St George Mining Limited has delivered a 30-kilogram processed rare earths sample from its 100%-owned Araxá Project in Brazil to the MagBras Project – a public-private initiative focused on establishing a rare earths magnet manufacturing supply chain within Brazil.
The rare earths sample, in oxalate form, was produced through previous pilot plant work at Araxá. This represents the first delivery of rare earths product by a mining developer to MagBras. St George Mining has also signed a collaboration agreement with MagBras to support research and development into permanent magnet production using high-grade rare earths from Araxá.
In parallel, drilling activity continues with five rigs now operating on site. More than 9,000 meters of diamond drilling are planned as part of a program targeting both expansion and conversion of the current Mineral Resource Estimate. Araxá currently hosts a JORC-compliant resource of 40.64 million tonnes at 4.13% total rare earth oxide and 41.20 million tonnes at 0.68% niobium.
The Company is also exploring potential downstream partnerships in the United States and other jurisdictions. The growing interest from the United States in Brazil’s rare earthes and nobium sector further underscores the strategic position of the Araxá Project in meeting global critical mineral supply needs.
St George Mining’s Executive Chairman John Prineas said:
“We were honored last year when SENAI and FIEMG selected St George as a partner for MagBras –Brazil’s first proposed REE permanent magnet facility.
“We are now delighted to be the first rare earths miner in Brazil to provide a rare earths product to MagBras for downstream studies into magnet production in Brazil.
“The recent supply chain intervention by the US Department of Defense through its multi-billion dollar deal with NYSE-listed MP Materials illustrates the role that public-private partnerships will likely play as geopolitical moves trigger a re-alignment of the global rare earths market status quo.
“In Brazil, we are seeing strong support from government and industries to build a domestic supply chain for rare earths – and St George is proud to contribute to that initiative.
“Our 100%-owned Araxá Project has a world-class hard-rock rare earths resource. The two major rare earths mines outside of China are also hard-rock carbonatites – the Mt Weld mine of Lynas Corporation and MP Materials’ Mountain Pass. We are confident the extensive drill campaign underway at the AraxáProject, including more than 9,000m of diamond drilling, will further highlight the tremendous potential of our world-class ore body.
“The Araxá Project has competitive advantages through favourable project logistics that support an expedited pathway to potential development. Our project is well-positioned to be a potential supplier of rare earths product for ex-China supply chains being established in Brazil and other countries.
“These unprecedented market developments underpin our potential to deliver significant, sustained value from advancing the Araxá Project.”