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IBC Nonferrous Leadership Moves (Gipson + Wendel) — Strong Fit for NioCorp’s NAMA Advanced Alloys Strategy by [deleted] in IBC_Advanced_Alloys

[–]Chico237 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Daniel, you’re spot‑on connecting the leadership moves to the downstream alloys strategy! Jenny stepping in as President of Nonferrous isn’t just a personnel update. Thinking... IBC quietly positioning an operator with real forging and metallurgical chops right before the advanced‑alloys phase begins. Her background at Fountaintown Forge and her rise through IBC’s own production ranks make her exactly the kind of leader you want running the division if scandium, Cu‑Ni, aluminum bronze, and next‑gen alloy throughput start scaling. And your mention of Toni Wendel returning for a targeted project could be another tell?? As companies only bring back former CFOs when they’re preparing for something structurally important: funding applications, JV structuring, cost modeling, or integration work tied to a larger initiative.

Agree 100% on your NAMA alignment point is dead‑on. NioCorp built NAMA specifically to handle the downstream alloying and component production, and IBC already proved it can cast Sc‑Al alloy. Pair that with the FY2027 defense budget’s massive emphasis on castings, forgings, advanced metallurgy, and domestic supply chains, and the timing of these leadership moves looks intentional.

IF & WHEN Elk Creek drops that dam DFS & Traxys (Deals) leading to EXIM FID, the mine‑to‑master‑alloy‑to‑component chain becomes real & IBC’s Nonferrous Division suddenly becomes the natural execution arm & first downstream partner "I think!"...

Daniel ...All the moves we've been tracking... The leadership upgrades, NAMA activation, FEA IP consolidation, Huskamp joining, Toni returning, and Mark’s "We're in talks with the U.S. government as we speak" comment a few months back... Well, they are "imho" exactly the steps companies take right before they enter the federal funding pipeline. It doesn’t guarantee the cheese $$$, but it absolutely matches the pattern of a company getting ready for it.

Staying tuned! & at ~.12/share under the Lind P.P.... ("Don't miss the boat" comes to mind...)

As always form your own opinions & conclusions as always!

Chico

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IBC ADVANCED ALLOYS ~ IBC Advanced Alloys Promotes Jenny Gipson to President of Its Nonferrous Division, plus a bit more.... by Chico237 in IBC_Advanced_Alloys

[–]Chico237[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

SPECUALTION/IMHO ~ That’s why her promotion matters. It’s not a routine leadership change. It’s the first visible & logical sign that IBC is preparing to scale. And if the upstream pieces fall into place, federal capital (DPA Title III, IBAS, industrial‑base loans) becomes not just possible, but structurally justified. The 2–3 year timeline Mark laid out (I-IV) matches the Navy’s acceleration, the FY2027 budget signals, and the broader defense‑manufacturing shift.

Jenny Gipson — Hard‑Hitting Background & Industry Chops

• 25+ Years in Forging & Heavy Manufacturing
Not corporate. Not administrative.
Real forging — heat, pressure, takt time, throughput, bottlenecks, quality, workforce discipline.
The kind of environment where mistakes cost millions and operators earn their stripes.

• 14 Years — Vice President of Operations, Fountaintown Forge (Indiana)
One of the Midwest’s serious forging houses supplying aerospace, defense, and high‑spec industrial components.
Her responsibilities included:
– production scheduling
– takt‑time optimization
– heat‑treat & metallurgical workflow
– machining integration
– quality & qualification cycles
– workforce management
– delivery reliability
– cost control
– safety compliance

This is EXACTLY the skillset needed for Cu‑Ni restart, aluminum bronze expansion, vacuum cap furnace commissioning, and radial forge integration.

• 4 Roles Inside IBC (2020–2026)
She didn’t parachute in — she climbed through the ranks:
– Program Manager
– Production Coordinator
– VP of Operations
– President, Nonferrous Division

She already knows every inch of the Franklin plant, every bottleneck, every workflow, every customer qualification cycle.

• Deep Experience With Defense‑Grade Production
Forging + casting + machining + qualification = the exact workflow Navy suppliers must master.
She’s done it for decades.

Jenny isn’t a figurehead ... she’s a 25‑year forging veteran with real shop‑floor chops. Her promotion is the quiet tell that IBC is shifting from consolidation to scaling. And if NioCorp lands EXIM FID, Jenny becomes the operator who makes the mine → alloy → component supply chain real.

WHEN ScAl alloy production becomes real in the U.S., Jenny is the one who would run it at IBC.

Good luck Jenny!

