Highlights
- The U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E announces $60 million in funding for two programs (ROCKS and MAGNITO) to secure domestic critical mineral supplies and improve magnet manufacturing.
- ROCKS aims to reduce mineral exploration timelines from a decade to 1-2 years using advanced sensing and analytical technologies.
- MAGNITO seeks to develop next-generation permanent magnets with double current performance while reducing dependence on rare earth elements.
A new set of ARPA-E programs aim to cut exploration timelines and discover next-generation magnetic materials.
In a press release (opens in a new tab) issued on August 25, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (opens in a new tab) (ARPA-E) announced up to $60 million in funding for two new programs designed to secure domestic supplies of critical minerals and strengthen magnet manufacturing. The initiative responds to growing concerns over U.S. reliance on foreign-controlled supply chains for rare earth elements and the high-performance magnets that are essential to modern energy technologies.
The two programs—Reliable Ore Characterization with Keystone Sensing (ROCKS) and Magnetic Acceleration Generating New Innovations and Tactical Outcomes (MAGNITO)—will work in tandem to accelerate mineral exploration and develop stronger, more efficient magnets that use fewer critical materials. ARPA-E Acting Director Daniel Cunningham (opens in a new tab) emphasized that rare earths, critical minerals, and magnets “are three essential components of a wide range of modern energy technologies,” and that strengthening domestic capabilities is key to U.S. energy and economic security.
Speeding up mineral exploration
As reported (opens in a new tab) by Chemical & Engineering News, the ROCKS program will allocate up to $40 million for new technologies that make it faster and cheaper to locate and assess rare earth deposits in the United States. Most U.S. deposits are locked in hard rock formations such as granite, which require extensive drilling and years of testing before mining can even begin. According to program director Robert Mellors, the current process can stretch over a decade. Still, ROCKS aims to cut that timeline down to one or two years by supporting advanced sensing, drilling, and analytical tools.
The funding is not for extraction projects themselves but for technology development that can be applied broadly across the industry. Mellors added that ARPA-E hopes to see partnerships between researchers and mining companies, but also wants to draw in expertise from outside the traditional mining community, including those working on unconventional resources like seafloor nodules.
Reinventing magnets for the future
The $20 million MAGNITO program will focus on the materials science side of the challenge. ARPA-E is looking for researchers to develop a new class of permanent magnets with performance levels double that of today's best materials, while reducing dependence on rare earth elements. Program director G. Jeffrey Snyder told C&EN that the real opportunity lies in using computational tools and high-throughput experimentation to explore new chemistries and crystal structures.
“There might be thousands, hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of magnetic structures out there, and we can filter through them better today than we could have in the past,” Snyder said. The goal is to discover materials with magnetic saturation moments exceeding 2 to 2.5 Tesla—an achievement that could disrupt a $30 billion global magnet industry critical to everything from medical devices and electric vehicles to defense systems and renewable energy.
Scientific and strategic significance
Experts say the timing of these programs is significant. Cesar Ovalles, an energy chemist and incoming chair of the American Chemical Society’s Energy and Fuels Division, told C&EN that rare earths and magnets have “transitioned from being mere chemical curiosities to becoming essential components in current technologies.” He argued that new ways to characterize mineral resources and optimize their use are vital as the U.S. works to build more resilient energy systems.
Beyond the technical challenges, ARPA-E’s funding signals a strategic effort to reduce American reliance on China, which dominates the global rare earths market. The DOE notes that the ROCKS and MAGNITO programs build on earlier initiatives such as REACT, MINER, and RECOVER, which focus on mineral alternatives, improved extraction, and recovery from industrial waste. Together, they form a broader push to strengthen domestic control of supply chains critical to the clean energy transition.
Applications for the new programs begin with short concept papers due in late September, with full proposals invited later this year. Final selections are expected in January 2026. If successful, these efforts could redefine how the U.S. discovers and uses critical minerals—and ensure that the country is not left behind in the global race for next-generation energy technologies.
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In terms of niche RE we really need to find more resources within the US borders. ARR, Ucore, REEMF, NioCorp, MP, Dateline, etc., all with RE resources. Seriously gentlemen, we need to find more yet we can’t even open most of which we already have.
Now magnet developments? Yes, RE retail investors watch your RE mining choices very carefully, as developments in magnet composition are likely going to impact negatively traditional supply mining needs, never mind the recycling impact.
Investments made today for the next 10-20 years, IOHO, not in miners’ long term; rather, yes to investor profits this decade.
PS – doesn’t anyone have any comments on these REEx articles? What are RE retail investors basing their decisions on, really no opinions to express?
GLTA – REI