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Locksley Achieves Breakthrough in US Antimony Concentrate Tests

Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY,OTQB:LKYRF,FSE: X5L) has been featured by The Sydney Morning Herald after achieving a major metallurgical breakthrough at its Desert antimony mine in California. The Australian company’s early flotation tests produced a 68.1 percent antimony concentrate, significantly surpassing industry benchmarks and nearing the theoretical maximum purity for stibnite.

The SMH report highlighted the result as evidence of the project’s strong potential and the relative simplicity of its processing method.

The test work, carried out in the United States, used a straightforward combination of rougher, regrind and cleaner flotation stages, yielding a high-grade product with low impurities. Locksley said the process required minimal modification, indicating the ore could be refined to ramp up both grade and recovery

The company plans to advance bulk underground sampling and pilot-scale testing, and will collaborate with Rice University to trial DeepSolv processing methods aimed at optimizing recovery.

According to the article, the development comes at a strategically important time. Antimony is a critical mineral used in defense, electronics and energy applications, and the United States is actively seeking to strengthen domestic supply chains under its “Made in America” initiative. If Locksley can replicate these results at scale, the Desert antimony mine could emerge as a key domestic source of high-grade antimony for the US market.

Read the full study here.

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Locksley Resources LimitedRice University DES Processing Technology Update

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Locksley Resources Ltd (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF), is pleased to provide an update on the advanced research program underway at Rice University in Houston, Texas.

HIGHLIGHTS

– Rice University advancing identification of the Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) system development

– Preliminary process parameters for the green hydrometallurgical DES process established, supporting the scoping of a pilot demonstration plant

– Locksley COO visits Rice University to review progress on DES research program

– Flotation concentrates and ROM ore samples from the Desert Antimony Mine (DAM) and EV Resources’ Los Lirios deposit, to be delivered to Rice University for expanded testwork

– American made mine-to-metal supply chain aligns with U.S. national objectives for critical mineral independence

Locksley’s Chief Operating Officer, Danny George, recently visited Rice University to review progress on the Company’s collaborative research program aimed at developing DeepSolv(TM), an innovative green hydrometallurgical solvent system for the extraction and recovery of antimony from stibnite ores and concentrates.

The visit formed part of Locksley’s ongoing engagement with the Rice University research team, led by Professor Pulickel Ajayan of the Rice Advanced Materials Institute. It provided the opportunity to directly observe the encouraging developments being achieved through the laboratory scale program.

Technical Progress

Technical sessions focused on reviewing process parameters, including solvent composition, leach kinetics, reagent recyclability, and temperature optimisation.

The DES system, employing environmentally benign ionic mixtures as an alternative to traditional reagents, has demonstrated strong potential for selective dissolution of antimony sulphides under mild conditions. This represents a major step toward establishing a low-emission, sustainable processing route for antimony production.

The collaborative review also evaluated how laboratory-scale results correlate with potential commercial-scale process configurations. Mass-balance considerations were assessed in preparation for scaling up to a pilot demonstration plant, with emphasis on solvent recovery efficiency, reagent stability, and downstream metal recovery pathways.

These findings confirm that the research program remains closely aligned with Locksley’s commercialisation strategy, advancing toward a technically robust, scalable, and economically sustainable antimony production process.

Danny George, Locksley Chief Operating Officer commented;

‘It was a privilege to spend time with the talented team at Rice University and see firsthand the impressive progress being made. The collaboration continues to deliver strong technical outcomes, and we’re excited about how this work is shaping the foundation for future commercial application.

The novelty of the DES-based process lies specifically in the solvent chemistry and its enhanced selectivity for antimony dissolution-representing a true breakthrough in reagent innovation rather than a complete process redesign.

Importantly, the downstream processing stages utilise established hydrometallurgical methods, ensuring a clear pathway toward commercial scalability, operational reliability, and regulatory acceptance. This is a strong example of how academic innovation and industry experience can work hand in hand to deliver next-generation solutions for the critical minerals sector.’

Next Steps

The next phase of work will include the delivery of flotation concentrates and ROM ore from the Desert Antimony Mine (DAM) and Los Lirios deposits to Rice University to further expand the testing regime. This work will underpin the design and scoping of the planned pilot demonstration plant, marking another significant milestone in Locksley’s development of a 100% American-made antimony supply chain.

About Locksley Resources Limited:

Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is an ASX listed explorer focused on critical minerals in the United States of America. The Company is actively advancing exploration across two key assets: the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley Resources aims to generate shareholder value through strategic exploration, discovery and development in this highly prospective mineral region.

Mojave Project

Located in the Mojave Desert, California, the Mojave Project comprises over 250 claims across two contiguous prospect areas, namely, the North Block/Northeast Block and the El Campo Prospect. The North Block directly abuts claims held by MP Materials, while El Campo lies along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine and is enveloped by MP Materials’ claims, highlighting the strong geological continuity and exploration potential of the project area.

In addition to rare earths, the Mojave Project hosts the historic ‘Desert Antimony Mine’, which last operated in 1937. Despite the United States currently having no domestic antimony production, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. With significant surface sample results, the Desert Mine prospect represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S.

Locksley’s North American position is further strengthened by rising geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China, the global leader in both REE & antimony production. With its maiden drilling program planned, the Mojave Project is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives around critical mineral independence and economic security.

Tottenham Project

Locksley’s Australian portfolio comprises the advanced Tottenham Copper-Gold Project in New South Wales, focused on VMS-style mineralisation

Source:
Locksley Resources Limited

Contact:
Kerrie Matthews
Chief Executive Officer
Locksley Resources Limited
T: +61 8 9481 0389
Kerrie@locksleyresources.com.au

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

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Uranium Price Update: Q3 2025 in Review

The uranium space is currently navigating a complex mix of optimism and structural pressures as investors increasingly look to the sector and major miners reduce their guidance.

After sinking to a US$63.25 per pound on March 7 — the lowest point since September 2023 — the U3O8 spot price rebounded through the third quarter, aided by declining secondary supply and renewed investor activity, though limited contracting by many utilities has kept term market activity relatively low year-to-date.

These tailwinds propelled the spot price to a year-to-date high of US$83.18 at the end of September, and are expected to continue adding support heading into the final quarter of the year.

“September saw uranium markets ignite as fresh capital flowed in, sentiment turned sharply positive and supply tightened, fueling the next leg of the uranium bull market,” wrote Jacob White, exchange-traded fund (ETF) product manager at Sprott Asset Management, in an October report on uranium.

Supply fundamentals remain strained: the US Energy Information Administration warns of a widening uranium shortfall over the next decade, estimating a cumulative gap of 184 million pounds without new mine development.

As the need for fresh supply mounts, the World Nuclear Association (WNA) sees longer timelines for new builds.

