NioCorp Developments Ltd. is a North American mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing its flagship Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project in southeast Nebraska. The company specializes in the extraction and processing of multiple critical metals—namely niobium, scandium, and titanium—derived from a single orebody. NioCorp’s vertically integrated development model encompasses exploration drilling, metallurgical testing, engineering design, permitting and environmental review, all aimed at establishing a low-cost, large-scale underground mining and processing operation.
The Elk Creek project, secured by NioCorp in the late 2000s, is one of the world’s largest known niobium resources outside of Brazil. It has undergone extensive preliminary economic assessments, feasibility studies and front-end engineering and design (FEED) work. NioCorp’s technical team has also completed a detailed environmental impact statement under U.S. federal regulations, positioning the company toward final construction permits and future production. The project is designed to deliver high-purity niobium and ferroniobium alloys for aerospace and specialty steel markets, alongside scandium products for advanced aluminum alloys and titanium dioxide slag for pigment and industrial applications.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, NioCorp was originally founded in 2004 as International Uranium Corporation and rebranded in 2014 to reflect its shift toward multi-element critical minerals. The company maintains field offices near the Elk Creek site to engage with local stakeholders, landowners and regulatory agencies in Nebraska. NioCorp’s development strategy also includes offtake discussions and potential joint ventures with downstream processors, aiming to secure long-term agreements for its anticipated metal production.
Leadership at NioCorp is spearheaded by President and Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Smith, who brings decades of experience in mining finance, corporate development and technical studies. Chairman Jay Newman and an independent board of directors provide governance and strategic guidance, while a multidisciplinary team of geologists, engineers and environmental specialists advances project execution. NioCorp is positioning Elk Creek to become a key domestic supplier in North America’s growing critical minerals supply chain.
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