Brazilian Rare Earths Expands District with High-Grade Discoveries Near Monte Alto

Highlights:

• Monte Alto Expansion: The exploration has revealed mineralisation with up to 14.6% TREO, including high concentrations of heavy rare earths. The new outcropping, located just 2.5 kilometres from Monte Alto, adds to the growing potential of the area.
• Significant Heavy Rare Earths: Results include 5,691 ppm of dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3), 737 ppm of terbium oxide (Tb4O7), and 74,543 ppm of yttrium oxide (Y2O3) from channel sampling, alongside additional promising grades from Monte Alto East. 
• District-Scale Potential: The discoveries have doubled the exploration area around Monte Alto to over four kilometres, with high-grade rare earth and monazite-sand mineralisation, underscoring its district-scale potential.

Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:BRE) has identified new high-grade rare earth oxide (TREO) mineralisation near its Monte Alto deposit in northeastern Brazil. This discovery includes outcroppings with significant concentrations of heavy rare earths, such as dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium, indicating the potential for large-scale district development in the Rocha da Rocha critical minerals province. 

Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:BRE) has expanded its exploration success with the discovery of high-grade rare earth mineralisation near its Monte Alto deposit. This discovery includes significant amounts of total rare earth oxides (TREO) and heavy rare earths, enhancing the company’s prospects in the critical minerals sector. 

The discovery, situated in the northeastern Brazilian province of Rocha da Rocha, presents a promising addition to the Monte Alto project. The recent outcrop, located just 2.5 kilometres from the Monte Alto deposit, contains mineralisation grading 14.6% TREO, which is notably enriched with heavy rare earth elements. Among the highlights are 5,691 parts per million (ppm) of dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3), 737ppm of terbium oxide (Tb4O7), and 74,543ppm of yttrium oxide (Y2O3), indicating the presence of economically significant rare earth materials. 

Brazilian Rare Earths has also undertaken channel sampling at Monte Alto East, where three metres of exposure yielded up to 10.7% TREO. The results confirmed high concentrations of heavy rare earths, including 4,306ppm of Dy2O3, 508ppm of Tb4O7, and 51,556ppm of Y2O3. These results further support the belief that Monte Alto is a significant source of valuable rare earth elements (REEs). 

The Monte Alto project is part of a broader exploration effort across the critical minerals-rich region of Rocha da Rocha. Numerous high-grade outcrops have been identified, with some deposits showing mixed rare earth, niobium, scandium, tantalum, and uranium mineralisation. Notably, samples from these outcrops revealed grades of up to 11.7% TREO, further enhancing the geological potential of the region. 

In addition to the high-grade hard rock deposits, Brazilian Rare Earths has confirmed extensive shallow monazite-sand mineralisation, with TREO concentrations exceeding 1%. These sands are considered a strategic resource, given the growing demand for critical minerals globally. 

The company views the recent discoveries as evidence of a district-style exploration opportunity, significantly expanding the Monte Alto exploration area to over four kilometres by three kilometres. The mineralised outcrops extend over magnetic anomalies, hinting at the presence of large, untapped mineral resources beneath the surface. 

Bernardo da Veiga, CEO and managing director of Brazilian Rare Earths, emphasized the significance of the discoveries, noting that they highlight the value of the Monte Alto region as a world-class rare earth deposit. He pointed to the high-grade assays from the newly discovered outcrop, which includes some of the highest recorded concentrations of dysprosium and terbium. 

“These outstanding regional exploration results at Monte Alto underscore the prospectivity of our high-grade rare earth province,” da Veiga said. “The discoveries significantly expand Monte Alto’s target exploration area and demonstrate its world-class scale, exceptional rare earth grades, and substantial potential for exploration upside.” 

The confirmation of heavy rare earth mineralisation, particularly high concentrations of dysprosium and terbium, adds significant value to the project. Dysprosium and terbium are critical in the production of magnets used in various high-tech applications, including electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies, making their discovery at Monte Alto especially relevant in the context of global demand for sustainable technology solutions. 

Brazilian Rare Earths’ discoveries have placed the Monte Alto region in a promising position within the broader rare earths market. With these finds, the company has bolstered its potential to emerge as a key player in the supply of critical minerals, essential for the transition to greener energy and advanced technologies. 

The company’s ongoing exploration program will likely focus on further delineating the extent of the mineralised zones while assessing the economic viability of developing Monte Alto into a full-scale mining operation. Given the scale of these discoveries, Brazilian Rare Earths is well-positioned to continue advancing its project pipeline in the Rocha da Rocha region. 

In conclusion, the recent discoveries near Monte Alto represent a major advancement for Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd. With extensive high-grade rare earth mineralisation, including some of the highest concentrations of heavy rare earth elements globally, the Monte Alto region holds significant potential for future development. As the global demand for critical minerals continues to rise, these findings could position Brazilian Rare Earths as a leading player in the rare earth sector.