Brazil Alasa niobium rare earth ore resources increased by 57%

According to the Miningnews.net website, the resources of the Araxa project of St George Mining in Brazil increased by 57%.

The project has been declared as the largest and highest grade rare earth mine in South America. At present, the ore resources of this project are 111.2 million tons, and the grade of total rare earth oxide (TREO) is 3.57%, among which the grade of magnet rare earth oxide (MREO) is 0.7%, and the grade of Pr-Nd oxide is 0.68%. According to TREO, it is 3.98 million tons, including 760,000 tons of praseodymium and neodymium, and a large number of dysprosium, yttrium, gadolinium and samarium, as well as 630,000 tons of niobium.

Among them, the proven and presumed ore resources increased by 155% to 75.2 million tons, the TREO grade was 3.64%, and the niobium (Nb2O5) grade was 0.58%, that is, the praseodymium-neodymium oxide content was 520,000 tons and the niobium content was 444,000 tons.

According to St. George's Company, the proven ore bodies are all 120 meters shallow and consist of two uncovered and continuously distributed ore sections, and the ore is weathered and easy to be mined.

The Alasa rare earth deposit is out of control in all directions, including in the deep, and most of the porous ore bodies have not penetrated. Deep primitive rocks will be the content of future technical research.

According to St. George's Company, although the grade is low, from the perspective of proven and estimated resources, Alasha is larger than the two top rare earth mines in the world, including the Mt Weld of Lynas Rare Earths and the Mountain Pass rare earth mine of MP Materials in the United States.

The resource of this mine is twice that of Arafura Rare Earths' rare earth mine in Nolans, Northern Territory.

It is estimated that the resource of niobium ore is 75 million tons, that is, the amount of niobium metal is 435 thousand tons, which is considered to be the largest undeveloped niobium ore in the world.

There are 830,000 tons of high-grade TREO in Alasha mine core, with a grade higher than 6.29% and a niobium grade higher than 0.9%, which will be the object of early mining.

St George's Company and Worley are completing preliminary economic study and open pit planning.

The project also shows the potential for further growth, and the newly discovered East Araxa is not included in the resource update this time.

At present, there are five diamond rigs under construction in Alasa East, and the initial resources will be announced later this year.

John Prineas, CEO of St. George, said that Alasha is undoubtedly "the most important undeveloped rare earth and niobium mine in the world".

He said that the scale of resources, the characteristics of carbonate-controlled deposits and the best niobium production base in the world (niobium production accounts for 80% of the world) indicate that Alasha will become the next world-class niobium mine.

St George acquired the ownership of Alasha in February 2025.

The next step is to focus on the pilot plant. In 2013, after nine months of experiments, Alasha produced rare earth with a tonnage of 99% and a recovery rate of 86%.

Rare earth products produced by oxalic acid contain 20% praseodymium and neodymium, and also contain a lot of yttrium, samarium, gadolinium and dysprosium.

Experimental work is under way to optimize the previous processing technology, but the previous materials have been provided to the downstream partners of St. George.

Another group of work is studying the potential of simultaneous development of niobium and rare earth.