American Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:ARR) has strengthened its board through the appointment of industry veteran Clarence McAllister as a non-executive director.
McAllister’s appointment, which is effective immediately, reflects ARR’s efforts to expand further into the US market, supported by the new directors' 30 years of international experience in engineering and construction.
He serves as chairman of the board of ARR's wholly-owned subsidiary Western Rare Earths for the last two years and is the founder and chief executive officer of Fortis Engineers, an electrical and mechanical engineering firm based in Phoenix, Arizona.
ARR is an Australian exploration company focused on the development of rare earth projects in the US. The company’s key areas of interest are high-value scandium and rare earth projects within the Arizona region.
"Helping guide US expansion"
“After having been a founding board member and chairman of the board of Western Rare Earths for the last two years, I am excited to join the board of American Rare Earths,” McAllister said.
“I am looking forward to helping guide the company’s US expansion by utilising my 30+ years’ experience in developing projects nationwide.”
Strong regulatory experience
As a member of the Arizona Board of Technical Registration, the newly appointed non-executive director is directly involved in the regulation of professions of architecture, engineering and land surveying and serves on the Arizona Supreme Court Alternative Business Structure Board.
ARR chairman Creagh O'Connor AM said: "I am delighted with Mr McAllister’s appointment and welcome him to the board. He brings an exceptional combination of experience in founding and leading private companies and collaborating with State departments and regulators.
“His knowledge from chairing Western Rare Earths is precious and puts American Rare Earths in a great position as we take the next step on our journey.”
High-grade surface samples
This appointment follows consistently high-grade surface samples received from prospective projects within the newly acquired Helleck Creek Project, the acquisition of which was completed in June 2021 after earning unanimous government approval.
The highest grades observed in samples collected in 2021 are TREO 5,756 ppm, HREO 552 ppm and Magnet Minerals Oxide 1,433 ppm. From about 197 samples in the Overton Mountain and Red Mountain study areas, the average TREO is about 3,349 ppm and 3,002 ppm respectively.
The new project adds to ARR’s already extensive holdings in Arizona, with the advanced La Paz Rare Earths Project hosting 128.2 million tonnes at 0.037% total rare earth elements less than 30 metres below the surface and contained within just 525 acres of the project’s 5,143 acres.