Ares Strategic Mining Inc. will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at its processing facility in Delta, Utah, according to a Oct. 8 report. The event marks the formal opening of a new Lumps Plant, a milestone described as a significant step in returning domestic fluorspar processing to the United States.
The facility processes raw fluorspar from the company’s fully permitted Lost Sheep Mine into metallurgical-grade fluorspar, known as metspar. Ares has already begun transporting mined ore to Delta and introducing live material into the processing circuit, with the operations team working to optimize the plant around the characteristics of Lost Sheep ore as production ramps up.
The ceremony is expected to include U.S. Representative Mike Kennedy, Carson Brown from the Office of U.S. Senator John Curtis, and Utah State Senator David P. Hinkins. Other confirmed attendees include Emy Lesofski, Director of the Utah Office of Energy Development, and Dana Dean, Acting Director of the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining. Scheduled speakers include Peter Godart, President and CEO of Found Industries; Representative Kennedy; and James Walker, President and CEO of Ares Strategic Mining. The company is also coordinating attendance from representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Defense Logistics Agency.
The Delta Lumps Plant is intended to convert run-of-mine fluorspar into metallurgical-grade product for industrial customers. Metspar is used primarily in steel and aluminum production, where fluorspar serves as an important fluxing material. Ares is developing the supply chain from the ground up, connecting the mining of ore at Lost Sheep to the processing infrastructure in Delta. The company previously announced a Memorandum of Understanding with global commodities trader Cremer Erzkontor Inc. regarding the distribution of metspar across North America.
The project has received support from the State of Utah. During the 2025 General Session of the Utah State Legislature, legislation expanded the legal definition of a throughput infrastructure project to include infrastructure required for extracting and processing critical minerals. Through the Utah Community Impact Board, the company received an $11 million state-supported loan to advance its Utah operations. James Walker stated that this support helped the company move from engineering drawings to physical production and mine development.
The Lumps Plant serves as the first major processing component of a broader Utah strategy. Ares is also advancing construction of a complementary Acidspar Flotation Plant, which is intended to produce higher-purity acid-grade fluorspar for energy, technology, and chemical applications. Ares expects to provide a further update following the Oct. 9 ceremony.