‘Despite the urgent need for new capacity to be brought online, what we’re experiencing is that the time to develop new mines is actually getting longer, not shorter. So in this report, we’ve changed the expected development timeline from 8 to 15 years to between 10 to 20 years,’ said Malcolm Critchley, CEO of the WNA, at the World Nuclear Symposium.

He warned that new supply is needed just to meet current needs, let alone forecast growth in demand.

According to the WNA, total nuclear capacity is expected to rise to 449 gigawatts electrical (GWe) by 2030 and 746 GWe by 2040, including 49 GWe of capacity from small modular reactors.

The issue was further compounded in late August, when uranium sector major Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) cut its 2025 guidance, citing expansion delays at the McArthur River mine in Saskatchewan.

Annual production is now expected at 14 million to 15 million pounds of U3O8, down from the previous target of 18 million pounds. The company’s reduction, marking roughly 5 percent of global supply, follows a similar output cut from Kazakhstan’s Kazatomprom, and highlights ongoing production constraints in the uranium sector.

The supply crunch comes as demand is projected to more than double over the next decade. As noted in the report, global reactor requirements will rise from 68,920 metric tons in 2025 to 150,000 metric tons in 2040, up 117 percent.

Rising investor appetite for uranium

“It’s the re-engagement of the investor,” he said during an interview.

“A lot of the demand in the spot market in Q3 has been driven by the purchasing of Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (TSX:U.U,OTCQX:SRUUF) and Yellow Cake (LSE:YCA,OTCQB:YLLXF). They have investor interest buying their shares to the point where they’re valued equal to more than the price of physical uranium.”

Compared to other commodities, physical uranium is undervalued, and that has led to heightened investor participation, according to Kelly. He noted that uranium-themed ETFs were the target for many investors looking to get into the space during Q3 — the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear Technologies UCITS ETF (LSE:NUCL) also increased allocations as its assets under management grew from US$500 million at the end of Q2 to over US$1 billion as Q3 concluded.

Alessandro Valentino, product manager at VanEck, attributes the growth to investor appetite and news out of the US. Among other factors, he pointed to the US Department of Energy’s US$1.52 billion federal loan guarantee to Holtec International to support the restart of the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan.

The funding is earmarked for bringing the 800 megawatt facility back online. It will be the first commercial US nuclear reactor to restart after being permanently shut down, pending Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval.

Valentino also underscored supply deals from the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, as well as a late September initial public offering (IPO) from Fermi America (NASDAQ:FRMI), as growth catalysts.

On September 30, Fermi, a Texas-based firm developing a next-generation AI-powered energy and data campus, priced its IPO at US$21 per share, selling 32.5 million shares and raising about US$682.5 million.

The IPO proceeds will fund the company’s ambitious Project Matador, which aims to deploy 11 gigawatts of power via nuclear, solar, natural gas and battery systems at a 5,200 acre campus near Amarillo, Texas.

These news items are a “strong signal that money is now entering the space,” said Valentino. “We would say that the big push has come from the US side.”

AI and energy stoke uranium demand

A key recent change in the uranium market is support from AI data centers.

As AI continues to reshape industries, the energy demands of data centers are escalating rapidly. A recent report by the International Energy Agency projects that electricity consumption from data centers worldwide will more than double by 2030, reaching approximately 945 terawatt hours, surpassing the current electricity consumption of Japan.

AI-optimized data centers are anticipated to be the primary drivers of this surge, with their electricity demand expected to quadruple during the same period. To satiate these energy requirements, the tech sector is increasingly looking to nuclear power to meet its demands in an environmentally conscious way.

This was further evidenced when Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced it was joining the WNA. This collaboration has only increased the correlation between uranium stocks and AI stocks.

Kelly explained that during a presentation he watched, “they showed an overlapping chart of AI stocks and uranium stocks, and they were behaving hand-in-hand over the last couple of years.”

While uranium is the fuel for the AI revolution, AI is also aiding the uranium exploration side.

The company recently digitized tens of thousands of pages of 1970s-era reports, maps and drill logs, feeding them into an AI-assisted system capable of analyzing, layering and interpreting the data with unprecedented speed and precision.

“AI helps us prioritize which information matters most and what it tells us about the geology,” Lamb explained. “It’s like opening a treasure chest — we’re uncovering insights that show our project is much larger than anyone realized.”

Additionally, AI is helping reveal what decades of analog exploration once missed — so-called “invisible uranium.”

Historically, geologists relied on gamma probes to estimate uranium content, but these tools often produced incomplete readings due to “disequilibrium,” where uranium or its decay products had shifted underground.

That meant much of the resource went undetected. Now, however, AI tools can process tens of thousands of geochemical data points, comparing ratios and patterns far beyond human capability.

According to Lamb, the technology can identify zones likely to contain hidden uranium and even cross reference results with regional geological data or similar deposits worldwide. In recent drilling, this approach helped the company uncover up to 60 percent more uranium than older probes indicated — that’s evidence, Lamb said, that machine learning could redefine the accuracy and efficiency of uranium exploration.

By combining historical expertise with modern machine learning, Myriad is turning archival data into a dynamic exploration tool — one that could redefine the scale and potential of its uranium projects in the US and beyond.

US moves to secure uranium supply

On the policy front, governments are stepping in to support domestic fuel cycles. In Canada, federal incentives and extended exploration tax credits aim to stimulate uranium mining and nuclear infrastructure.

In the US, moves such as the ban on Russian enriched-uranium imports are reshaping procurement requirements and amplifying urgency around domestic fuel security. To achieve its ambitions the Trump admin has been fast tracking select projects. In August, Uranium Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC) secured expedited permitting for its Sweetwater uranium complex in Wyoming under the Trump administration’s FAST-41 initiative.

Subsequently, the US announced plans to expand its strategic uranium stockpile as part of a broader push to secure nuclear power supply and reduce reliance on Russia. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said the aim is to eliminate Russia-enriched uranium from US reactors, which still power about 20 percent of the nation’s electricity.

Building on earlier federal initiatives, Washington’s continued investment in domestic uranium production and enrichment aims to strengthen long-term energy security, and serves as an opportunity catalyst.

“We believe the sector will keep on attracting investors,” said Van Eck’s Valentino, adding “the nuclear sector will eventually be normalized as being as green as all the other green energy sources.”

Uranium market forecast for Q4 and beyond

With uranium market showing momentum as well as deep gaps in primary supply, the coming months will test whether policy support, investment flows and project execution can keep pace with rising demand.

Sprott’s White believes that while the market has momentum, its continued success will hinge on factors like disciplined producer behavior and the timely delivery of new mines.

For his part, Lamb agrees with forecasts that the spot price could reach US$135 in Q1 2026.