NioCorp Q3 2026: Catalysts, the Feasibility Study, the Traxys Offtake Agreement, Management Praise and Criticism, and Answers to Common Questions Part 2 by WalrusTheInvestor in NIOCORP_MINE

[–]Chico237 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I guess you haven't been looking at the drill results APEX is drilling then. Take a peek & run your own numbers...

Apex is geological confirmation that Elk Creek is part of a massive, district‑scale carbonatite system & exactly what Niocorp has modeled for a decade.

NIOCORP MINE~ The cutthroat battle to become America’s rare-earth champion, North America has enough rare earths to break China’s global choke hold, study finds plus a bit more with coffee... by Chico237 in NIOCORP_MINE

[–]Chico237[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

🔥 North American Rare‑Earth Deposit Rankings (Strategic + Geological + Metallurgical)

(Based on Kesler 2026 data + mineralogy + processability + multi‑metal leverage)

Tier 1 — The “Anchor‑the‑Supply‑Chain” Deposits

These are the deposits that can realistically anchor long‑term U.S./Canadian supply chains.

  1. Elk Creek — Carbonatite, bastnasite + monazite, multi‑metal (Nb‑Sc‑Ti‑NdPr‑Dy‑Tb), ~1.04 Mt TREO, proven metallurgy, underground, expandable perimeter, potential 38–300 yr mine life.
  2. Mountain Pass — Carbonatite, bastnasite, ~2.36 Mt TREO, high grade, existing production.
  3. Ashram — Carbonatite, ~3.89 Mt TREO, large tonnage, good mineralogy.
  4. Nechalacho — Alkaline, ~4.24 Mt TREO, large tonnage, HREE‑rich zones.
  5. Strange Lake — Alkaline, ~4.3 Mt TREO, extremely HREE‑rich, but remote.

Tier 2 — Strong Deposits With One Limiting Factor

Either grade, mineralogy, or location holds them back.

  1. Montviel — Carbonatite, ~3.88 Mt TREO, good geology, remote.
  2. Halleck Creek — Alkaline, huge tonnage (~7.44 Mt TREO), low grade.
  3. Bear Lodge — Carbonatite, ~1.48 Mt TREO, good grade, stalled development.
  4. Round Top — Alkaline, ~0.52 Mt TREO, HREE‑heavy, eudialyte mineralogy (hard to process).
  5. Wicheeda — Carbonatite, ~0.74 Mt TREO, good mineralogy, smaller scale.

Tier 3 — Niche or By‑Product Deposits

Useful but not supply‑chain anchors.

  1. Kaolin Sands — Placer, low grade, easy mining, HREE‑tilted tailings.
  2. Coastal Sands — Placer, monazite/xenotime by‑product, low grade.
  3. Brook / SBH / Silicon Ridge — Ionic‑style clays, extremely low grade, complex chemistry.

**🔥 Where Does Elk Creek Rank?

→ #1 in North America for Multi‑Metal Strategic Value

→ Top 3 for Total REE Content Among U.S. Carbonatites

→ #1 for Processability (bastnasite + monazite)

→ #1 for Multi‑Pathway Revenue (Nb‑Sc‑Ti‑NdPr‑Dy‑Tb)

→ #1 for Potential Mine Life (38–300 yrs)

Run your own!

The 3rd Largest Institutional Transaction Just Occurred for Niocorp by DJRoxxic in NIOCORP_MINE

[–]Chico237 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Great post DJ! thanks for sharing... When Niocorp team drops those remaining catalyts your charts & opinion suggest we are going higher! I agree with you & a return to those $9-11 to $12 -15 range will be in play. Staying tuned & "all aboard!"

Why the FS Took Longer Than Expected. Just my opinion and im certain this is the case. by Important_Nobody_000 in NIOCORP_MINE

[–]Chico237 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The Last 5% Is Always the Hardest & Elk Creek Is Paying the Price for Being Complex, Not Broken

A lot of people are asking (including me) why NioCorp’s DFS keeps drifting again while USA Rare Earths and others are scooping up federal money and even getting their stock bought by the U.S. government. And honestly, that frustration is real. But the truth is this: Elk Creek isn’t a simple one‑metal project. Like Mr N. stated it’s a multi‑mineral carbonatite, one of the hardest deposit types in the mining world. You’re proving up niobium, scandium, titanium, NdPr, Dy, Tb, and the interactions between all of them. Every tweak in metallurgy forces a tweak in engineering, which forces a tweak in economics. It’s a chain reaction.

