As of Oct 13, 2026. This tracker follows new mines and major expansions in the United States, with a focus on critical minerals. Every project names its sources. Production dates set by companies are labeled as targets, not facts.
32
Projects tracked
In 17 states
6
Under construction
Plus 2 newly producing
7
Copper projects
Most-tracked commodity
$2.38B
Federal loans confirmed
DOE (Thacker Pass) and Defense Department (Mountain Pass)
Current status
Lithium Americas says Thacker Pass in Nevada is the only industrial-scale lithium project in major construction in the United States, and it is targeting mechanical completion in late 2027. In Arizona, South32’s Hermosa won its final Forest Service approval in July, and the Ninth Circuit left the Resolution Copper land exchange in place on Sept. 29. Since an executive order in 2025 on raising American mineral production, the Permitting Council has added dozens of mining projects to its FAST-41 dashboard. Even so, most projects on this list are still being permitted or explored, not built.
Map of projects
Producing (new)Under constructionApprovedIn permittingAdvanced exploration
Projects by commodity, stage and state
By main commodity
By stage
By state
Project database
| Project | State | Minerals | Stage | Key dates and targets | Federal support | Details and sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thacker Pass (Phase 1) Lithium Americas / General Motors JV | NV | Lithium | Under construction | BLM Record of Decision Jan 2021; construction began Mar 2023; final investment decision Apr 2025. Company target: mechanical completion late 2027, ramp-up through 2028 | DOE loan, $2.23B ($1.209B advanced by Jun 3, 2026); DOE holds warrants for 5% stakes | Designed for 40,000 tonnes a year of battery-quality lithium carbonate; about 1,600 workers on site by mid-2026. Cost estimate: $2.93B (company estimate). Lithium Americas Q2 2026 results; Lithium Americas: Thacker Pass overview |
| Stibnite Gold Project Perpetua Resources | ID | Antimony, gold | Under construction | Final federal approvals 2025; early works and critical-path construction under way in 2026. No production date confirmed in sources reviewed | None confirmed | Holds the only identified antimony reserve in the US, per the company. Access road, worker housing and power line work under way; a legal appeal is pending. Perpetua Resources construction update; Perpetua Resources construction update (earlier) |
| Hermosa South32 | AZ | Zinc, silver, manganese | Under construction | First mine in FAST-41; Forest Service Record of Decision Jul 7, 2026. Company target: underground zinc mining late 2027, first zinc product first half of 2028 | None confirmed | Construction about half complete on private land; the federal decision covers roads, tailings and power on national forest land. Forest Service says it is the only advanced US project shown to make battery-grade manganese. US Forest Service: Hermosa approval; South32 Hermosa: FAST-41 permitting complete |
| Elk Creek NioCorp Developments | NE | Niobium, scandium, titanium, rare earths | Under construction | Mine portal construction began Feb 2026; updated feasibility study Aug 10, 2026. 40-year mine life (company study); start date depends on financing | EXIM debt application under review (not yet approved) | Major construction permits secured, per the company. EXIM leaders and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are scheduled to tour the site on Oct 14. Cost estimate: $1.85B (company study). NioCorp 2026 feasibility study; Metal Tech News, Oct 2026 |
| Velvet-Wood Anfield Energy | UT | Uranium, vanadium | Under construction | Fast-tracked federal approval 2025; surface work complete, underground rehabilitation under way. Company target: production by end of 2026 | None confirmed | Phase 2 dewatering and ore-pad work in progress, per the company's SEC filing. Anfield Energy filing (SEC) |
| Mountain Pass heavy rare earth expansion MP Materials | CA | Rare earths (Dy, Tb) | Under construction | Defense Department partnership Jul 2025; first heavy rare earth circuit mechanically complete May 2026. Company target: terbium and dysprosium output later in 2026; samarium 2028 | Defense Department loan, $150M, for heavy rare earth separation (plus equity deal) | Expansion at the only operating US rare earth mine; commissioning under way. MP Materials: Defense Department partnership; MP Materials Q2 2026 10-Q |
| Lost Sheep fluorspar Ares Strategic Mining | UT | Fluorspar | Producing (new) | BLM mine plan renewed Dec 2016; lumps plant opened Oct 9, 2026. Acidspar flotation plant under construction | None confirmed | New plant in Delta, Utah, processes ore from the permitted Lost Sheep mine. Ares Strategic Mining, Oct 13, 2026 |
| Stibnite Hill antimony United States Antimony Corp. | MT | Antimony | Producing (new) | Smelter expansion to 400 tons a month (2026); surface mining begun. Company plan: reopen the underground mine | None confirmed | Montana smelter expanding amid federal push for domestic antimony. Montana Public Radio, Apr 6, 2026 |
