https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lithium-developer-ioneer-forecasts-high-214500447.html

"The company still needs to obtain additional permits as well as financing for the project, which it estimates will cost about $785 million."

So, it is far from a done deal.  Both ioneer and LAC have the "additional permits" and "financing for the project" in common in regards to their dreams for lithium mining in Nevada.  There seems to be no question that ioneer Ltd. ( INR ) will be getting much attention.  Another thing in common is that ioneer also plans to use a byproduct of the production process to sell and to lower their production costs.  In the case of ioneer Ltd. the byproduct is Boron vs excess electricity and excess sulfuric acid in the case of LAC at Thacker Pass.  Take a look at the mine life projections for Ryolite Ridge vs Thacker Pass and for the annual production of lithium carbonate, or more correctly LCE, at both facilities.  There are definite differences. 

Ryolite Ridge projected for production in 2023 and Thacker Pass projected for production in 2022, although I have serious doubt that Thacker pass will actually meet that 2022 date... more likely it will be 2023.  ioneer will probably be more in the headlines the rest of this year than will be Thacker Pass, but what is important is who crosses the finish line first and, as they say in the Gold mining industry:  "all that glitters is not gold". 

Ryolite Ridge has lots of glitter right now.