Rock Stock Channel
The Age of Electricity is creating enormous opportunities in the critical minerals investment thematic. Howard, Rodney and Matt provide in-depth discussions with major developers and analysts covering lithium battery metals, rare earths, and many other specialty commodities.
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PDAC 2026 Recap + Company Interviews
<p>In this Rock Stock Recap, Howard Klein and Matt Fernley share their key takeaways from PDAC 2026 in Toronto, the world’s largest mining conference and one of the most important annual gatherings for the global mining, lithium, and critical minerals industry.</p> <p>After several days meeting with mining companies, investors, policymakers, and analysts, we discuss the major themes emerging from the conference - including the growing geopolitical importance of critical minerals, government policy support for new projects, and the evolving outlook for the lithium market and battery supply chain.</p> <p>We examine recent announcements from the Canadian go...
High Purity Alumina: Why You Should Care | Rock Stock University
<p>High Purity Alumina (HPA) Explained: Uses, Market Growth, Supply, and Investment Opportunities</p> <p>High Purity Alumina (HPA) is one of the most critical materials powering modern technology—from LEDs and semiconductors to lithium-ion batteries and AI infrastructure. Yet, it remains widely misunderstood by investors.</p> <p>In this episode of Rock Stock University, commodity strategist Matt Fernley and investor Ben Hammond explain what HPA is, why purity matters, how it's made, and why demand could surge in the coming decade. Learn how China dominates supply, why Western markets may face shortages, and what this means for future prices an...
Commodity ETFs - A Critical Portfolio Tool (Kevin Baum)
<p>Commodities are entering a new era — and most investors aren’t prepared.</p> <p>In this episode, Kevin Baum of USCF Investments explains why smart investors are increasingly allocating to commodities as electrification, geopolitics, and resource security reshape global markets.</p> <p>USCF website: https://linkly.link/2bXNd</p> <p>Chapters</p> <p>(00:00) Intro<br> (01:36) What Drives Commodities in 2026<br> (04:07) Why Commodities Diversify Portfolios<br> (06:17) How SDCI Works<br> (11:00) Who Buys SDCI and Why<br> (12:54) Copper Outlook for 2026<br> (17:04) Copper Futures vs Miners<br> (19:57) Battery Metals Basket Explained<br> (24:04) Gold's Role Today<br> (29:12) Key Takeaway: Resource Security<br> (30:46) Wrap-Up</p> <...
Zimbabwe Supply Shock, US Energy Storage, Rare Earth Developers Lag, Q2 Metals Drill Results
<p>Zimbabwe Halts Lithium Exports | 6–7% Global Supply Shock? | Q2 Metals High-Grade Hits & Maiden MRE Coming</p> <p>In this episode of Rock Stock Recap, we (Howard Klein, Matt Fernley, and Rodney Hooper) break down what could be one of the most important lithium policy developments of the year: Zimbabwe’s sudden suspension of lithium concentrate exports — including cargo already in transit.</p> <p>Zimbabwe represents ~6–7% of expected global lithium supply in 2026, and the language from the Ministry of Mines was unambiguous. Is this a short-term negotiating tactic tied to transfer pricing and royalties, or the start of a structural shift toward i...
Pilbara Restarts, Albemarle Retreats, Manono Looms, Lithium Ionic (Keith Phillips & Mike Westendorf)
<p>In this Rock Stock Recap, we (Howard Klein and Matt Fernley) are joined by Keith Phillips—former CEO of Piedmont Lithium and now Executive Chairman of Q2 Metals—to discuss the latest developments across lithium and select rare earth themes. Including an interview with Lithium Ionic (TSXV: LTH) COO Mike Westendorf on the Bandeira project.</p> <p>Chapters</p> <p>(00:00:00) Intro<br> (00:03:13) Keith's New Role At Q2<br> (00:05:10) BMO And PDAC Preview<br> (00:07:12) Rare Earths Americas Update<br> (00:08:39) Pilbara Restart And Supply<br> (00:12:45) Quebec Infrastructure Edge<br> (00:17:10) Albemarle Kemerton Shutdown<br> (00:19:14) Conversion Location Debate<br> (00:21:19) Consolidation And Priorities<br> (00:29:36) Mang...
