Idaho Strategic Resources Releases Soil Sampling Results for Rare Earth Project
The company stated yesterday: "Idaho Strategic Resources is pleased to release the results from its widespread soil sampling and radiometrics surveys covering key prospects within the Idaho portion of its Lemhi Pass rare earth elements project. With respect to Idaho Strategic's Lemhi Pass project, the Company's goal during the 2025 geology field season was to build on our high-potential rare earth prospects by collecting both soil geochemistry and radiometric data to aid in advancing exploration, permitting, and drill targeting efforts. The soils geochemistry and radiometrics have defined wide elongated zones of neodymium (Nd) enrichment and radiometric highs. The next step will be boots on the ground geological mapping to refine this broad data into targets for economic evaluation, including permitting for drill targets both at Lemhi Pass and Mineral Hill. The Company plans to expand the soils groundwork and radiometrics footprint in 2026 to evaluate additional areas of its large Lemhi Pass land package on both sides of the Idaho-Montana border. The two images included in this release are two different scales of LiDAR maps covering a portion of the Idaho side of the Company's Lemhi Pass project. The first figure shows several "bullseye" targets of Nd in soils; and the second figure shows the total thorium levels enriched along structural corridors of the Lemhi Pass and Dan Patch faults. Prospects identified by the Company warranting follow-up exploration and potential drilling in 2026 are those where high neodymium-in-soil anomalies occur along with high ground-based radiometric signatures. The neodymium-in-soil anomalies are shown by the warm colors and range between 45 ppm to an uncapped maximum sample grade of 1,740 ppm neodymium. While Idaho Strategic has identified several promising prospects by name in the images above, the Company also plans to conduct a drone-based magnetics survey in the spring of 2026. Recent field work has shown disseminated magnetite haloing portions of REE/Th mineralization, leading the Company's geologists to believe that the planned magnetics survey will add another valuable layer of data to further prioritize 2026 permitting and drill targeting efforts."
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on IDR
About IDR
About the author
U.S. Rare Earth Miners' Shares Rise on New Reserve Plan
- Share Price Surge: Shares of U.S. rare earth miners rose in pre-market trading following President Trump's announcement of a $12 billion critical mineral reserve, indicating a positive market response to the initiative.
- Project Context: Known as Project Vault, this critical mineral reserve aims to counter China's dominance in rare earth minerals, protecting U.S. tech firms and automakers from supply shocks while reducing reliance on Chinese resources.
- Funding Structure: The plan combines $2 billion in private funding with a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, with Trump stating that American taxpayers are expected to profit from the interest on the loan, highlighting the project's potential economic benefits.
- National Security Strategy: The new reserve is modeled after existing strategic petroleum and critical stockpiles, intended to support U.S. industry and prevent future supply disruptions, thereby enhancing national security and economic resilience.
U.S. Launches Critical Minerals Reserve Initiative
- Strategic Minerals Reserve: President Trump announced the establishment of a critical minerals reserve with an initial funding of $12 billion, aimed at reducing reliance on China for rare earths and enhancing national resource security.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, U.S.-listed rare earth mining companies surged in premarket trading, with Critical Metals up 6.3% and USA Rare Earth up 4.7%, indicating strong market optimism regarding the initiative.
- Funding Structure: The plan will pool $1.67 billion in private capital with a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, creating a first-of-its-kind strategic minerals reserve to support resource development in the U.S. private sector.
- Global Rare Earth Landscape: China dominates the critical minerals supply chain, accounting for nearly 60% of global rare earth mining and over 90% of magnet manufacturing, highlighting the urgency and strategic significance of the U.S. reserve initiative.
Gold Prices Soar to New Heights, Exceeding $5,300 an Ounce Before FOMC Meeting
Market Surge: Spot gold prices have surged above $5,300, setting new records in the market.
FOMC Meeting Anticipation: The increase in gold prices comes ahead of the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.
Investment Opportunities in Europe's AI Market
- Emerging Investment Potential: AI's share of European venture capital has risen to 27% in recent years, compared to 34% in the U.S., indicating that Europe's investment potential in AI remains undervalued, presenting new opportunities for investors.
- Small-Cap Advantage: Despite an average AI funding allocation of 18% in Europe, small-cap AI stocks like BE Semiconductor and Indra Sistemas may become preferred choices for investors due to their relatively undervalued positions and growth potential.
