ASX-listed Bayan Mining and Minerals has strengthened its US rare earths push with the appointment of veteran processing and projects specialist John Ganser to advise on development of its Desert Star projects in California and associated downstream processing strategy.

The company said on Tuesday that Ganser, who brings more than 45 years of experience across project studies, engineering management and technology development, had been appointed as a technical consultant effective immediately. His career includes senior roles at BHP, Lynas Rare Earths, Iluka Resources, Arafura Resources and OZ Minerals.

Ganser will initially focus on Bayan’s Desert Star and Desert Star North rare earths projects in California’s Mojave desert, providing specialist input into technical studies, processing flowsheet evaluation and the assessment of downstream processing pathways aligned with the company’s technology strategy. The appointment also supports Bayan’s broader ambition to build a US-based rare earths portfolio within the strategically important Mountain Pass district.

Executive director Fadi Diab said the company was pleased to secure Ganser’s services at a critical stage of project planning.

“We are very pleased to welcome John to Bayan as technical consultant. John brings an exceptional depth of experience in the design, study and delivery of complex downstream rare earths processing facilities. His career includes senior technical and project leadership roles across a number of Australia’s leading resources companies, including BHP, Lynas Rare Earths, Iluka Resources, Arafura Resources and OZ Minerals.

“Importantly for Bayan, John has hands-on experience across rare earths processing and separation technologies. This expertise will be highly valuable as we progress the Desert Star project and assess development pathways that align with the United States’ strategic objectives to strengthen domestic rare earth supply chains.”

Bayan’s Desert Star projects are located just 4.5 km from MP Materials’ Mountain Pass rare earths mine, one of the world’s largest and highest-grade rare earth operations, and close to Dateline Resources’ Colosseum gold mine. The proximity places Bayan’s ground within a well-established critical minerals corridor that shares key geological and structural features with Mountain Pass.

The company has also secured an exclusive worldwide licence from the Colorado School of Mines covering four patented rare earth processing technologies spanning beneficiation, leaching and resin-based separation. Three of the patents were developed using ore and process streams sourced directly from MP Materials’ Mountain Pass operation, while development of the technologies was partially funded by the US Department of Energy’s Critical Materials Institute.