A new discovery in Utah could reportedly mark a major turning point in America’s effort to free itself from reliance on China for critical minerals essential to modern technology and national defense. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, Ionic Mineral Technologies — a Utah-based company that produces nanosilicon for lithium-ion batteries — has identified what may be one of the most significant critical mineral deposits ever found in the United States.
The company discovered the minerals while leasing land and analyzing clay deposits beneath the surface. Ionic MT says the site contains unusually high concentrations of 16 different critical minerals, including germanium and niobium — materials vital to everything from electric vehicles and artificial intelligence to advanced weapons systems and semiconductor manufacturing.
Founder and CEO Andre Zeitoun told the Journal that the discovery is only the beginning. So far, the company has drilled roughly 600 acres to a depth of about 100 feet, but believes the deposit extends far beyond that. “We know this is a sizable deposit, and we know that’s just scratching the surface,” Zeitoun said. He emphasized the strategic importance of the minerals, noting, “You can’t make a vehicle without these, you can’t make a fighter jet without some of these metals,” adding that they are also critical for AI and chip production.
The find comes at a time when China maintains near-total dominance of the rare earths market, supplying close to 90 percent of the world’s rare earth minerals. That monopoly has long concerned U.S. officials, who warn Beijing could restrict access to materials essential to defense, energy and technological innovation.
In late October, President Donald Trump announced that China would “continue to flow” critical minerals into the United States “openly and freely,” underscoring how central these resources are to America’s innovation and defense capabilities. But the Utah discovery offers the possibility of something far more secure: domestic independence.
Ionic MT says its mission is to achieve regional “independence” as “America’s critical supply chains are weaponized,” according to the company’s website. The firm has already briefed the Trump administration on the project, and officials have shown strong interest. The Journal reported that administration officials expressed “clear enthusiasm” about the discovery and its potential national impact.
White House spokesman Kush Desai echoed that sentiment, saying, “President Trump pledged to put an end to America’s foreign dependence, and the Trump administration is using every tool at our disposal to develop America’s rare earths production and refining capabilities.” Desai added that the U.S. has “no shortage of God-given resources to fuel and build our next Golden Age.”
Beyond the size of the deposit, Zeitoun said the site’s geology makes extraction unusually straightforward. The minerals sit in the bed of an ancient lake that dried up millions of years ago, leaving behind soft clay that can be mined from the surface. That means no deep drilling is required, reducing costs and environmental disruption.
Even more importantly, the land is already designated for mining. Infrastructure is in place, and all necessary permits have already been secured, allowing production to move quickly.
Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz praised the development, telling the Journal that “our energy and national security depend on having a reliable supply of critical minerals — and Utah is uniquely positioned to lead the way.”
If Ionic MT’s early findings hold, the discovery could represent a major step toward restoring American control over resources that power the modern economy and defend the nation.
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