American Resources Corp (NASDAQ:AREC) announced that its minority-held subsidiary ReElement Technologies has developed protocols to produce ultra-high-purity samarium (Sm) for both commercial and defense uses.
The company reported achieving samarium purity levels exceeding 99.9% and said its process design supports growing demand for samarium-cobalt (SmCo) magnet-grade materials.
SmCo magnets are used in a range of defense and advanced technology applications, including precision-guided munitions, aircraft and missile actuators, secure communications systems, high-temperature motors and generators, and aerospace and satellite platforms.
ReElement said the milestone builds on earlier advances in refining SEG+ ore concentrate and other mined concentrates containing higher levels of heavy rare earth elements.
The company highlighted its refining platform’s ability to process multiple mineral and feedstock types, including recycled materials, as it works to address near-term supply shortages while supporting longer-term domestic supply security.
ReElement CEO Mark Jensen said demand for SmCo magnets is expanding rapidly across commercial, industrial, and defense sectors, and that recent supply disruptions have increased urgency within the US supply chain.
He noted that the company has received a range of recycled and ore-based feedstocks in recent months and has used these inputs to develop commercial flow sheets aimed at meeting current customer needs.
“Our innovative refining platform continues to demonstrate unmatched versatility, speed and efficiency - enabling a truly independent critical mineral supply chain - while derisking projects by more effectively matching supply and demand at scale,” Jensen said.
Jensen added that the company is focusing on expanding production at its Marion facility and at partner sites through a collaborative model.
He said the processes were developed with cost efficiency and economic viability in mind and described ReElement’s platform as a scalable refining solution intended to reduce deployment risk and accelerate time-to-market.