U.S. Lithium Supply Chain Faces Uncertainty Despite New IRIS-Rock Zero Collaboration

Strategic Partnership to Boost U.S. Lithium Supply

IRIS Metals, an Australian-listed company with significant hard-rock lithium assets in South Dakota, has entered a collaboration agreement with U.S.-based Rock Zero Inc. This partnership aims to accelerate the development of lithium refining capacity within the United States, a critical step toward establishing a secure and affordable domestic supply chain for battery-grade lithium.

The collaboration leverages IRIS Metals’ fully permitted spodumene resources alongside Rock Zero’s innovative roast-free hydrometallurgical refining technology. Unlike traditional methods that require energy-intensive high-temperature roasting, Rock Zero’s proprietary process extracts lithium at over 95% efficiency without roasting, promising a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach.

Breakthrough Technology with Environmental Edge

Initial laboratory testing using IRIS-supplied spodumene concentrate (~6% lithium content) demonstrated Rock Zero’s ability to extract lithium efficiently while minimizing emissions and waste. This breakthrough could disrupt the conventional lithium refining landscape, which has long been challenged by high energy consumption and environmental concerns.

Rock Zero’s process also recycles reagents and water, valorizing all elements in the ore to produce not only battery-grade lithium salts but also valuable by-products such as supplementary cementitious materials and smelter-grade alumina. This comprehensive utilization aligns with growing industry demands for sustainable and circular mining practices.

Path to Commercialisation and Funding

While the collaboration agreement is non-binding, both companies plan to jointly pursue non-dilutive funding from the U.S. government, which has shown strong interest in bolstering domestic critical minerals supply chains. Pending successful funding and demonstration of commercial viability, IRIS Metals and Rock Zero intend to negotiate deployment of the refining technology near IRIS’s South Dakota project, potentially positioning the region as a hub for U.S. lithium processing.

IRIS Metals Chairman Peter Marks highlighted the strategic importance of this partnership, emphasizing the potential to produce lithium and by-products at lower cost and with a smaller environmental footprint. Rock Zero CEO Camden Hunt echoed this optimism, underscoring the opportunity to deliver a new generation of refining technology that supports a resilient U.S. battery materials ecosystem.

Implications for the Lithium Market

This collaboration arrives amid intensifying global competition to secure lithium supply chains critical for electric vehicles and energy storage. By combining resource access with cutting-edge refining technology, IRIS Metals and Rock Zero could help reduce U.S. dependence on imported lithium chemicals, aligning with government priorities and investor appetite for sustainable battery metals development.

However, the path forward hinges on securing government grants and proving the technology’s scalability beyond laboratory success. The coming months will be pivotal in determining whether this promising alliance can translate into a commercially viable and environmentally responsible lithium refining operation.