Great Northern Minerals Ltd (ASX: GNM) Expands Catalyst Ridge Project in World-Class Mountain Pass District - REE making a comeback.
- Noel Ong
- Sep 29
- 5 min read
Announcement
Great Northern Minerals Ltd (ASX: GNM) has announced a significant expansion of its Catalyst Ridge REE–Antimony Project in the Mountain Pass District, California (Figure 1). The move marks a step-change in the Company’s U.S. footprint, adding new ground in one of the world’s most strategic rare earth corridors.
Figure 1: Interpreted USGS bedrock geology map highlighting GNM’s newly acquired claims, positioned relative to the Mountain Pass REE deposit, nearby mineral occurrences, and other active operators in the district. (source: GNM)
Key Highlights - Establishing a REE Story in the USA
96 new lode claims staked, adding ~8.03km² to the Catalyst Ridge Project.
Expansion builds on the existing 119 lode claims acquired in August 2025, consolidating GNM’s position in the Mountain Pass corridor.
New ground lies in geological settings similar to the Mountain Pass REE Mine and Colosseum gold deposit – both linked to carbonatite systems.
Structural intersections and magnetic highs across the new claims are considered highly prospective for REE-bearing intrusions and antimony-gold mineralisation.
Systematic geochemical sampling program to commence in the coming weeks, targeting anomalies and structures identified in geophysical datasets.
Catalyst Ridge Expansion
The 96 new claims sit just 10km north of the Mountain Pass REE Mine and processing facility owned by MP Materials (NYSE: MP), the only producing rare earths mine in the USA (Figure 2). This proximity underscores the strategic significance of GNM’s position.
The claims have been formally lodged with San Bernardino County and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). While all fees have been paid, tenure confirmation is pending final approval by the BLM.
Figure 2: Airborne magnetic map showing structures across new claims (source: GNM)
Geological & Geophysical Review
GNM’s analysis highlights several encouraging features:
Intersecting NW and NNW structures – known controls for REE-bearing carbonatite intrusions.
Magnetic highs analogous to those seen at Dateline Resources’ Colosseum gold deposit.
Gravity anomalies consistent with lobate intrusions, enhancing potential for REE, gold, and antimony mineralisation (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Airborne gravity gradiometer map – Catalyst Ridge vs Mountain Pass (source: GNM)
Radiometric uranium anomalies, which may be significant given Mountain Pass’ uranium associations (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Radiometric uranium anomalies across new claims (source: GNM)
Exploration Strategy
GNM will integrate the new claims into a broader exploration strategy. The immediate focus is a systematic geochemical sampling program, aimed at ground-truthing geophysical anomalies. This work is expected to define priority drill targets for testing REE and Sb–Au mineralisation
Non-Executive Chairman, Eddie King, commented:
“The expansion of the footprint of the Catalyst Ridge Project through the addition of the 96 new claims strengthens GNM’s intended strategic presence within one of the United States’ most critical regions for the exploration of critical minerals.
We are excited to stake freely available ground with very interesting geophysical features that have shown the potential to host deposits of globally significant scale and importance. We are excited to work closely with our US-based geology team to begin fieldwork in the coming weeks.”
Samso Concluding Comments
The latest expansion at Catalyst Ridge is about positioning in one of the most strategic and marketable rare earth corridors in the world. Mountain Pass is synonymous with rare earths, and having tenure only 10 km away places Great Northern Minerals in a highly competitive geological postcode. Surprisingly, I am very curious about how this type of ground became available, considering the "popularity" of the ground, which makes the timing of GNM’s move particularly significant.
The geological similarities with known deposits such as Mountain Pass and Colosseum are important. Intersecting structures, magnetic highs, and gravity anomalies are the markers geologists look for when building a case for large-scale mineral systems. The presence of radiometric uranium anomalies adds another layer of prospectivity, given their known association with rare earth mineralisation in the district.
Exploration is still early days, and as always, the story will need to be tested with geochemical sampling and drilling. It looks like the marketing process is underway, and the rising share price proves that this is a great step for the shareholders of GNM.
For now, the key is to watch how quickly GNM can convert this newly acquired ground into defined drill targets. With sampling set to begin in the coming weeks, the market should start to see results that either confirm or challenge the thesis. In a sector where scale and geology dictate long-term value, Catalyst Ridge is positioning itself as a project worth following closely.
The Samso Way – Seek the Research
Every announcement is a starting point, not the conclusion. Follow the evidence, benchmark peers, and let disciplined research guide you.
Our mission is simple: cut through the noise and spotlight what matters—genuine stories, grounded insights, and real opportunity.
Our content is well-researched and is only created if the team sees a merit in discussing the company or concept. Investors can explore our three core platforms:
There may be numerous paths to success in investing, but the common thread among successful individuals is that they remain committed to making informed decisions. Equip yourself with the right knowledge and tools, and you will be well on your way to achieving your financial goals.
Most importantly, investors need to be absolutely diligent in understanding their own risk-reward tolerance and capabilities. Never bite off more than you can chew. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the Great Wall stood because it took centuries to complete.
The Samso Philosophy:
Stay curious. Stay sharp. And remember—digging deeper always uncovers the real value.
In Life, there is no such thing as a Free Lunch.
Happy Investing, and the only four-letter word you need to know is DYOR.
To support our independent nature of our work, please head over to our Support Page and give us a helping hand in any of the ways listed. This is a new initiate for the Samso Platform, and it was always the concept of Samso when we started this journey in 2018.
Disclaimer
The information or opinions provided herein do not constitute investment advice, an offer or solicitation to subscribe for, purchase or sell the investment product(s) mentioned herein. It does not take into consideration, nor have any regard to your specific investment objectives, financial situation, risk profile, tax position and particular, or unique needs and constraints.
Share to Grow: Your Bonus
Samso has just released an eBook: How to Add Value to your Share Portfolio
A lesson on geological models sought by mining companies that gives insight and an understanding of which portfolios are better - and potentially more lucrative – investments. Click here to download this eBook.
If you find this article informative and useful, please help me share the information. I try and write about topics that are interesting and have the potential to be of investment value. It is not easy to find stories that fit those parameters. If you or your organisation see the benefit of what Samso is trying to achieve and have a need to share your journey, please contact me at noel.ong@samso.com.au.
Samso is a trusted platform that equips dedicated investors with up-to-date industry knowledge and insights from top CEOs and thought leaders. By staying informed on business advancements and market trends, investors can enhance their financial decisions through a combination of expert guidance and their own research.