“I just see (the spot price) kind of ticking up over the next while,” he said. “AI and data, those key sectors now that have exploded, they’re going to be huge consumers of uranium, however you slice it.”

Lamb went on to note that a spot price of US$200 in 2026 “wouldn’t surprise me at all.”

Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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7 Biggest Lithium-mining Companies in 2025

For a long time, most of the world’s lithium was produced by an oligopoly of US-listed producers. However, the sector has transformed significantly in recent years.

Interested investors should cast a wider net to look at global companies — in particular those listed in Australia and China, as companies in both countries have become major players in the industry.

While Australia has long been a top-producing country when it comes to lithium, China has risen quickly to become not only the top lithium processor and refiner, but also a major miner of the commodity. In fact, China was the third largest lithium-producing country in 2024 in terms of mine production, behind Australia and Chile.

Chinese companies are mining in other countries as well, including top producer Australia, where a few are part of major lithium joint ventures. For example, Australia’s largest lithium mine, Greenbushes, is owned and operated by Talison Lithium, which is 51 percent controlled by Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia, a joint venture between China’s Tianqi Lithium (SZSE:002466,HKEX:9696) and Australia’s IGO (ASX:IGO,OTC Pink:IPDGF). The remaining 49 percent stake in Talison is owned by Albemarle (NYSE:ALB). Joint ventures can offer investors different ways to get exposure to mines and jurisdictions.

Mergers and acquisitions are common in the lithium space, with the biggest news in the industry recently being Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) acquisition of Arcadium Lithium for US$6.7 billion in March of this year. The acquisition transforms Rio Tinto into a global leader in lithium production with one of the world’s largest lithium resource bases.

As for Chile, the country’s lithium landscape is changing following the December 2024 announcement that, as a part of its National Lithium Strategy toward public-private partnerships, the government opened up the process of assigning special lithium operation contracts to a total of 12 priority areas.

All in all, lithium investors have a lot to keep an eye on as the space continues to shift. Read on for an overview of the current top lithium-producing firms by market cap. Data was current as of October 1, 2025.

Biggest lithium-mining stocks

1. Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO)

Market cap: US$112.17 billion
Share price: AU$122.58

Rio Tinto, a global powerhouse in the resource sector for decades, is mostly known for its iron and copper production. However, in recent years, the mining giant has been expanding its position in the world’s lithium market.

In March 2025, the company cemented its position as one of the biggest lithium-producing companies in the world with the US$6.7 billion all-cash acquisition of Arcadium Lithium, the lithium giant formed after the US$10.6 billion merger of lithium majors Allkem and Livent.

Rio Tinto is consolidating Arcadium’s assets with its own under a new unit called Rio Tinto Lithium, adding brine operations at Salar del Hombre Muerto and Olaroz in Argentina, as well as the Mount Cattlin hard-rock mine in Australia, which entered care and maintenance in March of this year. Arcadium also brings lithium hydroxide capacity in the US, Japan and China.

At the time, Rio Tinto said the acquisition will increase its lithium carbonate equivalent production capacity to over 200,000 metric tons (MT) annually by 2028.

The move follows Rio Tinto’s 2022 acquisition of Argentina’s Rincon project, where a 3,000 MT per year pilot battery-grade carbonate plant entered production in November 2024. Construction for the 60,000 MT expanded plant begins in Q4 2025, with first production expected in 2028.

In May 2025, Rio Tinto strengthened its South American lithium portfolio through a joint venture deal with Chile’s state miner Codelco to develop the high-grade Salar de Maricunga lithium project in Chile’s Atacama Region.

The deal gives Rio Tinto a 49.99 percent stake in exchange for up to US$900 million in staged investments, including US$350 million for studies and development, US$500 million toward construction, and an additional US$50 million if production begins by 2030.

In another deal focused on the Atacama Region, in July Rio Tinto penned a binding agreement with state-owned Empresa Nacional de Minería (ENAMI) to form a joint venture for the Salares Altoandinos lithium project. Under the deal, Rio Tinto will take a 51 percent stake and invest up to US$425 million in cash and technology contributions, including its direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology.

2. Ganfeng Lithium (OTC Pink:GNENF,SZSE:002460,HKEX:1772)

Market cap: US$14.79 billion
Share price: US$5.47

Founded in 2000 and listed in 2010, Ganfeng Lithium has operations across the entire electric vehicle battery supply chain. Even though it is relatively new compared to some companies on the list, Ganfeng has become one of the world’s largest producers of both lithium metals and lithium hydroxide. This is due to its strategy of investing heavily in overseas projects to secure long-term lithium resources, with its first such investment in 2014.

Ganfeng Lithium holds a global lithium portfolio including operations in Argentina, Australia, China, Mexico and Mali.

In Argentina, the company has a 51 percent stake in the Caucharí-Olaroz lithium brine operation with Lithium Argentina (TSX:LAR,NYSE:LAR). Additionally, Ganfeng brought its US$790 million Mariana project in Argentina into production in February of this year. The Mariana mine is situated on the Llullaillaco salt flat, and has the capacity to produce 20,000 MT of lithium chloride per year. The company also owns LitheA, which controls two lithium salt lakes in Argentina’s Salta province.

Ganfeng executed a 67/33 joint venture with Lithium Argentina in August 2025 that will consolidate Ganfeng’s Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes project with Lithium Argentina’s Pastos Grandes and Sal de la Puna projects. The merged operation, representing US$1.8 billion in existing investments, aims to produce up to 150,000 MT per year of lithium carbonate equivalent through a three phase development approach that will employ DLE and solar evaporation.

In Mali, Ganfeng operates the Goulamina lithium mine, which entered production in December 2024. Goulamina has a mine capacity of 506,000 MT of spodumene per year, and Ganfeng’s goal is to double that capacity to 1 million MT per year. The Malian government holds a 35 percent stake in Goulamina and Ganfeng holds the remaining 65 percent after purchasing joint venture partner Leo Lithium’s (ASX:LLL,OTC Pink:LLLAF) interest.

Ganfeng has a controlling interest in Mexico-focused Bacanora Lithium and its Sonora lithium project, as well as a 49 percent stake in a salt lake project in China owned by China Minmetals. It also holds a non-operating 50 percent interest in the Mount Marion mine in Western Australia through its 50/50 joint venture with Mineral Resources.

On the sales side, Ganfeng has supply deals with companies such as Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), BMW (OTC Pink:BMWYY,ETR:BMW), Korean battery maker LG Chem (KRX:051910), Volkswagen (OTC Pink:VLKAF,FWB:VOW) and Hyundai (KRX:005380).

