tetra Tech (NASDAQ:TTEK) to assess pathways from oxide production to metal for its flagship...
American Rare Earths Ltd(ASX:ARROTCQX:ARRNF) View Price & Profile American Rare Earths advances downstream strategy with oxide-to-metal study for Halleck Creek
Last updated: 21:22 29 Mar 2026 EDT, First published: 20:58 29 Mar 2026 EDT
American Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:ARR, OTCQX:ARRNF) has commissioned a key technical study aimed at advancing its ambitions to move further down the rare earths value chain, engaging US engineering group Tetra Tech (NASDAQ:TTEK) to assess pathways from oxide production to metal for its flagship Halleck Creek project in Wyoming.
The Oxides to Metals study will evaluate how the company can convert separated heavy rare earth oxides into metal — a critical midstream step immediately preceding the manufacture of permanent magnets used across defence and advanced technology applications.
The move builds on American Rare Earths’ broader strategy to establish an integrated, US-based rare earths supply chain, at a time when policymakers are seeking to reduce reliance on China’s dominance in midstream processing and magnet production.
Study targets critical heavy rare earths suite
The work will focus on the company’s heavy rare earth elements (HREE) suite — including samarium, gadolinium, terbium and dysprosium — which are essential for high-temperature permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, defence systems and clean energy technologies.
Tetra Tech will assess a range of processing technologies, including molten salt electrolysis and calciothermic reduction, before selecting a preferred development pathway.
Key outputs from the study are expected to include:
A preferred processing technology for oxide-to-metal conversion A process flow diagram and mass balance A major equipment list Preliminary capital and operating cost estimates An assessment of the strategic and operational benefits of integrating metal production with planned refining operations in Wyoming
The study will be led out of Tetra Tech’s Salt Lake City, Utah, office.
Extending Halleck Creek’s value chain
The initiative represents the next step in assessing how far downstream American Rare Earths can take production from Halleck Creek, which the company has previously highlighted as one of the largest known rare earth deposits in North America.
With bench-scale work already demonstrating the ability to produce separated rare earth oxides, the current study shifts focus to downstream integration — from mining and refining through to metal production within the United States.
CEO Mark Wall said the work aligns with the company’s goal of building a secure domestic supply chain.
“American Rare Earths believes that advancing oxide-to-metal options for its heavy rare earths stream is an important step toward realising its vision of a Wyoming-based, mine-to-magnet contribution to the US rare earths supply chain,” he said.
Aligning with US policy priorities
The study also positions American Rare Earths within a broader push by the US government to develop domestic capabilities across the rare earths value chain.
China currently dominates the midstream segment, including oxide separation and metal production. In response, US policymakers have identified rare earths as a strategic priority, supporting initiatives that strengthen domestic processing and manufacturing capacity.
By evaluating in-country metal production, American Rare Earths is aiming to offer future customers and partners a jurisdictionally secure supply of critical materials — particularly heavy rare earth metals, which are typically more constrained and strategically valuable than their light rare earth counterparts.
Building on recent momentum
The oxide-to-metal study follows a series of developments aimed at advancing Halleck Creek and strengthening the company’s technical and strategic capabilities.
Recent updates have included supplying ore from Halleck Creek for US Department of Energy-backed research programs and expanding leadership with senior technical appointments to drive project development.
The company has also been progressing broader project studies and refining its development pathway as it seeks to position Halleck Creek as a cornerstone asset in the emerging US rare earths supply chain.
With the latest study now under way, American Rare Earths is moving to define how its resource can translate into higher-value downstream products — a step that could materially influence project economics and strategic relevance as global demand for critical minerals continues to accelerate.