- Defense Technology Demand: Indra Sistemas is expected to benefit from increased spending on high-end defense technology in 2026 due to its AI capabilities and geopolitical uncertainties, with its stock price rising over 140% since the beginning of 2023.
- Semiconductor Market Growth: STMicroelectronics has secured a €1 billion deal with the European Investment Bank to enhance Europe's competitiveness in AI, highlighting the company's strategic importance in the global semiconductor market.
Spot Silver Reaches All-Time High of $115.13/Oz, Surging More Than 11%
Record High for Silver Prices: Silver prices have reached a record high of $115.13 per ounce, marking a significant increase.
Percentage Increase: The price of silver has risen over 11% recently, contributing to its record-setting value.
Spot silver briefly surpassed $100 per ounce before retreating to $99.93.
- Silver Price Movement: Silver prices rose above $100 per ounce during intraday trading.
- Price Adjustment: Following the peak, prices slightly decreased to $99.93 per ounce.
U.S. Rare Earth Miners' Shares Rise on New Reserve Plan
- Share Price Surge: Shares of U.S. rare earth miners rose in pre-market trading following President Trump's announcement of a $12 billion critical mineral reserve, indicating a positive market response to the initiative.
- Project Context: Known as Project Vault, this critical mineral reserve aims to counter China's dominance in rare earth minerals, protecting U.S. tech firms and automakers from supply shocks while reducing reliance on Chinese resources.
- Funding Structure: The plan combines $2 billion in private funding with a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, with Trump stating that American taxpayers are expected to profit from the interest on the loan, highlighting the project's potential economic benefits.
- National Security Strategy: The new reserve is modeled after existing strategic petroleum and critical stockpiles, intended to support U.S. industry and prevent future supply disruptions, thereby enhancing national security and economic resilience.
U.S. Launches Critical Minerals Reserve Initiative
- Strategic Minerals Reserve: President Trump announced the establishment of a critical minerals reserve with an initial funding of $12 billion, aimed at reducing reliance on China for rare earths and enhancing national resource security.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, U.S.-listed rare earth mining companies surged in premarket trading, with Critical Metals up 6.3% and USA Rare Earth up 4.7%, indicating strong market optimism regarding the initiative.
- Funding Structure: The plan will pool $1.67 billion in private capital with a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, creating a first-of-its-kind strategic minerals reserve to support resource development in the U.S. private sector.
- Global Rare Earth Landscape: China dominates the critical minerals supply chain, accounting for nearly 60% of global rare earth mining and over 90% of magnet manufacturing, highlighting the urgency and strategic significance of the U.S. reserve initiative.
Gold Prices Soar to New Heights, Exceeding $5,300 an Ounce Before FOMC Meeting
Market Surge: Spot gold prices have surged above $5,300, setting new records in the market.
FOMC Meeting Anticipation: The increase in gold prices comes ahead of the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.
Investment Opportunities in Europe's AI Market
- Emerging Investment Potential: AI's share of European venture capital has risen to 27% in recent years, compared to 34% in the U.S., indicating that Europe's investment potential in AI remains undervalued, presenting new opportunities for investors.
- Small-Cap Advantage: Despite an average AI funding allocation of 18% in Europe, small-cap AI stocks like BE Semiconductor and Indra Sistemas may become preferred choices for investors due to their relatively undervalued positions and growth potential.
- Defense Technology Demand: Indra Sistemas is expected to benefit from increased spending on high-end defense technology in 2026 due to its AI capabilities and geopolitical uncertainties, with its stock price rising over 140% since the beginning of 2023.
- Semiconductor Market Growth: STMicroelectronics has secured a €1 billion deal with the European Investment Bank to enhance Europe's competitiveness in AI, highlighting the company's strategic importance in the global semiconductor market.
Spot Silver Reaches All-Time High of $115.13/Oz, Surging More Than 11%
Record High for Silver Prices: Silver prices have reached a record high of $115.13 per ounce, marking a significant increase.
Percentage Increase: The price of silver has risen over 11% recently, contributing to its record-setting value.
Spot silver briefly surpassed $100 per ounce before retreating to $99.93.
- Silver Price Movement: Silver prices rose above $100 per ounce during intraday trading.
- Price Adjustment: Following the peak, prices slightly decreased to $99.93 per ounce.