3. SQM (NYSE:SQM)

Market cap: US$12.05 billion
Share price: US$44.20

SQM has five business areas, ranging from lithium to potassium to specialty plant nutrition. Its primary lithium operations are in Chile, where it is a longtime producer, and it is now also producing lithium in Australia.

In Chile, SQM sources brine from the Salar de Atacama; it then processes lithium chloride from the brine into lithium carbonate and hydroxide at its Salar del Carmen lithium plants located near Antofagasta.

Chile’s aforementioned National Lithium Strategy has created some uncertainty for SQM, but the government has stated that it will respect its current contracts, which run through 2030.

In May 2024, state-owned Codelco and SQM formed a joint venture in which Codelco will hold a 50 percent stake plus one share to give it majority control. As of 2031, the state will begin receiving 85 percent of the operating margin of the new production from SQM’s operations.

Outside South America, SQM operates the Mount Holland lithium mine and concentrator in Australia through Covalent Lithium, a 50/50 joint venture with Wesfarmers (ASX:WES,OTC Pink:WFAFF). In July 2025, Covalent Lithium produced its first battery-grade lithium hydroxide at its Kwinana refinery, and expects to reach nameplate capacity of 50,000 metric tons per year by the end of 2026.

SQM has a long-term supply deal with Hyundai (KRX:005380) and Kia (KRX:000270) to provide lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries from its future lithium hydroxide supply. SQM also has supply agreements with Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) and LG Energy (KRX:373220).

4. Tianqi Lithium (OTC Pink:TQLCF,SZSE:002466,HKEX:9696)

Market cap: US$10.8 billion
Share price: 47.57 Chinese yuan

Tianqi Lithium, a subsidiary of Chengdu Tianqi Industry Group, is the world’s largest hard-rock lithium producer. The company has assets in Australia, Chile and China. It holds a significant stake in SQM.

In Australia, Tianqi holds a 51 percent stake of the Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia joint venture with IGO. The joint venture has a 51 percent interest in the Greenbushes mine and wholly owns the Kwinana lithium hydroxide plant.

The world’s largest hard rock lithium mine, Greenbushes entered production in 1985 and now has spodumene concentrate production capacity of 1.5 million MT per year. The joint venture updated the total mineral resources at Greenbushes in February to 440 million MT at an average grade of 1.5 percent lithium oxide, and its total ore reserve estimate to 172 million MT grading 1.9 percent lithium oxide.

The Kwinana lithium hydroxide plant processes lithium spodumene feedstock from Greenbushes. The refinery has struggled to reach its nameplate capacity of 24,000 MT due to technical issues, high costs and more.

Construction work for the Phase 2 expansion at Kwinana, which would have doubled its capacity, was terminated in January 2025 due to the current low-price environment for lithium making it economically unviable.

As of late August, the partners are in discussions about a path forward for the refinery, and Tianqi signaled it is open to renegotiating partner IGO’s 49 percent stake.

Earlier in the year, Tianqi Lithium announced collaborations with a number of academic research institutions including the Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology of the University of Science and Technology Beijing on the research and development of next-generation solid-state battery materials and technology.

5. Albemarle (NYSE:ALB)

Market cap: US$10.5 billion
Share price: US$85.42

North Carolina-based Albemarle is dividing into two primary business units, one of which — the Albemarle Energy Storage unit — is focused wholly on the lithium-ion battery and energy transition markets. It includes the firm’s lithium carbonate, hydroxide and metal production.

Albemarle has a broad portfolio of lithium mines and facilities, with extraction in Chile, Australia and the US, as well as lithium carbonate and hydroxide facilities in China and Taiwan.

Looking first at Chile, Albemarle produces lithium carbonate at its La Negra lithium conversion plants, which process brine from the Salar de Atacama, the country’s largest salt flat. Albemarle is aiming to implement direct lithium extraction technology at the salt flat to reduce water usage.

Albemarle’s Australian assets includes the MARBL joint venture with Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN,OTC Pink:MALRF). The 50/50 JV owns and operates the Wodgina hard-rock lithium mine in Western Australia. Albemarle wholly owns the on-site Kemerton lithium hydroxide facility. The company’s other Australian joint venture is the aforementioned Greenbushes mine, in which it holds a 49 percent interest alongside Tianqi and IGO.

As for the US, Albemarle owns the Silver Peak lithium brine operations in Nevada’s Clayton Valley, which is currently the country’s only source of lithium production. In its home state of North Carolina, Albemarle is planning to bring its past-producing Kings Mountain lithium mine back online, subject to permitting approval and a final investment decision. The mine is expected to produce around 420,000 MT of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate annually.

Albemarle has received US$150 million in funding from the US government to support the building of a commercial-scale lithium concentrator facility on site. The US Department of Defense has given the company a US$90 million critical materials award to boost its domestic lithium production and support the country’s burgeoning EV battery supply chain.

6. PLS (ASX:PLS,OTC Pink:PILBF)

Market cap: US$5.36 billion
Share price: AU$2.36

PLS, formerly named Pilbara Minerals, operates its 100 percent owned Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum asset in Western Australia. The operation entered commercial production in 2019 and consists of two processing plants: the Pilgan plant, located on the northern side of the Pilgangoora area, which produces a spodumene concentrate and a tantalite concentrate; and the Ngungaju plant, located to the south, which produces a spodumene concentrate.

PLS has recently completed a few critical expansion projects at Pilgangoora. Its P680 expansion, for a primary rejection facility and a crushing and ore-sorting facility, was completed in August 2024. The P1000 expansion, targeting a spodumene production increase at the site to 1 million MT per year, was completed in January 2025 ahead of schedule and within budget. The company says the ramp-up to full capacity is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.

PLS and its joint venture partner Calix are developing a midstream demonstration plant at Pilgangoora using Calix’s electric kiln technology to reduce the carbon footprint of spodumene processing, decreasing transport volumes and improving value-add processing at the mine. After garnering a AU$15 million grant from the Western Australian Government, construction of the project is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The company made a move to expand its footprint in Brazil in August 2024 with the acquisition of Latin Resources (ASX:LRS,OTC Pink:LRSRF) and its Salinas lithium project. The project’s resource estimate, which covers the Colina and Fog’s Block deposits, stands at 77.7 million MT at 1.24 percent lithium oxide. The AU$560 million deal was approved by the Western Australia Government in January 2025.

PLS and joint venture partner POSCO (NYSE:PKX) launched South Korea’s first lithium hydroxide processing plant in late 2024, which will be supplied with spodumene from Pilgangoora. PLS also has offtake agreements with companies such as Ganfeng, Chengxin Lithium Group and Yibin Tianyi Lithium Industry.

In May 2025, PLS powered up a new lithium battery energy storage system at its Pilgangoora operation, completing Stage 1 of its power strategy. The system is designed to boost power stability and reliability while reducing intensity of emissions related to power at the site.

7. Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN,OTC Pink:MALRF)

Market cap: US$5.33 billion
Share price: AU$39.58

Australia-based Mineral Resources (MinRes) is a commodities company that mines lithium and iron ore in the country.

Two of MinRes’ lithium mines are joint ventures with other companies on this list. MinRes’s Wodgina mine in Western Australia is operated by the 50/50 MARBL joint venture with Albemarle. MinRes also owns 50 percent of the Mount Marion lithium operation through a joint venture with Ganfeng Lithium.

Production of lithium concentrate began at Mount Marion in 2017, and all mining is managed by MinRes, which also has a 51 percent share of the output from the spodumene concentrator at the site. MinRes completed the expansion of Mount Marion’s spodumene processing plant in 2023. Currently, the plant has an annual production capacity of 600,000 MT spodumene concentrate equivalent.

In August 2024, in light of lithium’s low price environment, MinRes decided to lower production at Mount Marion and Wodgina for the fiscal 2025 year, focusing on improving performance and reducing stripping ratios. Production at Mount Marion ultimately decreased by 21 percent to 514,000 dry MT of spodumene concentrate in its FY2025. On the other hand, it increased by 18 percent to 502,000 dry MT at Wodgina.

MinRes acquired the Bald Hill lithium mine, which is also located in Western Australia, in 2023. The company released an updated mineral resource estimate in November 2024 of 58.1 MT at 0.94 percent lithium oxide, up 168 percent from the prior June 2018 estimate.

In the same news release, MinRes announced that it would have to place the mine on care and maintenance until global lithium prices improve. The final shipment of Bald Hill spodumene concentrate was made in December 2024.

More large lithium mining companies to watch

Aside from the world’s top lithium producers profiled above, a number of other large lithium companies are producing this key electric vehicle raw material, including:

    FAQs for investing in lithium

    Is lithium a metal?

    Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal used in pharmaceuticals, ceramics, grease, lubricants and heat-resistant glass. It’s also used in lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from cell phones to laptops to electric vehicles.

    How much lithium is there on Earth?

    Lithium is the 33rd most abundant element in nature. According to the US Geological Survey, due to continuing exploration, identified lithium resources have increased to about 115 million metric tons worldwide. Global lithium reserves stand at 30 million MT, with production reaching 240,000 MT in 2024.

    How is lithium produced?

    Lithium is found in hard-rock deposits, evaporated brines and clay deposits. The largest hard-rock mine is Greenbushes in Australia, and most lithium brine output comes from salars in Chile and Argentina.

    There are various types of lithium products, and many different applications for the mineral. After lithium is extracted from a deposit, it is often processed into lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide or lithium metal. Battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide can be used to make cathode material for lithium-ion batteries.

    What country produces the most lithium?

    The latest data from the US Geological Survey shows that the world’s top lithium-producing countries are Australia, Chile and China, with production reaching 88,000 metric tons, 49,000 metric tons and 41,000 metric tons, respectively.

    Global lithium production reached 240,000 metric tons of lithium in 2024, up from 204,000 MT in 2023, according to the US Geological Survey. About 87 percent of the lithium produced currently goes toward battery production, but other industries also consume the metal. For example, 5 percent is used in ceramics and glass, while 2 percent goes to lubricating greases.

    Who is the largest miner of lithium?

    The world’s largest lithium-producing mine is Talison Lithium and Albemarle’s Greenbushes hard-rock mine in Australia, which produced 1.38 million metric tons of spodumene concentrate in its fiscal year 2024. The top-producing lithium brine operation was SQM’s Salar de Atacama operations in Chile, with 2024 production of 201,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent.

    Who are the top lithium consumers?

    The top lithium-importing country is China by a long shot, and second place South Korea is another significant importer. China is also the top country for lithium processing, and both are home to many companies producing lithium-ion batteries.

    Why is lithium so hard to mine?

    The different types of lithium deposits come with their own challenges.

    For example, mining pegmatite lithium from hard-rock ore is known for being expensive, while extracting lithium from brines requires vast amounts of water and processing times that can sometimes be as long as 12 months. Lithium mining also comes with the difficulties associated with mining other minerals, such as long exploration and permitting periods.

    What are the negative effects of lithium?

    Both major forms of lithium mining can have negative effects on the environment. When it comes to hard-rock lithium mining, there have been incidents of chemicals leaking into the water supply and damaging the local ecosystems; in addition, these operations tend to have a large environmental footprint.

    As mentioned, lithium brine extraction requires a lot of water for the evaporation process, but it’s hard to understand the scope without numbers. It’s estimated that approximately 2.2 million liters of water are required to produce 1 metric ton of lithium, and that can sometimes mean diverting water from communities that are experiencing drought conditions. This form of lithium extraction also affects the condition of the soil and air.

    Will lithium run out?

    Although future demand for lithium is expected to keep rising due to its role in green energy, the metal shouldn’t run out any time soon, as companies are continuing to discover new lithium reserves and are developing more advanced extraction technologies. Additionally, there are companies working on technology to recycle battery metals, which will eventually allow lithium from lithium-ion batteries to re-enter the supply chain.

    What technology will replace lithium?

    Researchers have been working on developing and testing a variety of lithium alternatives for batteries. Some of these options include hydrogen batteries, liquid batteries that could be pumped into vehicles, batteries that replace lithium with sodium or magnesium and even batteries powered by sea water. While nothing looks ready to replace lithium-ion batteries right now, there is potential for more efficient or more environmentally friendly options to grow in popularity in the future.

    How to buy a lithium stock?

    Investors are starting to pay attention to the green energy transition and the raw materials that will enable it.

    When it comes to choosing a stock to invest in, understanding lithium supply and demand dynamics is key, as there are unique factors to watch for in lithium stocks. The main demand driver for lithium is what happens in the electric vehicle industry, which is expected to keep growing, and also the energy storage space. Analysts remain optimistic about the future of lithium, with many predicting the market will be tight for some time.

    Investors interested in lithium stocks could consider companies listed on US, Canadian and Australian stock exchanges. They can also check out our guide on what to look for in lithium stocks today.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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    Gold Price Update: Q3 2025 in Review

    The gold price continued to rise in Q3, breaking through key milestones to set new all-time highs.

    Much like the first half of the year, the yellow metal was supported by ongoing factors like central bank buying, geopolitical tensions and uncertainty caused by US trade and tariff policies.

    And it wasn’t just the price of gold that soared — higher margins and a more positive outlook for the sector helped drive increases in gold stocks. Read on for a look at gold’s Q3 activity and the outlook for Q4.

    What happened to the gold price in Q3?

    Gold has gained nearly US$1,400 since starting the year at US$2,658 per ounce on January 2.

