Ann: Confirmation of Mining Rights, page-17

For those who follow US Supreme Court : Review "Chevron Deference Case :

https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/06/supreme-court-strikes-down-chevron-curtailing-power-of-federal-agencies/


Weigh and Measure in your own right :

Let’s dive into the specific case of Dateline Resources (ASX: DTR.AX) and the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) announcement on April 8, 2025, regarding the Colosseum Mine in California. The announcement, titled "Colosseum Mine in California given go ahead to continue mining operation," provides a real-world anchor to assess the broader claims in Jim Rickards’ "America’s Secret Trust Fund" document. I’ll analyze this development in the context of your earlier question about whether there’s substance behind Rickards’ pitch or if it’s just sharp marketing.

The BLM Announcement

The BLM statement confirms that the U.S. Department of the Interior has recognized Dateline Resources’ right to continue mining operations at the Colosseum Mine under its existing mine plan. Key points:

• Location and Scope: The Colosseum Mine, located in San Bernardino County, California, is described as America’s second rare earth elements (REE) mine. It also has a history of gold production.
• Policy Context: The decision aligns with an executive order from President Donald J. Trump to enhance U.S. production of non-fuel minerals, including REEs, critical for technologies like batteries and electronics.
• Operational Continuity: Dateline can proceed with its approved plan, which includes both gold mining and REE exploration, with potential for subsequent REE mining if viable deposits are confirmed.

Posts on X from April 8, 2025, corroborate this, with users like @BullsNBearsWA and @Dateline_DTR noting that the U.S. Interior Department reaffirmed Dateline’s rights to mine gold and explore REEs at Colosseum. This suggests a tangible step forward for DTR.AX, an ASX junior mining company.

Connecting to Rickards’ Claims

Rickards’ document posits a $150 trillion "secret trust fund" tied to mineral wealth on federal lands, unlocked by the Supreme Court’s Chevron Deference reversal and Trump’s deregulation agenda. The Colosseum Mine case offers a lens to test this narrative:

1. Federal Lands and Mineral Wealth:
   • Relevance: The Colosseum Mine operates on BLM-managed public lands, which hold mineral rights under federal jurisdiction—consistent with Rickards’ focus on federal land resources. The BLM oversees 245 million acres of public land and 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate, a vast potential resource base.
   • Reality Check: The USGS and BLM do estimate significant mineral deposits (e.g., copper, lithium, REEs), but no official valuation reaches $150 trillion. Rickards’ figure likely aggregates speculative resource values, not a liquid fund.
2. Chevron Deference Impact:
   • Relevance: The June 2024 Loper Bright decision overturned Chevron, reducing agency power to impose restrictive interpretations of mining laws. The Colosseum approval, post-dating this ruling, could reflect streamlined permitting, supporting Rickards’ claim of regulatory barriers lifting.
   • Reality Check: While Chevron’s demise may ease approvals, the BLM’s process still involves environmental reviews (NEPA) and stakeholder input. The Colosseum decision leverages an existing plan, not a new post-Chevron rush, tempering the idea of an immediate $150 trillion unlock.
3. Trump’s Policy Influence:
   • Relevance: The announcement cites Trump’s executive order, echoing Rickards’ emphasis on Trump’s push to monetize federal assets and establish a sovereign wealth fund. Dateline’s progress could signal policy momentum.
   • Reality Check: No sovereign wealth fund exists as of April 9, 2025, and the Colosseum case benefits a private company, not a public fund. Rickards’ vision of direct citizen wealth distribution lacks evidence here.
4. Investment Opportunity:
   • Relevance: Rickards pitches small-cap mining stocks like DTR.AX as vehicles to tap this wealth. Dateline’s market cap is small (around AUD $20-30 million historically), and its dual gold-REE focus fits his speculative profile.
   • Reality Check: Mining juniors are volatile. Historical examples in Rickards’ document (e.g., Paladin Energy’s 61,000% gain) are outliers. DTR.AX could rise if REEs prove economic, but it’s a high-risk bet, not a guaranteed windfall.

Substance vs. Marketing

• Substance: The Colosseum Mine approval is a concrete example of mineral development on federal lands advancing under current policy. It supports Rickards’ premise that deregulation (post-Chevron) and Trump’s agenda could boost mining activity. For DTR.AX investors, this is a positive signal, potentially lifting its share price if exploration succeeds.
• Marketing: Rickards’ $150 trillion "trust fund" remains a hyperbolic construct—no such fund exists, and the Colosseum case doesn’t imply a national inheritance. The BLM decision is incremental, not a floodgate opening. His pitch amplifies a real trend into a sensational narrative to sell subscriptions.

Implications for DTR.AX

• Upside: REEs are critical minerals with growing demand (e.g., lithium-ion batteries, magnets). If Dateline confirms viable deposits, it could attract investment or a takeover. Gold adds a hedge, given its stable value.
• Risks: Exploration is costly and uncertain—REE extraction requires complex processing. Regulatory hurdles persist despite Chevron’s fall, and commodity prices fluctuate. DTR.AX’s small size amplifies both reward and risk.

Worth Your Time?

• Yes, If: You’re an investor eyeing junior miners or tracking Trump-era resource policy. The Colosseum case is a microcosm of Rickards’ broader thesis, offering a real asset to monitor.
• No, If: You’re skeptical of hype or lack risk tolerance. Rickards’ core narrative overpromises, and DTR.AX’s fate hinges on execution, not a mythical $150 trillion pot.

In short, the BLM announcement lends credence to the idea of untapped mineral potential and policy shifts, but Rickards’ grand vision is more marketing flair than fact. For DTR.AX, it’s a promising update—worthy of attention if you’re inclined to dig deeper into its prospects."

Just Sayin !!