US Critical Metals Talks Strategic Mission To Secure America's Critical Commodity Supply Chain

Jim Gordon

Hi, I am Jim Gordon and you're watching Market One Minute. Joining us is Darren Collins.

He is the CEO and Director of US Critical Metals. Welcome, Darren.

Darren Collins

Thank you for having me, Jim. Pleasure to be here.

Jim Gordon

It is a pleasure to have you, sir. Okay, tell us about how and why you founded US Critical Metals. 

Darren Collins

So, US Critical Metals was founded with a very specific purpose and that purpose was to discover resources and ultimately develop out reserves of critical commodities within the United States. It's no secret that over the last 10 or more years there's been a significant lack of investment within resources in general and specifically within the United States. That has created a situation where the US has a lack of domestic supply and is now beholden to foreign interests, including China, which puts the US in a perilous position. We are fighting back with the drill bit and looking to discover and develop out resources and reserves within the US and that is the genesis of the company.

Jim Gordon

And Darren, what are the key assets of the company?

Darren Collins

So the key assets of the company span really what are the most critical of commodities to the US. So we are lithium, rare earths and cobalt, again, all within the United States. Our two lithium assets are in the good state of Nevada, the best mining state, in my opinion, in the United States. That is the Clayton Ridge asset right next to the Clayton Valley, which is the only lithium-producing place in the United States at this point in time. We've recently drilled it. We'll be coming out with those results soon.

We're also up in the McDermitt near Thacker Pass, in our opinion going to be the first lithium clay-producing asset in the United States. And then we have an exceptionally high-grade rare earth asset in the good state of Montana. That includes neodymium, praeseodymium and we think we even have potentially some gallium, which the Chinese just recently restricted the export of.

And then we have a cobalt asset in the state of Idaho, as well. And one of the few places you can find cobalt as a primary metal within the deposit.

Jim Gordon

And Darren, how do you plan to realize the value of these assets? 

Darren Collins

So, given that we've taken a portfolio approach, we have multiple options in terms of how we create value for our shareholders. That could include ultimately divestiture of one or more project, but also we have the option to spin out various projects into new codes as a way to free up value for our shareholders. So the idea is, is that we've put together exploration stage assets and at the time that we have discovery, we can look at multiple various exit opportunities or liquidity opportunities for our shareholders, of which we are the largest, with insiders holding approximately 30% of the stock. 

Jim Gordon

And what are some of the biggest risks your company is facing? 

Darren Collins

As with all commodity exploration companies, we certainly have commodity price risk and geologic risk. But really what we've done to mitigate that risk is take a portfolio approach across commodities, again, lithium, rare earths and cobalt, as a means to reduce commodity price risk, and also geologic risk in the context that if we don't get the results that we're looking for on one asset, we have other assets that we can explore, as well. In addition to mitigate that geologic risk, we put extensive capital into sampling, mapping, geophysics to really delineate high-quality and high-probability targets.

Jim Gordon

And finally, Darren, let's talk about some of the upcoming developments for US Critical Metals.

Darren Collins

So we have multiple developments in the company that are going to unfold here over the next number of months. The recent development was our earnings for the McDermitt asset. We're going to get out in the field and start sampling, mapping that with the objective of ultimately permitting it to drill here as soon as possible.  

We also have our Clayton Ridge asset, which we recently drilled. That was a central and southern unit that we put the drills to. We also have a northern unit to test on that, as well. So it'll be coming out with those results in due course. And then we also did an extensive sampling and geophysics program on our Montana rare earths assets. So we're processing those results too and we'll provide the market an update there. So lots of catalysts play out for the company here in the near term.

Jim Gordon

Darren, thank you very much for joining us.

Darren Collins

Thank you again for having me, Jim.

Jim Gordon

You're quite welcome. 

ABOUT US CRITICAL METALS CORP.:   

US Critical Metals Corp. (CSE:  USCM) (OTCQB:  USCMF) (FSE:  0IU0) is focused on mining projects that will further secure the US supply of critical metals and rare earth elements, which are essential to fueling the new age economy.

 

This post was authored by an external contributor and does not represent Benzinga's opinions and has not been edited for content. This contains sponsored content and is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.