    By the beginning of Q3, gold had climbed to US$3,338.86, and it remained rangebound at that level for most of July and August. However, it climbed above the US$3,400 mark on July 22 and then again on August 6.

    Gold price, July 9 to October 10, 2025.

    The price started to gain traction at the end of August, after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled a change in policy during his remarks at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium. By September 2, the gold price had broken through US$3,500 for the first time, and by September 8 it had climbed above US$3,600.

    As the month wore on, gold continued its unprecedented climb. It broke through US$3,700 on September 22, US$3,800 on September 29 and reached its quarterly high of US$3,858.41 on September 30.

    The price continued on its upward trajectory as the fourth quarter began, rising above US$3,900 on October 6, and finally setting a new record high of US$4,040.42 on October 8.

    What’s driving gold demand?

    Although there was a dip in central bank gold purchases in July, with just 10 metric tons added to reserves, the World Gold Council (WGC) reported that the buying trend that has developed over the past few years remains firm.

    In August, central banks once again increased their gold acquisitions, purchasing a total of 19 metric tons. Overall, central banks bought 415 metric tons of gold in H1, bringing the 2025 total to 444 metric tons as of the end of August.

    Although it appeared to pause its gold buying in August, the National Bank of Poland has been the top purchaser of gold in 2025, adding 67 metric tons. It has vowed to have 20 to 30 percent of its international reserves in gold.

    The WGC notes that seven central banks boosted their reserves in August. Kazakhstan was the leading buyer, adding 8 metric tons to its holdings and bringing its year-to-date increase to 32 metric tons. Turkey, Bulgaria, China, Uzbekistan, Ghana, Indonesia and the Czech Republic each added 2 metric tons. Russia was the only seller in August, divesting itself of 3 metric tons of gold; the WGC suggests its reduction was owed to its coin-minting program.

    It wasn’t just central banks buying gold. Western investors helped drive record exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows of US$26 billion for the third quarter, with North American markets accounting for US$16.1 billion.

    Total assets under management surged to US$472 billion, a 23 percent increase over the second quarter, with holdings rising to 3,838 metric tons, just shy of the 3,929 metric tons recorded in November 2020.

    Why are investors interested in gold?

    Mind Money CEO Julia Khandoshko suggested that geopolitics is a driving force behind gold’s record-breaking run, noting that tensions are high as the world becomes increasingly divided into “risk” and “stability” zones.

    While geopolitics may be a primary factor, it’s far from the only one.

    The third quarter saw declining yield curves, a weakening US dollar and a 25 basis point interest rate cut from the Fed in September, all of which added tailwinds to the gold price. Looking forward, the expectation is that the Fed will make further rate cuts before the end of the year, which could further fuel a rising gold price.

    ‘The history of the last hundred years shows that gold grows confidently at low rates. Combine this with stubborn inflation, and we can say with confidence that it will create more space for gold’s price rise,” Khandoshko stated.

    Additionally, there is an expectation that a weaker US dollar will help to keep the price of gold elevated. So far this year, the US Dollar Index has declined 8 percent.

    “The US dollar is a critical component to what happens to gold, because gold is denominated in US dollars, so the weaker the US dollar, the stronger the commodity price. What we’re expecting to see over the next 12 to 24 months is continued devaluation of the US dollar, which means gold should continue to be stronger going forward,” he said.

    Among the recent drags on the dollar is fear of a prolonged shutdown of the US federal government after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to continue funding government agencies and employees.

    In the aftermath of the shutdown, the US Dollar Index posted its worst week since July. In an October 3 Reuters article, Thierry Wizman, monetary strategist with Macquarie, suggests that a prolonged shutdown could have a significant impact on trust in the federal government and further impact the strength of the greenback.

    Gold price forecast for 2025

    Hodaly sees the factors behind gold’s price rise remaining in place for the foreseeable future.

    “We are expecting this could go much higher, at least 10 to 20 percent higher in the near term,’ he said.

    ‘Nothing has changed with the demand outlook for gold and the projected weakness of the US dollar, and that’s what’s going to drive the commodity price higher,’ added the executive.

    Gold equities are also expected to benefit as the rising price boosts their margins and share prices.

    Leading producers such as Agnico Eagle Mines (TSX:AEM,NYSE:AEM), Newmont (NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) and Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) have seen their share prices rise by over 100 percent in 2025.

    The junior space has also been impacted, with PPX Mining (TSXV:PPX,OTC Pink:SNNGF) posting a year-to-date gain of 642 percent as of October 1, and San Lorenzo Gold (TSXV:SLG,OTC Pink:SNLGF) increasing 629 percent.

    With gold now trading above US$4,000, the sector could attract renewed interest and offer new opportunities for investors. Those seeking to include gold or gold stocks in their portfolios might consider options ranging from the relative safety of ETFs and established producers to riskier assets at the development or exploration stages.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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    Questcorp and Riverside Update Substantial Drilling Progress at the LA Union Gold and Silver Project with Seven Holes Completed at Four Targets

    Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ,OTC:QQCMF) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Questcorp’) is pleased to further update investors on its maiden drilling program at the La Union gold and silver project in Sonora, Mexico, which continues on track and on budget. The program is now two-thirds complete with initial and second holes now completed at four of the five main targets. This update follows the company’s Aug. 6, 2025, announcement marking the start of the program and Aug. 19, Sept. 10 and Sept. 24 news releases chronicling the progress of the program.

    Saf Dhillon, President and Chief Executive Officer, states: ‘The drilling had started of a little slower and then was paused for unusually heavy rains. The initial plan was to drill 4 to 6 holes but, the Riverside team and their subcontracted drillers have been making substantial progress and we’re now at 7 completed holes with plans for another 2 to 5. In total, four of the five target zones have been drill tested with at least one hole.’

    Two holes have now probed the Union mine target beneath historic workings, cutting through the Clemente and Caborca formations – both key host units for past mining at Union, encountering the distinctive microconglomeratic carbonate unit that historically hosted mineralization at the bottom of the Union mine.

    Two holes have been completed at Famosa, testing the dip and strike extension of the mineralization in the historic workings as well as the foot wall and hanging wall of a steeply west-dipping major structural feature. Riverside select grab sampling from the Famosa dump retuned gold grade highlights of 59.4 g/t gold along with 833 g/t silver.

    Two holes tested the North Union target and one tested the El Cobre target again probing beneath the historic workings for chimney and manto mineralization.

    Additional holes are planned for all four of these targets, with one hole also planned for the El Creston Target.

    Figure 1. Drill progress to 2025-Oct-09. Geologic map with the tenure of the Union internal concession shown in pink. Manto and chimney type CRD targets are shown as red polygons. Riverside now controls all mineral tenures on this map. 

