Greenland's Rare Earths: Critical Metals Corp. Secures Tanbreez Mining Plan Approval

On October 5th, Critical Metals Corp. (CRML) secured approval for its Tanbreez mining plan in Greenland. This regulatory milestone immediately sent CRML shares up 13%, snapping a six-session losing streak, as reported by Investing.com and MT Newswires. The approval marks a critical step for a project that has been watched closely, not just for its specific geology, but for its location. Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, holds significant untapped critical mineral reserves, and the Tanbreez project is now positioned as a potential supplier outside traditional rare earth supply chains.

The Mechanism of Heavy Rare Earth Extraction

Heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) are not simply "dug up." They are typically found embedded within complex mineral matrices, often alongside radioactive elements like thorium and uranium. The challenge lies in separating these elements efficiently and economically. Most rare earth deposits contain a mix of light rare earth elements (LREEs) and HREEs. LREEs, such as neodymium and praseodymium, are more common and easier to extract. HREEs, including dysprosium and terbium, are scarcer and command higher prices due to their essential role in high-performance magnets and specialized electronics. The difficulty in separating HREEs stems from their similar chemical properties, requiring intricate solvent extraction processes that involve numerous stages. Each stage aims to selectively extract one element from a solution containing many, relying on subtle differences in how each element interacts with specific organic solvents. This process is energy-intensive, uses significant amounts of reagents, and generates considerable waste. The cost and environmental footprint of HREE separation are the primary bottlenecks in bringing new rare earth projects online, even after the ore is mined.

Companies Working in Critical Minerals

The critical minerals sector is a mosaic of companies tackling different stages of the supply chain, from exploration to processing. **Critical Metals Corp.** (CRML), trading at $6.97, now has its Tanbreez mining plan approved, focusing on rare earth elements in Greenland. This project is notable for its potential to supply HREEs, a segment with significant supply constraints. **NioCorp Developments Ltd.** (NB), priced at $3.125, is developing its Elk Creek project in Nebraska, targeting niobium, scandium, and titanium, with potential for rare earth byproducts. **USA Rare Earth, Inc.** (USAR), at $10.54, is advancing its Round Top project in Texas, which is known for its heavy rare earth and critical mineral potential. The company has been in the news recently regarding milestone-based government funding. **MP Materials** (MP), while not listed with a price, operates the Mountain Pass mine in California, a significant source of LREEs in North America. Its focus is on integrating downstream processing to produce separated rare earth oxides. In the lithium space, **Atlas Lithium Corporation** (ATLX), trading at $2.26, is advancing its processing plant pre-assembly steps, indicating a move towards production readiness. **Standard Lithium Ltd.** (SLI), at $1.45, is targeting a 2026 decision for its Arkansas lithium project, which aims to extract lithium from brine. **ioneer Ltd** (IONR), priced at $2.76, is developing the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Nevada, a unique deposit that combines both critical minerals. **American Battery Technology Company** (ABAT), at $1.48, focuses on battery recycling and has recently secured an export license for black mass, highlighting the growing importance of circular economy solutions for critical minerals.

American Lithium Minerals, Inc.

American Lithium Minerals, Inc. (AMLM), trading at $0.0599, is an exploration stage company focused on lithium and boron properties in Nevada. The company was incorporated in Nevada in 2005. Its primary project is the Sarcobatus Lithium property, which comprises 1,780 acres of mining claims in Central Nevada. AMLM's stated business plan involves exploring for lithium in Nevada and intending to expand its exploration and acquisition for mineral properties worldwide. The company is also developing the use of Real World Asset Tokens to provide capital for mining, a unique approach to financing exploration and development. AMLM is a pre-revenue company. The SEC qualified a Regulation A offering on Form 1-A on February 4, 2026. This offering covers up to 80,000,000 units, with up to 120,000,000 shares issuable if the attached warrants are exercised in full. Each unit in the offering includes one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase 1.5 shares of common stock, exercisable at $0.05 per share until December 31, 2028. The company's activities since 2009 have focused on lithium exploration in Central Nevada at its Sarcobatus project. The public record does not yet establish a measured or indicated resource for the Sarcobatus property. AMLM has also acquired and divested cobalt, nickel, and graphite prospects in Central Nevada, and rare earth elements projects in Kingman, Arizona, and Southeast Illinois. The company's long-term vision, as per its filings, is to create an interoperable ecosystem where assets can be securely acquired, transparently tokenized, and efficiently traded, merging public markets with blockchain agility.

What to watch

The rare earth and critical minerals space will see several key developments in the coming months. For **Standard Lithium Ltd.** (SLI), the decision regarding its Arkansas lithium project, targeted for 2026, will be a significant milestone. This decision involves engineering, financing, and permitting considerations for commercial production. **ioneer Ltd** (IONR) has been conducting drilling activities, with six holes and 3,050 feet completed, moving towards a federal deadline for its Nevada Tungsten project. Permitting progress for its Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project will also remain a critical watchpoint. For **American Battery Technology Company** (ABAT), the execution of its black mass export license and any further developments in its battery recycling operations will be important. The broader market will also be watching for continued government funding announcements for domestic rare earth projects, which have been a recurring theme for companies like **USA Rare Earth, Inc.** (USAR). Any progress on downstream processing capabilities, particularly for HREE separation, will be a key indicator of supply chain resilience., { "label": "Crush & Concentrate", "note": "Reduce ore size, enrich HREE minerals via physical methods." }, { "label": "Chemical Leaching", "note": "Dissolve HREEs from concentrate into a liquid solution." }, { "label": "Solvent Extraction", "note": "Separate individual HREEs from solution using reagents.", "metric": "99.9% Purity" }, { "label": "Oxide Production", "note": "Convert separated HREEs into market-ready oxide powders." } ], "highlight": 3, "highlight_note": "Solvent extraction is the bottleneck; it requires complex chemistry, high energy, and generates waste.", "footnote": "Source: PubCo Insight analysis of rare earth processing" }