Lithium - The Most Critical Mineral?
<p>Howard Klein of RK Equity discusses the Trump administration's Project Vault initiative and explains how a strategic lithium reserve could help boost the country's efforts to create secure supply chains. </p> <p>“The goal of a strategic lithium reserve is to stabilize prices and allow the industry to develop,” he explained. “If prices fall too low, the reserve would step in as a buyer. If prices spike too high, it could sell into the market.”</p> <p>This interview was filmed on February 13, 2026.</p> <p>Chapters</p> <p>(00:00) Intro<br> (00:30) What is Project Vault?<br> (09:02) Ranking critical minerals<br> (21:43) China's l...
Lithium from Oilfields - LibertyStream: Commercial Production Timeline, US Listing | Alex Wylie
<p>Alex Wylie, CEO of LibertyStream Infrastructure Partners (TSXV: LIB | OTCQB: VLTLF), discusses the company’s evolving strategy to produce lithium carbonate from existing oil and gas infrastructure in the United States.</p> <p>Chapters</p> <p>(00:00) Introduction<br> (03:34) Rebranding And Permian Basin Strategy<br> (04:55) Production Progress And Key Milestones<br> (07:33) Funding And Select Water Partnership<br> (08:42) North Dakota Expansion And Military Supply<br> (11:18) Offtake Progress And Grant Support<br> (13:18) Select Water Partnership Benefits<br> (15:12) Modular Growth And Scaling Strategy<br> (17:32) Upcoming Milestones And Offtake Plans<br> (18:46) Investor Support And Leadership Hire<br> (20:46) U.S. Listing And Redomicile Plans<br> (21:49) Go...
Critical Minerals Don’t Fail on Permits - They Fail on Price (Arnab Datta & Alex Turnbull)
<p>Arnab Datta (Employ America) and Alex Turnbull (investor and long-time critical minerals practitioner) sit down with Howard Klein to unpack the policy shift now underway in Washington on critical minerals, rare earths, and battery materials.</p> <p>Chapters</p> <p>(00:00) The Market Stabilization Gap<br> (03:08) Prioritizing Key Minerals<br> (05:14) Guests and Their Focus<br> (10:31) Why Volatility Blocks Investment<br> (15:44) Project Vault and Forge Overview<br> (21:04) Processing Limits and Stockpiling<br> (26:46) SECURE Minerals Act Explained<br> (30:09) Why a New Corporation Model<br> (35:39) Path to Passing the Bill<br> (39:36) What to Include and Why Lithium<br> (44:02) How the Reserve Would Intervene<...
Recharge Feb26 (China, EV Sales, Sodium-Ion, Europe, Lithium)
<p>In February 2026’s Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss key developments across battery materials and EV markets, including:</p> <p> </p> <p>• China EV pricing dynamics around Chinese New Year, destocking, and continued price competition<br> • Shifts in EV and PHEV mix, subsidy effects, and market-share gains by smaller Chinese automakers<br> • Sodium-ion positioning versus lithium-ion, with focus on energy density, cold-weather use cases, and supply-chain constraints<br> • Europe and US demand divergence, including affordable model availability in Europe and weak US momentum post tax-credit removal<br> • Lithium price volatility driven by specu...
Securing 80ktpa of Spodumene, Extracting Silver from Solar Panels | Lithium Universe's Iggy Tan
<p>Lithium Universe CEO Iggy Tan provides a timely update on the company’s lithium refinery strategy, project financing path, and new technology initiatives as lithium markets recover.</p> <p>Chapters</p> <p>(00:00) Introduction<br> (03:23) Norah Offtake Agreement<br> (07:26) Financing And Lithium Price Recovery<br> (10:10) Brownsville U.S. Refinery Plan<br> (13:52) Quebec Project Priority<br> (15:31) Solar Recycling And Silver Tech<br> (18:30) Demo Plant Strategy<br> (20:28) Silver Demand And Government Support<br> (23:14) Near-Term Catalysts<br> (24:36) Nigeria Feedstock Supply<br> (28:34) CapEx And Funding Path<br> (30:59) Outlook And Closing</p> <p> </p> <p>We (Howard and Rodney) discuss Lithium Universe’s binding 10-year (plus...
