Iris Metals (ASX: IR1) is advancing a US-focused lithium play centred on the Black Hills of South Dakota. In this interview, Paul Sanger of The Network speaks with Matt Hartmann, Iris’s President of US Operations, about the strategic significance of the Ingersoll project acquisition and how it integrates into Iris’s hub-and-spoke model across a portfolio that already includes Beecher, Tin Mountain and Edison.
Key topics covered include:
- why acquiring Ingersoll fits the timing, and how the project sits on private land to expedite permitting
- what the private-land advantage means for early production, drill programmes and upcoming studies
- historical mining in the Black Hills and what that implies for today’s spodumene resource potential
- the role of tantalum and beryllium as complementary minerals to lithium in Iris’s portfolio
- the pathway to US-sourced lithium chemicals (carbonate and hydroxide) through partnerships
- near-term catalysts: drill results, maiden MREs (Tin Mountain), processing studies, and the 2026 project study across multiple pegmatites
Timestamps are included to navigate the discussion, and the video closes with a look ahead to the six-to-twelve month outlook and what investors should watch for in late 2024 and into 2025.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro and context
00:50 Interview with Iris US President Matt Hartmann
01:02 Strategic importance of the Ingersoll acquisition
01:56 Timing: why now for Iris
02:02 Drill-driven hub-and-spoke momentum
02:58 Ingersoll’s arson site and historical context
03:13 Historical production and spodumene potential
04:25 Private land advantage for permitting and development
05:33 Permitting regime compared with federal lands
05:48 Immediate production potential and DSO pathway
06:26 Role of tantalum and beryllium in the Iris portfolio
07:21 Why tantalum/beryllium matter for investors
07:33 US critical minerals backdrop and policy context
08:26 Converting spodumene to battery-grade lithium and partnerships
09:26 What to watch next: upcoming drill results and MREs
10:09 2026 project study and multi-pegmatite scope
11:40 News flow and investor implications
11:59 Summary and next steps
If you want to stay ahead on Iris Metals and other ASX small-caps, subscribe and turn on notifications for the latest IR1.ASX updates, drill results, and project milestones across the Black Hills portfolio.
⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. All investments carry risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research and consider seeking advice from a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The creator may hold positions in securities discussed.
📌 Articles:
https://smallcaps.com.au/iris-metals-sharpens-us-lithium-focus-edison-success-kookynie-gold-divestment
https://smallcaps.com.au/iris-metals-south-dakota-lithium-exploration-new-funding-key-partnership
https://smallcaps.com.au/weekly-wrap-gold-shines-amid-growth-fears
https://smallcaps.com.au/iris-metals-reelement-strengthen-us-lithium-supply-chain-conversion-milestone
https://smallcaps.com.au/iris-metals-pegs-new-nickel-gold-ground-near-kookynie-review-uncovers-prospective-anomaly
🔎 More on this company:
https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-ir1/
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