Great Northern Minerals General Manager Scott Downsborough talked with Proactive about the company’s latest developments at its Catalyst Ridge Project in California, as part of its broader shift towards US-based critical minerals.
Downsborough detailed two recent announcements. First, the completion of initial fieldwork at Catalyst Ridge, with samples taken for assay following desktop geological reviews. He said, “We’re really excited about what those samples are going to come back with.” Assay results are expected in the coming weeks.
Second, the company has signed an initial licensing option agreement with the University of Arizona to collaborate on rare earth flotation technology. The partnership will support development of more efficient, lower-waste rare earths processing methods. Downsborough explained that the sponsored research program will run for around two years, aiming to advance the technology through pilot plant testing.
He highlighted that this innovation could help address key limitations in US-based rare earth processing. “China really have a stranglehold on the technology,” he said, noting that more efficient domestic solutions are critical for both commercial and defense needs.
This comes shortly after the US-Australia rare earth agreement worth $8.5 billion, underscoring the strategic importance of projects like Catalyst Ridge.
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