| Resolution Copper Rio Tinto / BHP | AZ | Copper | Approved | Land exchange and Record of Decision Mar 16, 2026; Ninth Circuit denied rehearing Sep 29, 2026. No decision to start mining yet; about $500M for enabling work over two years (company) | None confirmed | One of the world's largest known copper deposits, per the Justice Department. State permits still needed. US Justice Department, Oct 1, 2026; Resolution Copper: current status |
| Rhyolite Ridge ioneer | NV | Lithium, boron | Approved | BLM Record of Decision Oct 24, 2024; court upheld approval Mar 27, 2026 (appeal filed Apr 9). Final investment decision not yet set; about 36 months of construction after that (company) | None confirmed | Approved lithium-boron mine; ioneer still seeking a strategic partner. Federal Register: Rhyolite Ridge Record of Decision; US Interior Department: Rhyolite Ridge approval; ioneer June 2026 quarterly report (SEC) |
| Silver Peak expansion Albemarle | NV | Lithium | Approved | Federal permitting completed Feb 27, 2026 (FAST-41). | None confirmed | Expansion of the only producing US lithium brine operation. Permitting Council: Silver Peak completes permitting |
| Dewey-Burdock enCore Energy | SD | Uranium (in-situ recovery) | Approved | Federal permitting completed Jun 30, 2026 (FAST-41). | None confirmed | In-situ recovery uranium project in western South Dakota. Permitting Council: Dewey-Burdock completes permitting |
| Grassy Mountain Paramount Gold Nevada | OR | Gold, silver | Approved | BLM Record of Decision Jan 29, 2026. | None confirmed | Underground gold mine in Malheur County. The dashboard still lists some permits in progress. Paramount Gold Nevada, Jan 29, 2026; Permitting Dashboard: Grassy Mountain |
| Copper World Hudbay Minerals | AZ | Copper, molybdenum, silver | Approved | State permits in place; final investment decision expected in coming weeks (Oct 2026 report). Reported target: construction finished Q3 2029, production 2030 | None confirmed | Mostly on private land, so no federal mine approval is needed. Hudbay Copper World coverage, Oct 1, 2026 |
| Antler Copper New World Resources | AZ | Copper, zinc | In permitting | FAST-41 transparency project. | None confirmed | Proposed underground copper mine with paste backfill. Permitting Council: current transparency projects; Federal Permitting Dashboard: FAST-41 transparency projects |
| Angel Island Not listed in sources | NV | Lithium | In permitting | FAST-41 transparency project. | None confirmed | Lithium project in Clayton Valley, Esmeralda County. Permitting Council: current transparency projects |
| Liberty Owl Not listed in sources | LA | Lithium (brine) | In permitting | FAST-41 transparency project. | None confirmed | Planned brine lithium extraction and refining near Marion, Louisiana. Permitting Council: current transparency projects |
| DeLamar Integra Resources | ID | Gold, silver | In permitting | Added to FAST-41 Jan 13, 2026 (52nd mining project). | None confirmed | Gold and silver project in Owyhee County. Permitting Council, Jan 13, 2026 |
| Golden Mile Not listed in sources | NV | Gold | In permitting | FAST-41 transparency project; dashboard estimates completion Apr 2027. | None confirmed | Listed as in progress on the Permitting Dashboard. Federal Permitting Dashboard: FAST-41 transparency projects |
| NorthMet (NewRange) NewRange Copper Nickel (PolyMet/Teck) | MN | Copper, nickel | In permitting | Minnesota DNR supplemental EIS decision Oct 8, 2026. | None confirmed | Revised design needs a new state environmental review and new permits. Minnesota DNR supplemental EIS decision, Oct 8, 2026; Minnesota DNR: NorthMet project |
| Tamarack Talon Metals | MN | Nickel, copper, cobalt | In permitting | Processing moved to the Humboldt Mill in Michigan. Company target: feasibility study Q4 2026 | None confirmed | Nickel project in Aitkin County. Talon Metals: Humboldt Mill selection |
| Doe Run project Doe Run Resources | MO | Lead, zinc, copper | In permitting | FAST-41 transparency project. | None confirmed | Underground mine on the Mark Twain National Forest. Permitting Council: current transparency projects |
| Michigan Potash Michigan Potash Operating | MI | Potash | In permitting | FAST-41 transparency project. | None confirmed | Planned solution mine and plant in Osceola County. Permitting Council: current transparency projects |
| Sweetwater Not listed in sources | WY | Uranium | In permitting | FAST-41 transparency project. | None confirmed | Uranium mining and processing in the Great Divide Basin. Permitting Council: current transparency projects |
| Roca Honda Energy Fuels | NM | Uranium | In permitting | State permit application complete Jun 22, 2026; Forest Service review notice Sep 14, 2026. Draft EIS expected Jul 2027, final Jan 2028 (reported schedule) | None confirmed | Underground uranium mine near Mount Taylor. US Forest Service: Roca Honda Mine Project; Federal Register, Sep 14, 2026 |
| Graphite Creek Graphite One | AK | Graphite | In permitting | Moved to a full environmental impact statement (2026). Company target: start in 2029 | None confirmed | Largest known US natural graphite deposit, per the company; the US imports all its natural graphite. Graphite One release (PR Newswire) |
