u/TheMineralsMustFlow

As I understand it, the metspar lumps plant is dry and does not use a tailings pond nor require a groundwater discharge permit. The lumps process breaks down and separates the ore. The ore quality out of the ground is high quality which makes the metspar usable in the steel and aluminum industries even with this minimal processing. This is the processing plant that is being worked on now with electric and conveyor belts mentioned in this week’s press release. I suspect Ares will be selling some metspar this year perhaps even this summer.

Ares work continues on getting the permitting and site planning done for the construction of the flotation plant required for the acidspar processing which is where the government contract and the Found Metals MOU come in. The company mentioned last year (prior to the county planning board meeting) that they thought they’d be able to get the flotation plant construction started in the Fall of this year. But the recent construction permit contingencies include a 30 day notice public hearing on the GWD permit and construction of the tailings pond likely won’t start until after this has been done especially since its location on the property appears to be one of the sticking points. Once construction is done which will likely take at least as long as the lumps plant, there will be a whole new process of getting operations inspections and permits for the flotation plant. I suspect flotation plant production is more than a year out.

Short term, getting to revenue and achieving the rebirth of the fluorspar mining industry in America will be with the lumps plant production of metspar for the steel and aluminum industries.

I post this because I think there is some confusion as to what’s coming online and when and specifically where the government contract and the new Found Metals MOU fit in the scheme of things.

This appears to be an approval order for most of the project. Still a few issues being worked through.

From: https://millardcounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/01082026-FINAL-minutes.pdf

January 8, 2026

No subsequent mention of Ares in Feb or Mar minutes.

11. PUBLIC HEARING— C-2 Conditional Use Permit Amendment Application #Z-2025-
066 for Industrial/ Manufacturing Activity (General) at approximately 1365 N HWY 6,
Delta - Ares Strategic Mining Inc., Owner; Provo Mining & Construction Inc., Applicant

Commissioner Phil Diaz made a MOTION to open the public hearing. Commissioner
Wayne Jackson SECONDED the motion.

Roy Durr approached the commission on behalf of the applicant and gave a description
of the application. They are needing settling pond to ensure that they are recirculating
100% of the water. The pond will be double lined with a system of leak detection so
there will be zero discharge.

KC Bogue approached the commission on behalf of Delta City. He stated they are
strongly opposed to it being in their community. He believes that the land is developable
land rather than mining land.

Jason May approached the commission. He is opposed to the application and
concerned about the water in the area being contaminated.

Joyce Barney approached the commission. She stated that the initial application was to
process it there, crush it and move on. She is opposed to this application and doesn’t
believe it should be approved. She believes that if they’re going to expand, they need to
be in a different location.

Justin Ashby approached the commission. He owns a home west of the project site and
is concerned about water contamination. He is opposed to the application.

Deran Smith approached the commission. He is also opposed to the application.

Shauna Nelson approached the commission. She owns a well next to the property. She
is concerned about the contamination of her wells.

Commissioner Ron Larsen made a MOTION to close the public hearing. Commissioner
Phil Diaz SECONDED the motion. Voting was unanimous in the affirmative.

12. REVIEW and POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION – C-2 Conditional Use Permit
Amendment Application #Z-2025-066 for Industrial/ Manufacturing Activity (General) at
approximately 1365 N HWY 6, Delta - Ares Strategic Mining Inc., Owner; Provo Mining
& Construction Inc., Applicant

Planner Adam Richins asked the applicant to inform the commission the definition of
fluorspar.

Commissioner Erin Sorenson stated that she believes there isn’t enough information to
make an informed decision tonight and asked the applicant to bring back
correspondence from the DEQ and proof that what they are wanting to do is a permitted
use.

Commissioner Phil Diaz stated his concerns with the application.

Commissioner Wayne Jackson made a MOTION to continue this application to give the
applicant time to get more information. Commissioner John Nye SECONDED the
motion. Voting was unanimous in the affirmative.

// end section

// my personal comments

As someone who has personally interacted with local officials and the public in trying to get commercial work done in a small rural community, this doesn’t concern me much other than timelines. The commission is doing additional homework and has asked Ares to do some homework to answer these questions. There likely will NOT be another public hearing. This was it. So when Ares shows up with the proper info assuming it is allowable, and they address the concerns brought up by the public, the commission will make a decision then. Nothing here to me is a red flag except timelines being shifted to address these issues.

As I recollect from discussion on this, this washing process is a non-chemical washing. This is settling of silt from the product not chemicals. There are no contaminants other than silt which is natural and why this pond will exist.

The DEQ will have very few issues with this. Utah is a conservative and pro-mining state. Utah has lent Ares millions of dollars specifically for this development. Utah is aware that fluorspar is a US strategic critical mineral and that Ares is the only permitted fluorspar mine in the US. Federal will have even less issues. The DEQ letter is CYA for the elected commissioners.

A contingent approval would have been a bit better because Ares could have met the contingencies and not had to go back to the commission. But this isn’t bad. It’s just normal business.