Renegade Exploration Expands US Portfolio With Strategic Mountain Pass Acquisition

Renegade Exploration (ASX: RNX) has expanded its US footprint by staking 39 new lode claims in California’s Mountain Pass district, a globally significant hub for gold and rare earth production.

The new 100%-owned Mustang Project lies just 3km east of the Colosseum gold-rare earths mine and 10km north-east of the Mountain Pass rare earths mine, positioning Renegade beside two world-class operations.

Chair Robert Kirtlan said the acquisition would provide Renegade with a valuable foothold in one of the hottest mining neighbourhoods in the United States.

Strategic Entry into Walker Lane

The Mustang claims cover an area along the southern end of the Walker Lane Trend, one of North America’s most prolific mineral belts.

The ground includes outcrops and fault structures trending north-west, considered highly prospective for both gold and rare earth mineralisation.

Renegade said the area has never seen systematic exploration despite its close proximity to established deposits, with shallow alluvium masking the underlying geology.

The claims enjoy excellent year-round access via Interstate 15, with Las Vegas only 60km east, reducing logistical challenges for field campaigns.

Global Significance of Mountain Pass

MP Materials’ Mountain Pass mine ranks among the world’s largest rare earth deposits, producing around 42,400 tonnes of contained TREO in 2021.

The US government has invested heavily to secure the operation’s role in domestic supply chains, including a US$400 million commitment and a US$150 million loan in July to expand heavy rare earth separation capacity., hosts a JORC-compliant resource

Renegade said the dual presence of its operations and Dateline Resources’ (ASX: DTR) nearby Colosseum mine underscores the potential of the district and highlights the value of its new claims.

The company will commence field work on the Mustang Project within a week, testing mineralised outcrops and mapping structures, and has also commissioned a ground magnetic survey to determine whether the claims sit over a magnetic high similar to the Mountain Pass carbonatite complex.

Exploration will focus on defining early drill targets capable of proving gold and rare earth mineralisation in a district already proven as a global supply hub.

‘Phenomenal Outcome for Renegade’

“To gain a foothold next door to one of the world’s largest rare earth operations while expanding our landholding in the prolific Walker Lane Trend is a phenomenal outcome for Renegade,” Mr Kirtlan said.

“The potential upside is these new Mountain Pass permits have fault structures and outcrop which should enable relatively easy assessment of gold, rare earths, and other minerals.”

The growing strategic value of US-based rare earth projects and the strong government support make Mustang a timely addition to Renegade’s international portfolio.

With active projects already across Nevada, California, Canada, and Queensland, Renegade said the Mountain Pass acquisition further strengthens its exposure to critical minerals and gold in Tier 1 jurisdictions.