| Arctic (Ambler district) Trilogy Metals / Ambler Metals | AK | Copper, zinc, lead, silver, gold | In permitting | Ambler Road approved Oct 2025; Arctic in FAST-41 with Record of Decision targeted Sep 2028. Company: earliest production 2031 | None confirmed | Depends on the 211-mile Ambler Road, approved by President Trump. Trilogy Metals: Arctic permitting schedule; White House: Ambler Road fact sheet |
| Antimony Ridge Not listed in sources | ID | Antimony | Advanced exploration | FAST-41 transparency project. | None confirmed | Bulk-sample mining of near-surface antimony on the Boise and Payette national forests. Permitting Council: current transparency projects |
| Golden Gate Resolution Minerals | ID | Tungsten, gold | Advanced exploration | Added to FAST-41 Jul 17, 2026. Five-year exploration program | None confirmed | Would restart a past-producing tungsten mine near Yellow Pine. Permitting Council, Jul 17, 2026 |
| Bend Not listed in sources | WI | Copper, gold, silver, tellurium | Advanced exploration | Added to FAST-41 Jul 17, 2026. | None confirmed | Drilling program in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Permitting Council, Jul 17, 2026 |
| Nikolai Not listed in sources | AK | Nickel, cobalt, PGMs, copper | Advanced exploration | FAST-41 transparency project. | None confirmed | Nickel deposit with cobalt, platinum, palladium, copper and chromium. Permitting Council: current transparency projects |
| Twin Metals Antofagasta | MN | Copper, nickel, cobalt | Advanced exploration | Congress repealed the mining ban near the Boundary Waters in Apr 2026; leases not yet reissued. | None confirmed | Leases near the Boundary Waters must be reissued before permitting can resume. Star Tribune: Twin Metals leases |
Timeline of milestones
- Jan 2021Thacker Pass approved. BLM issues the Record of Decision for the Nevada lithium mine.
Lithium Americas: Thacker Pass overview - Oct 24, 2024Rhyolite Ridge approved. BLM approves the Nevada lithium-boron mine.
Federal Register: Rhyolite Ridge Record of Decision - Apr 2025Thacker Pass investment decision. Lithium Americas commits to building Phase 1.
Lithium Americas: Thacker Pass overview - Oct 2025Ambler Road approved. President Trump approves the road to Alaska's Ambler mining district.
White House: Ambler Road fact sheet - Oct 20, 2025First DOE loan advance. Thacker Pass receives $435M from its $2.23B DOE loan.
Lithium Americas Q2 2026 results - Jan 29, 2026Grassy Mountain approved. BLM signs the Record of Decision for the Oregon gold mine.
Paramount Gold Nevada, Jan 29, 2026 - Feb 2026Elk Creek construction. NioCorp begins building the mine portal in Nebraska.
Metal Tech News, Oct 2026 - Feb 27, 2026Silver Peak expansion cleared. Federal permitting finished for the Nevada lithium expansion.
Permitting Council: Silver Peak completes permitting - Mar 16, 2026Resolution land exchange. The land swap is recorded and the final Record of Decision issued.
Resolution Copper: current status - Mar 27, 2026Rhyolite Ridge upheld. A federal court upholds the BLM approval; opponents appeal.
ioneer June 2026 quarterly report (SEC) - May 2026Mountain Pass milestone. First heavy rare earth separation circuit reaches mechanical completion.
MP Materials Q2 2026 10-Q - Jun 30, 2026Dewey-Burdock cleared. Federal permitting finished for the South Dakota uranium project.
Permitting Council: Dewey-Burdock completes permitting - Jul 7, 2026Hermosa approved. Forest Service signs the Record of Decision for the Arizona project.
US Forest Service: Hermosa approval - Jul 17, 2026New FAST-41 projects. Golden Gate (Idaho) and Bend (Wisconsin) join the federal dashboard.
Permitting Council, Jul 17, 2026 - Sep 29, 2026Resolution ruling stands. The Ninth Circuit rejects rehearing petitions.
US Justice Department, Oct 1, 2026 - Oct 8, 2026NorthMet needs new review. Minnesota requires a supplemental environmental review for the revised design.
Minnesota DNR supplemental EIS decision, Oct 8, 2026 - Oct 9, 2026Utah fluorspar plant opens. Ares opens its Lost Sheep lumps plant in Delta.
Ares Strategic Mining, Oct 13, 2026
Method and sources
Projects come first from federal records: the Federal Permitting Dashboard, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service decisions, the Federal Register and Justice Department filings. State agencies and company reports, including SEC filings, fill in schedules and costs, and they are credited by name.
Show more: what counts, and what is missing
- Stages. “Under construction” means site or plant construction has started. “Approved” means the main federal or state approval is in hand. “In permitting” means environmental review is under way. “Advanced exploration” covers drilling or bulk-sample programs on the federal dashboard.
- Federal support. Only loans confirmed in official or company filings are counted. Applications under review, such as NioCorp’s with the Export-Import Bank, are noted but not added to the total.
- Operators. Where the official listing does not name the sponsor, the table says so rather than guessing.
- Gaps. Many smaller state-permitted mines and expansions at existing mines are not yet listed. Defense Production Act awards for individual mines will be added once the award notices are checked.
- Updates. The tracker is rebuilt from a data file when agencies issue new decisions.