    To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
    https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10197/270509_719d25609410fb43_001full.jpg

    Questcorp cautions investors grab sample by their very nature are select samples and may not be indicative of mineralization on the property.

    Initial drilling is also planned for newly generated targets to the west of the known mineralization trend. The target is feeder zones along pre-mineral fault structures.

    Once this initial campaign is completed, follow-up work will integrate assay results, ongoing surface programs, additional induced polarization (IP) surveys, and refined geological interpretations based on stratigraphy and structure observed in drilling.

    Figure 2. Cross section looking west with conceptual drill targets and schematic drillhole traces. Assays from Riverside’s sampling of rock dump materials from the two mine areas are labeled in black. Red areas are interpreted as manto and chimney target bodies that are now well defined and drill ready. Assays shown on figures 1 and 2 have been previously released and disclosed as summarized below the geochemical QA/QC and in published NI 43-101 Report that Questcorp published 2025 on Sedar+. 

    To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
    https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10197/270509_719d25609410fb43_002full.jpg

    Qualified Person & QA/QC:

    The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry’, P.Geo (BC) a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

    Rock samples from previous exploration programs discussed above at the Project were taken to the Bureau Veritas Laboratories in Hermosillo, Mexico for fire assaying for gold. The rejects remained with Bureau Veritas in Mexico while the pulps were transported to Bureau Veritas laboratory in Vancouver, BC, Canada for 45 element ICP/ES-MS analysis using 4-acid digestion methods. A QA/QC program was implemented as part of the sampling procedures for the exploration program. Standards were randomly inserted into the sample stream prior to being sent to the laboratory.

    About Questcorp Mining Inc.

    Questcorp Mining is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in North America, with the objective of locating and developing economic precious and base metals properties of merit. The company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100-per-cent interest in and to mineral claims totalling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island copper property, on Vancouver Island, B.C., subject to a royalty obligation. The company also holds an option to acquire an undivided 100-per-cent interest in and to mineral claims totalling 2,520.2 hectares comprising the La Union project located in Sonora, Mexico, subject to a royalty obligation.

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

    Saf Dhillon
    President & CEO

    Questcorp Mining Inc.
    saf@questcorpmining.ca
    Tel. (604-484-3031)

    Suite 550, 800 West Pender Street
    Vancouver, British Columbia
    V6C 2V6.

    Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding completion of survey work at the North Island Copper project. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

    To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/270509

    News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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    LendingTree founder and CEO Doug Lebda dies in ATV accident

    LendingTree CEO and founder Doug Lebda died in an all-terrain vehicle accident over the weekend, the online loaning platform said Monday.

    In a company announcement, LendingTree confirmed that Lebda unexpectedly died on Sunday and that its leadership “deeply mourns his passing” while extending condolences to the executive’s loved ones.

    “Doug was a visionary leader whose relentless drive, innovation and passion transformed the financial services landscape, touching the lives of millions of consumers,” LendingTree’s board of directors said in a statement. “His passion will continue to inspire us as we move forward together.”

    Scott Peyree, LendingTree’s chief operating officer and president, has now been appointed CEO effective immediately. And lead independent director Steve Ozonian will also step into Lebda’s role as chairman of the board, the company said.

    Shares of Charlotte, North Carolina-based LendingTree fell more than 2% by early afternoon trading on Monday.

    Lebda founded LendingTree in 1996 — to “simplify the loan shopping process” after experiencing his own frustrations when getting his first mortgage, LendingTree’s website notes. The platform launched nationally in 1998 and became a public company in 2000. It was later acquired by internet conglomerate IAC/InterActiveCorp, before spinning off on its own again in 2008.

    Today, LendingTree’s central online loaning marketplace helps users find and compare loans for mortgages, credit cards, insurance needs and more. LendingTree, Inc. also owns brands across the financial sector — including CompareCards and Value Penguin.

    In addition to his multiple-decade career at LendingTree, Lebda also co-founded a financial services platform for children and families called Tykoon in 2010. He previously worked as an auditor and consultant for PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

    “All of my ideas come from my own experiences and problems,” Lebda told The Wall Street Journal in a 2012 interview.

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    EXCLUSIVE: New GOP report accuses Democrats of trying to ‘undermine’ healthcare in government shutdown fight

    The House GOP is releasing a report accusing Democrats of trying to undermine U.S. healthcare as the standoff over federal funding escalates.

    The government shutdown is in its 14th day with Republicans and Democrats still unable to agree on a path forward for at least part of fiscal year (FY) 2026.

    Republicans are pushing a relatively straightforward extension of FY2025 funding through Nov. 21, but Democrats have said they will not agree to any federal funding bill that is not paired with significant reforms on healthcare.

    The new report led by the House GOP, however, accuses Democrats of trying to undermine the system with their counter-proposal for a federal funding bill — specifically its suggested rollback of healthcare measures in Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

    The report said the bill, which was rebranded as the ‘Working Families Tax Cuts’ (WFTC), ‘advanced a vision of Medicaid that balances compassion with accountability, prioritizing care for the most vulnerable Americans while ensuring that federal resources are used responsibly.’

    ‘The legislation’s reforms to rural hospital funding, Medicaid financing practices, and federal reimbursements for non-citizen medical care collectively strengthen the long-term sustainability of the program,’ it said.

    ‘By contrast, the Democratic Continuing Resolution would dismantle these reforms, reversing progress toward a more efficient, transparent, and equitable Medicaid system. Such a repeal would undermine rural healthcare stability, reintroduce opportunities for funding misuse, and impose unnecessary costs on American taxpayers.’

    A continuing resolution (CR) is meant to be a short-term extension of current federal funding levels aimed at giving negotiators more time to strike a deal for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

    Republicans’ CR would extend FY2025 funding levels through Nov. 21, while Democrats’ counter-proposal would run through Oct. 31.

    In addition to the OBBBA repeal being pushed in Democrats’ CR, they are also calling for any deal to also extend Obamacare subsidies that were enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic and which are set to expire at the end of this year.

    Republicans have painted Democrats’ counter-proposal as a means to return healthcare to illegal immigrants after the OBBBA tightened certain measures that made it harder for non-citizens to access federal Medicaid dollars.

    Democratic leaders have accused the GOP of lying about the situation.

    But the GOP has also pointed out that repealing all of their healthcare reforms would also mean repealing $50 billion their bill adds to fund rural hospitals.

    ‘This targeted investment supports states in stabilizing critical healthcare infrastructure and ensures that rural Americans, often located far from major medical centers, can continue to access essential services,’ the report said.

    The five-page memo appears to be a rebuttal to Democrats’ defense in the shutdown fight that they are fighting to preserve Americans’ healthcare access.

