Rubidium: A High-Value Critical Mineral with Strategic Applications

Rubidium, element 37, is listed on the U.S. Critical Minerals List. It is a highly reactive, soft alkali metal with niche but growing importance. While not yet widely used in battery technology, rubidium shows potential in enhancing sodium-ion batteries, a possible future alternative to lithium-ion systems.

Today, rubidium’s primary value lies in high-tech applications, such as:

• Specialty glass for fiber optics

• Advanced telecommunications, including GPS and aircraft guidance systems.

• Atomic clocks,

• Quantum computing,

• Ion propulsion for spacecraft.

• Substitute rubidium formate for cesium formate as a drilling fluid in the oil and gas industry

• Enhance the performance of perovskite solar panels

• Red coloration in fireworks.

With global production being led by Canada, ILC has discovered significant rubidium at its Raleigh Lake project in Ontario, where it occurs in Rb-microcline, a feldspar where rubidium replaces potassium. Elsewhere rubidium is typically extracted from hard rock pegmatites, notably lepidolite and pollucite.

If ILC exercises its option on the Karibib lithium, rubidium and cesium project in Namibia, we will also have a world class rubidium resource, as Karibib contains the largest declared rubidium resource in Africa.

Rubidium shares are gaining attention as investors look to capitalize on critical minerals, with ILC offering investors exposure to rubidium’s unique strategic and technological potential.