Aclara Resources Inc. Teams Up with Stanford's Mineral-X to Pioneer AI-Driven Rare Earths Research

Published: 2025-07-16 08:21:05 ET ARA.TO

Published on 07/16/2025 at 08:21

Aclara Resources Inc. announced a strategic collaboration with Stanford University to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) innovations aimed at securing a resilient and sustainable supply chain for heavy rare earth elements (HREE). The partnership has been initiated through a long-term Letter of Intent (LOI) between Aclara Technologies Inc., Aclara's U.S.-based subsidiary, and Stanford's Mineral-X initiative, a leading research initiative focused on transforming the critical minerals' supply chain through advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), decision science, and data science. This agreement establishes the foundation for a strong academic and technological alliance, leveraging advanced AI solutions to optimize the HREE supply chain from the ground up-starting with exploration and continuing through processing and supply chain integration.

Key Objectives of the Aclara-Stanford Collaboration: Joint development of AI-powered predictive models to better understand and target REE mineralization in regolith and ionic clays. academic and technical exchange between researchers, students, and professionals from both institutions to support mutual training, knowledge transfer, and capacity building. Innovation opportunities in sustainable exploration, traceability, and responsible development of REE supply chains.

Co-authorship of scientific publications. and joint management of intellectual property related to AI applications in exploration, ensuring confidentiality and managing intellectual property rights in accordance with each Party's internal policies. Roadmap for a long-term strategic alliance, including future R&D initiatives and pilot projects.

Aclara Resources Inc. is focused on building a vertically integrated supply chain for rare earths alloys used in permanent magnets. This strategy is supported by Aclara's development of rare earth mineral resources hosted in ionic clay deposits, which contain high concentrations of the scarce heavy rare earths, providing the Company with a long-term, reliable source of these critical materials. The Company's rare earth mineral resource development projects include the Carina Project in the State of Goias, Brazil as its project and the Penco Module in the Biobio Region of Chile.

Both projects feature Aclara's patented technology named Circular Mineral Harvesting, which offers a sustainable and energy-efficient extraction process for rare earths from ionic clay deposits. The Circular Mineral Harvesting process has been designed to minimize the water consumption and overall environmental impact through recycling and circular economy principles. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aclara Technologies Inc., the Company is further enhancing its product value by developing a rare earths separation plant in the United States.

This facility will process mixed rare earth carbonates sourced from Aclara's mineral resource projects, separating them into pure individual rare earth oxides. Additionally, Aclara through a joint venture with CAP, is advancing its alloy-making capabilities to convert these refined oxides into the alloys needed for fabricating permanent magnets. This joint venture leverages CAP's extensive expertise in metal refining and special ferro-alloyed steels.

Beyond the Carina Project and the Penco Module, Aclara is committed to expanding its mineral resource portfolio by exploring greenfield opportunities and further developing projects within its existing concessions in Brazil, Chile, and Peru, aiming to increase future production of heavy rare earths.