    The GOP’s CR passed the House on Sept. 19 but has been stalled in the Senate, where at least five Democrats are needed under the current tally to reach a 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster.

    Senate Democrats rejected the GOP CR seven times, however. The chamber is expected to vote on it again Tuesday evening.

    Fox News Digital reached out to the office of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., for a response to the GOP report but did not immediately hear back.

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    Jordan asks Jack Smith to testify over ‘partisan and politically motivated’ Trump prosecutions

    House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, asked former special counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday to sit for an interview about what he said were Smith’s ‘partisan and politically motivated’ prosecutions of President Donald Trump.

    Jordan told Smith in a letter first obtained by Fox News Digital to schedule the closed-door testimony with his committee by Oct. 28. The move comes at the same time congressional Republicans have been raising alarm over the recent revelation that Smith subpoenaed phone records of sitting senators.

    ‘As the Committee continues its oversight, your testimony is necessary to understand the full extent to which the Biden-Harris Justice Department weaponized federal law enforcement,’ Jordan wrote.

    Jordan’s request comes amid Republicans intensifying their focus on Smith, who brought criminal charges against Trump over the 2020 election and classified documents but later dropped them because of a Justice Department policy that advises against prosecuting sitting presidents.

    The request to appear for an interview marks the first instance of Congress summoning Smith after the former special counsel spent more than two years investigating and prosecuting Trump. The president has repeatedly referred to Smith as ‘deranged,’ a ‘thug’ and a ‘sleazebag’ and said Smith is a ‘criminal’ who should be arrested.

    Jordan also made a broad request for all records from Smith on his work related to Trump. If Smith were to resist the requests for an interview and documents, Jordan could subpoena him. Fox News Digital reached out to Smith’s lawyers for comment.

    The Senate is also ramping up its scrutiny of Smith. Last week, 18 Senate Republicans, led by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, demanded that the DOJ and FBI release documents on Smith’s decision to subpoena phone companies for toll records of eight Senate Republicans, material that could be protected by grand jury rules.

    The senators said they had ‘serious constitutional concerns’ about the subpoenas and that the DOJ should ask courts to unseal the records if needed. Seeking toll records is a routine part of an investigation and sheds light on when calls were placed and to whom. They do not provide any details about the contents of phone calls or messages.

    Jordan called the subpoenas and his recent discovery that the FBI monitored Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., before seizing his phone ‘abusive surveillance.’

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    Comey seeks to toss criminal case calling Trump prosecutor ‘unlawful’ appointee

    Lawyers for James Comey told a federal judge in Alexandria on Tuesday that they plan to file a motion early next week to formally dismiss his criminal case, citing what they argued is President Donald Trump’s ‘unlawful’ appointment of former White House aide Lindsey Halligan as acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia shortly before Comey’s indictment.

    The filing is part of a broader effort by Comey’s legal team to have the criminal case tossed. His lawyers told the judge overseeing the case last week they planned a separate motion to dismiss the case on grounds of vindictive prosecution.

    Tuesday’s filing is not a formal motion but a notice to the court that they plan to challenge Halligan’s appointment as acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District. Doing so will require an ‘out-of-district judge’ to hear the motion, as they noted in the filing.

    The move is part of a broader salvo from Comey’s legal team to have his criminal case tossed, amid what they say is a politically motivated effort pursued by a lawyer with no prosecutorial experience, who formerly worked as Trump’s personal lawyer and White House aide.

    Trump in September announced he would install Halligan as the top prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia, replacing interim attorney Erik Siebert who resigned under pressure to indict both Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

    Comey’s lawyers previously suggested that Halligan’s appointment, three days before his indictment, could strengthen their motion to dismiss.

    ‘We think that’s an unlawful appointment,’ Comey’s lawyers said. 

    Comey’s criminal case has emerged as a political lighting rod, punctuating years of public broadsides and quietly simmering tensions between Trump and his onetime FBI director, whom he fired in 2017, less than halfway through Comey’s ten-year tenure as FBI director.

    Comey used his memoir, ‘A Higher Loyalty,’ and subsequent public appearances to take umbrage against Trump and publicly criticize the actions he took during his first term. Trump has continued to assail Comey and scrutinize his tenure at the FBI, including by reportedly pressing for the investigation and empaneling of a grand jury. 

    Halligan ultimately secured the indictment from a grand jury in Alexandria just days before the statute of limitations ran out in bringing the case.

    Halligan, a former insurance attorney in Florida, has said that the charges against Comey ‘represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust.’  

    ‘No one is above the law,’ she told reporters last month.

    While the indictment drew praise from some Trump officials and allies, it also prompted criticism from others, who said the case shows the lengths Trump is willing to go to punish perceived political foes.

    The notice from Comey’s lawyers was not the only significant development in his case this week.

    Hours earlier, the federal judge assigned to his case, Judge Michael Nachmanoff, rejected the Justice Department’s request to limit Comey’s access to ‘protected’ discovery materials being used by prosecutors in the criminal case. 

    Nachmanoff said in an order that the government is obligated to share with Comey and his lawyers the discovery materials in the case, including those designated as ‘protected.’

    Blocking Comey’s access to these materials would ‘unnecessarily hinder and delay’ his ability to prepare for his criminal case, he said.

    ‘Protective orders addressing the confidentiality and privacy interests of others should not override a defendant’s right to a fair trial,’ Nachmanoff added.

    Further, he said, the government’s proposed order ‘does not sufficiently define the information constituting ‘Protected Material,’ thereby making it overbroad.’

    The order resolves, for now, one of several public skirmishes that have emerged in the days since Comey was indicted last month in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia, on one count of allegedly making a false statement to Congress during a Senate hearing in 2020, and one count of obstruction connected to the same event.

    At issue most recently was whether Comey, the former FBI director who was fired by Trump during his first White House term in 2017, should be granted access to certain discovery materials in his criminal case. 

    Halligan asked the judge to restrict his access to discovery materials, citing their sensitive nature and concern about them remaining in the hands of defendants.

    She argued the action has long precedent in the Eastern District of Virginia — the Alexandria-based federal court where many national security and intelligence cases are tried — calling it a ‘common practice.’

    Comey’s lawyers filed their objection almost immediately. 

    They argued that Comey is a Virginia-licensed attorney who himself is ‘admitted to practice law in the Eastern District of Virginia,’ and who has already ‘been entrusted with some of the most sensitive and highly guarded information in the country,’  including during the Bush administration, when he served as the Deputy Attorney General  and as FBI director — a role he held for nearly four years before Trump fired him in his first White House term.

    ‘To assert now, that he cannot be trusted with receiving discovery in his case controverts his long career of distinguished government service at the highest levels,’ his lawyers said. 

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