By Giles Gwinnett 

September 19, 2021 - American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC) said it had hired mining industry expert Rodney Campbell to help it advance its rare earth extraction aims. 

Campbell, who has worked for the company for several years and recently started his own consultancy Advanced Minerals, will focus on refining and advancing the sampling, handling and analysis of rare earth element (REE) feedstocks from the company's acid mine drainage (AMD) and coal processing waste streams in conjunction with the firm's sponsored research partnership with Penn State University. 

In August this year, American Resources said it had secured a 6.9-acre site to build its first commercial-scale rare REE purification and isolation facility in Noblesville, Indiana. 

"This is a very exciting time to be assisting American Resources as they continue to drive innovation in their industry and meet the demands of the evolving infrastructure market. Their rare earth element division, American Rare Earth, is bringing real and viable solutions to address the supply chain and environmental challenges that we are facing," said Campbell in a statement.

Mark Jensen, CEO of American Resources, added: "Our 'Capture' technology will allow us to use solution-based innovation to offset current costs by collecting the rare earth metals as we process carbon and treat existing coal waste streams.

"When combined with the balance of our process chain, "Process" and "Purify", we bring a practical and comprehensive approach in creating a sustainable, domestic supply chain of these increasingly important raw materials able to be made commercial when combine with "Byproduct Economics". The engagement of Rodney, with his industry-leading expertise, will allow us to advance our Capture process more effectively."

Campbell brings over 40 years of mineral analysis experience, including regional leadership roles at SGS and Mineral Labs Inc.

The company aims to scale the Noblesville, Indiana facility into an 80,000 square foot facility for purifying and isolating rare earth and critical elements utilizing ligand assisted displacement (LAD) chromatography technology.