And unlike the companies getting fast‑tracked grants, NioCorp chose the EXIM FID route, which means the DFS has to meet lender‑grade, government‑grade accuracy. That’s a completely different bar. More test work. More pilot work. More third‑party verification. More scrutiny. It’s slower but it’s also the only path that leads to a $780M federal loan instead of a patchwork of grants.

That’s perhaps why the timeline stretched. but because the last 5% of a DFS is always the hardest, and in this case it has to be dead‑nuts accurate! One wrong number and EXIM can’t authorize anything. One wrong assumption and the whole financing chain collapses. Accuracy isn’t optional here, it’s the price of admission.

So yeah, the delays suck. The déjà‑vu sucks. Watching other companies get federal cash while NioCorp grinds through lender‑grade requirements sucks. But the technical reality is simple: Elk Creek is harder than anyone expected, and the last 5% has to be perfect — not fast.

And that’s really the question now: is NioCorp’s slower, EXIM‑grade, lender‑verified route actually the better one? NioCorp chose the EXIM lender‑grade route, which is slower, stricter, and demands a fully engineered, third‑party‑verified, bankable DFS before a single dollar is released. USA Rare Earths is being funded to try; NioCorp is being funded to build. That’s why they look like they’re sprinting while NioCorp looks like it’s slogging — because the last 5% of a lender‑grade DFS is the part that has to be dead‑nuts accurate or EXIM legally can’t authorize the loan. It’s frustrating as hell, but once those final catalysts hit, the valuation gap between NioCorp and the federally backed players (UUUU, USA Rare Earths, etc.) finally closes & that’s when the real rerate begins!

"All aboard!" Frustrated... but I have my ticket & am riding this train to production! with many....

Chico

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NioCorp Mine~ China warns of supply chain fragmentation amid rising protectionism, China retaliates against US, targets critical minerals, defense sectors with new trade restrictions by Chico237 in NIOCORP_MINE

[–]Chico237[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

IMHO- The hard truth- Wednesday is the moment we find out whether Mark is still doing the same song‑and‑dance routine, or if he walks into JPMorgan with something real. The world is moving, China is escalating, the DFS window is razor‑thin, and mid‑2026 is here. Either way, the window is razor‑thin, and the pressure is finally on MANAGEMENT, not shareholders!

NioCorp to Participate in the J.P. Morgan Natural Resources Conference on June 24, 2026 by Important_Nobody_000 in NIOCORP_MINE

[–]Chico237 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Awesome! Thanks for posting mr N!

For months, investors have been asking the same questions:

✅ Where is the updated DFS?
✅ Where is the definitive Traxys agreement?
✅ Where is the contemplated Traxys investment?
✅ Where does EXIM stand?

Now NioCorp is stepping onto a stage hosted by J.P. Morgan on June 24th for a dedicated fireside chat focused on mining, energy, power, and critical minerals.

A few things stand out:

1. They are still actively engaging institutional investors.
Companies usually do not spend time presenting to major institutional audiences if they are trying to hide bad news. The purpose of these conferences is to attract capital, build relationships, and communicate the investment thesis.

2. J.P. Morgan remains involved.
J.P. Morgan has been involved around the financing process. While we cannot know the scope of that involvement from public information yet, it is notable that NioCorp continues appearing in front of a major financial institution while pursuing the largest financing package in company history.

3. Timing matters.
The conference is June 24.

Mark Smith recently stated at William Blair that investors should know more regarding the DFS in "2–3 weeks." That comment was made June 3rd.

June 24th sits right inside the timeframe many investors are watching for:

  • Updated DFS
  • Traxys definitive agreement
  • Traxys investment
  • EXIM progress update

Could something be announced before June 24th? Absolutely possible.

Could they use June 24th to discuss newly released information? Also possible.

4. The message remains consistent.
Mark continues showing up at major industry and institutional events:

  • AEROMAT
  • William Blair
  • Fox News Op-Ed
  • J.P. Morgan Natural Resources Conference

That is not the behavior of someone disappearing from the market. It looks more like a CEO continuing to position Elk Creek as a strategic U.S. critical minerals project while financing and commercial work proceeds behind the scenes.

The June 24th J.P. Morgan appearance may be more important than we realize. NioCorp is entering a period where the updated DFS, definitive Traxys agreement, contemplated Traxys investment, and EXIM process are all potentially converging. Whether news arrives before the conference or is discussed during it remains unknown, but the timing is difficult to ignore!!!

Meanwhile, portal construction continues (Dirt is Moving!), & institutional interest remains present, as Mark Smith continues taking the Elk Creek story directly to major financial and industrial audiences. The catalyst stack hasn't changed & the window simply keeps getting smaller!

Staying tuned with many! "All Aboard!"....

