$$$$ Closely nearing revenue generation; Next steps......
The lumps plant is currently in the final stages of commissioning, with first revenue generation officially targeted for Q2 2026.
As of late March 2026, the plant's physical construction is complete, and it is undergoing rigorous electrical fitting and testing to prepare for full-scale operations.
Timeline to Revenue
March 2026 (Completed): Physical construction finalized; electrical and mechanical testing initiated.
April 2026 (Current Phase): Final commissioning and trial processing of the thousands of tons of ore already stockpiled at the surface.
Q2 2026 (Target): Official start of commercial sales for metallurgical-grade fluorspar lumps.
Operational Status
The company has successfully transitioned from "development" to "production build-up". This means they are no longer just building; they are actively mining underground and organizing high-grade ore into stockpiles so that once the lumps plant passes its final electrical checks, processing can begin immediately without waiting for new feedstock.
The revenue from this plant is intended to act as a financial bridge, providing self-sustaining cash flow while the company completes its larger, higher-margin Acidspar Flotation Plant later in 2026.
Additional funding to complete Acid Spar Flotation Plant and "NASDAQ" uplisting:
1. Financials: The $10M Funding & The NASDAQ Goal
The recent $10 million private placement is essentially "bridge" capital designed to carry the company through the expensive final phase of plant assembly without exhausting its cash reserves.
2. The Funding Source: This capital was raised specifically to accelerate the flotation plant construction following the massive $169 million DoD contract.
Uplisting Prep: A significant portion of this funding is earmarked for legal, compliance, and auditing fees required for the NASDAQ uplisting. Management believes a NASDAQ listing will provide the liquidity needed to institutionalize the stock.
The Trade-off: For investors, this funding involved issuing new shares and warrants, which causes some short-term dilution but provides the long-term stability needed to avoid "going-concern" warnings before the first sales hit the books.
3. Technical Specs: The Flotation Process
This is how Ares converts raw dirt into high-value industrial "Acidspar" (97%+ CaF2):
Crushing & Grinding: The stockpiled ore is crushed into a fine powder to expose the fluorspar crystals.
The Chemical Bath: The powder is mixed with water and specific reagents (collectors and frothers) in large tanks. These chemicals make the fluorspar "hydrophobic," meaning it hates water.
The "Float": Air is pumped into the tanks to create bubbles. The fluorspar crystals stick to the bubbles and float to the surface as a thick froth, while the waste rock (tailings) sinks to the bottom.
The Result: The froth is skimmed off, dried, and packaged. This process is what allows Ares to charge premium prices compared to the raw "lumps" they produce.
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