Dean Pekeski, President and CEO of American Critical Minerals Corp., will present at the Precious Metals & Critical Minerals Virtual Investor Conference on July 23. The presentation will highlight the company's exploration efforts at the Green River Project in Utah's Paradox Basin. The initiative aims to secure domestic supplies of lithium, bromine, and potash.
The Paradox Basin's 53,000-acre mineral footprint
American Critical Minerals Corp. has assembled a massive land position to support its extraction goals. According to the company's disclosures, the firm holds a 100% interest in 11 SITLA mineral and minerals salt leases covering roughly 7,050 acres, alongside 1,094 federal lithium brine claims spanning 21,150 acres. Additionally, the company manages 11 federal (BLM) potash prospecting permits that cover approximately 25,480 acres.
This geographic concentration in Utah's Paradox Basin is designed to leverage existing infrastructure. The Green River Project is situated near major rail hubs, airports, and labor markets, which the company suggests provides a logistical edge over more remoote mining operations. By positioning itself near the industrial heartland of the United States,American Critical Minerals Corp. intends to reduce the distance between extraction and the end-users of these critical materials.
Targeting 950 million tonnes of sylvinite and lithium brines
The scale of the potential deposits is the primary draw for investors. As reported by the company, exploration targets at the Green River Project include between 500 million and 950 million tonnes of sylvinite, with potassium oxide grades ranging from 12% to 18% based on elog. The company is also targeting 0.6 to 1.7 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) and 3.3 to 9.1 million tonnes of bromine.
These targets are supported by historical data from the region. Previous wells in and around the project area have reported lithium concentrations up to 500 ppm,bromine up to 6,100 ppm, and boron up to 1,260 ppm. This data suggests that the Paradox Basin could be one of the most significant sources of lithium brines within the United States , a critical factor as the country seeks to decouple its battery supply chain from foreign dependencies.
The August 2026 start date for the Duma Point AP-S-02 well
While the resource targets are high, the timeline for physical verification is measured. American Critical Minerals Corp. anticipates commencing drilling operations in August 2026. The initial focus will be the Duma Point AP-S-02 well, which operates under Utah State Permit 51690. This specific location was chosen for its proximity to the Quintana Fed 1-1, a historic oil and gas well.
To prepare for this launch, the company has already begun mobilizing field crews for drill pad construction. American Critical Minerals Corp. has engaged Harrison Field Services, Inc. for the construction and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) monitoring, while RESPEC Company, LLC has been contracted to execute the broader 2026 Drill Programs.
Leveraging oil and gas data to de-risk the Green River Project
The strategy emploed by American Critical Minerals Corp. reflects a broader trend in the mining industry: using legacy energy data to find new minerals. By analyzing geologic data from historic oil and gas wells across the Paradox Basin, the company believes it has significantly de-risked the potential for high-grade potash and lithium.. This approach allows the company to target high-probability zones without the blind guesswork often associated with early-stage exploration.
This move mirrors a wider geopolitical push to secure "critical minerals" necessary for the energy transition. By utilizing existing geological maps from the fossil fuel era, the company is attempting to accelerate the transition to green energy minerals using the blueprints of the old energy economy.
The funding gap before the 2026 drill program
Despite the detailed regulatory approvals—including the Notice of Intent and Bonding approval—several key details remain absent from the company's announcement. Most notably, the source does not disclose the projected budget for the 2026 drilling program or how the company intends to fund the gap between the current date and the August 2026 start. furthermore, while the company lists targets, it has not yet provided independent third-party verification of the 950 million tonne sylvinite estimate.
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