US Critical Materials Corp, a rare earth exploration company, has announced the successful completion of an AI-powered mineral targeting program from VerAI Discoveries on its high-grade rare earth elements (REE) Sheep Creek exploration property in Montana, USA.

VerAI technology was trained on US Critical Materials geophysical data and discoveries previously announced on the initial 800 acres (324 ha) already explored and tested, including 62 carbonatites. The grades of rare earths found at Sheep Creek averaged 9.1% to as high as 20% confirmed by both Idaho National Labs and Activation Labs.

VerAI’s technology was then used on the 5,900 acres of Sheep Creek claims that had not been previously explored and produced a number of additional drill ready sites with similar characteristics as the original training locations, indicating further evidence of the possibility of a continuous source of carbonatite material at depth throughout the entire 6,700 acres and 335 claims that make up our Sheep Creek holdings.

“Using our geophysical data and high-grade rare earth element targets on a portion of the property, VerAI has successfully identified multiple drill-ready targets on adjacent land with similar characteristics,” James B Hedrick, President of US Critical Materials, said. “From our initial evaluation of these targets, we have high confidence in their potential to host significant high grade REE mineralisation and further confirms our project as a future key strategic supplier of REEs including high levels of neodymium and praseodymium, and critical minerals including scandium, gallium, strontium, niobium and yttrium. We are currently working with Idaho National Labs to develop a US proprietary separation and processing system that will be significantly more efficient and environmentally responsible than what the Chinese are using. We look forward to commencing the drill test of the targets by the third (September) quarter of 2025.”

In July 2024, US Critical Materials and VerAI entered into a strategic partnership, combining US Critical Materials’ extensive industry expertise with VerAI’s AI mineral discovery technology. This collaboration aims to identify and develop high-value mineral assets, contributing to the global supply chain of critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies and national security.

“We are thrilled to advance this partnership with US Critical Materials and deliver high-probability targets for exploration,” Yair Frastai, CEO of VerAI Discoveries, said. “This collaboration not only adds additional royalties to our rapidly growing asset portfolio, underscoring our business model, but also allows us to have exposure to highly strategic REE products adding to our portfolio of copper, nickel, gold, lithium and platinum group element assets. Our AI Discovery Platform has identified nine distinct types of base and precious metals in the Americas, significantly strengthening our strategic partnerships and bolstering our attractive asset portfolio.”