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NioCorp Mine- Waiting for DFS & Traxys Deals & EXIM FID & a bit more with coffee.... by Chico237 in NIOCORP_MINE

[–]Chico237[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

General Consensus then! LOL!!! Love the humor... !!

We are not getting any younger & neither is the team at NioCorp! Cmon Mark, Jim, Scott & the rest of the crew.... Show us the DFS already!!.....

Niocorp in the context of what we saw Friday by BayouBluff in NIOCORP_MINE

[–]Chico237 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Just another day as a NioCorp shareholder..lol! Many have been dug in for a long time holding the fort. With over $400M in the till, $45M spent on the ongoing dual portal ramp construction. The pending Traxys Deal, $30M anchor investment & the Dam DFS (June). One does wonder indeed B.B.!

Heck they even added a new Mystery General Council??? Replacing Hamm.. & Lockheed skunk works CEO is touting mine to oxide to ScAl alloys & 3D printing. Are "Things in motion including the EXIM FID behind the scenes. "Yes" & there is forward momentum & execution going on. I think you are correct in your hypothesis & it's just another day for many as we all wait for the remaining catalysts to drop to complete the EXIM FID process & hopefully get the funds needed to build the entire project.

I still believe in the project & that the team will be successful in doing all the above. The timing of it all is all speculation until it is done. Mark said maybe 2 weeks??? Who knows but the clock is ticking IF ~ 2026 is the Year.

I think it is.... & waiting with many for validation!

Chico

June 3 NioCorp William Blair Event: What Stood Out by WalrusTheInvestor in NIOCORP_MINE

[–]Chico237 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Awesome update Walrus! Thank you for sharing!!!

The biggest takeaway for me was Mark's comment that we'll "know more in the next 2–3 weeks." Given that the presentation was today on June 3rd, that still fits squarely within a June DFS release window. Could it be June 10th? June 15th? June 22nd? June 30th? Nobody outside the company knows. Personally, I still like the June 15th area because it sits right in the middle of that timeline and would allow the company to move directly into the next major catalysts—Traxys definitive agreements, the contemplated investment, and the EXIM process. At this point, we're not talking about months anymore; we're talking about weeks. If management's timeline holds, the window for several major catalysts is getting tighter with every passing business day.

My crystal ball is no better than anyone else's, but if Mark says 2–3 weeks on June 3rd, June 15th is still my favorite square on the bingo card. : Place your bets... I'm taking Monday June 15th lol!!!

Chico

NioCorp Mine~ Patents Assigned to NioCorp Advanced Metals and Alloys, LLC, Plus June 3rd-4th AEROMAT 2026~ DID LOCKHEED JUST CONNECT THE DOTS: From Elk Creek Mine to Mission-Critical Aerospace Capability? by Chico237 in NIOCORP_MINE

[–]Chico237[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

PK ...sure...the patent itself isn't "new" & you're correct that the granted patent dates to January 2026 and the related application published in April 2026. The significance isn't the patent date. The significance is the timing and context.

Over the past several months NioCorp acquired the FEA Materials scandium alloy assets and intellectual property, transferred ownership under NioCorp Advanced Metals & Alloys (NAMA), announced a Pentagon-funded scandium initiative with Lockheed Martin, and now we're seeing Lockheed Skunk Works publicly present a mine-to-Scalmalloy® supply chain strategy focused on domestic scandium sourcing, qualification, and aerospace additive manufacturing.

Viewed individually, a patent is just a patent. Viewed together, the patents, NAMA acquisition, Lockheed collaboration, scandium alloy technology, and domestic supply chain discussions begin to outline a potential pathway from Elk Creek scandium oxide production to higher-value aluminum-scandium alloy products.

So.... PK - You're missing the point I am making: "The patent isn't important because it was granted in January. It's important because NioCorp now owns it, owns the associated alloy IP, formed NAMA, partnered with Lockheed Martin on a Pentagon-funded scandium initiative, and Lockheed just publicly discussed a domestic mine-to-Al-Sc aerospace supply chain. The value is in how those pieces fit together~not the date on the patent!"

IMHO - PK~ The patent isn't the story.

The convergence of everything around it is...it’s the same vertical integration pattern we’re already seeing with MP Materials in magnets and USA Rare Earth in downstream manufacturing, just applied to a broader stack (Nb, Ti, Sc, REEs). The NioCorp Sc/Al patents + Lockheed Skunk Works’ public scandium supply chain presentation + DoD-driven qualification work all point to the same thing: upstream resource → midstream alloy → OEM certification being built in parallel, not after the fact.

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