- High-purity MREC production: Successfully produced a Mixed-Rare-Earth Carbonate (MREC) product that meets quality specifications for conventional solvent-extraction separation circuits
- Strong magnetic rare-earth recoveries: High recoveries of magnetic rare earth elements NdPr and DyTb via hydrometallurgical leaching, with TREO extraction rates between 86-90%
- Uranium co-product recovery: Successful extraction of uranium with precipitation of uranium peroxide (a form of yellowcake)
- Direct 'run-of-mine' mineral-to-MREC route: Bypassing mineral beneficiation unlocks both capex and opex advantages and increases total rare-earth yields
- Next metallurgical stages underway: Metallurgical studies now progressing to production of separated NdPr rare earth products and potential recovery of valuable co-products, including niobium, tantalum and scandium
SYDNEY, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brazilian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: BRE / OTCQX: BRELY) ('BRE') is pleased to report the successful production of both a mixed-rare earth carbonate (MREC) and a uranium peroxide from the ultra-high grade REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation from the Monte Alto Project.
Metallurgical Highlights
- High-value magnetic rare-earths: Excellent leaching extractions of NdPr (85%), Tb (88%), Dy (89%), with peak recovery values for NdPr reaching 90%
- Exceptional mineral-to-MREC rare-earths recoveries: Projected closed-circuit recoveries for Monte Alto 'run-of-mine' mineral sample grade of 15.3 % TREO (153,000 ppm) to the production of high-purity MREC between 83-87%
- MREC for valuable product separation: MREC product meets physical and chemical criteria for rare earth separation from conventional solvent-extraction circuits
- Successful uranium extraction: Efficient uranium recovery using standard tertiary-amine ion-exchange resin to produce a clean MREC product
- Scalable performance: Larger-batch leaching results confirm scalability and reproducibility from previous successful trials
These results mark the successful completion of the second and final phase of Scoping-level metallurgical test work undertaken with ANSTO Minerals and represents a major milestone in BRE's strategy to establish a fully integrated rare-earths and critical-minerals supply chain in Brazil.
Furthermore, the successful production of high-purity MREC and uranium peroxide represents a key advancement in BRE's product strategy, which initially targets four high-value products:
- NdPr oxide: a critical permanent magnet rare earth product
- SEG+ product: a highly marketable concentrate product that is rich in dysprosium, terbium, samarium, gadolinium and yttrium
- Uranium yellowcake product: a strategic co-product for growing global demand
- Multi-revenue co-products: multiple potential co-product streams including niobium, tantalum and scandium
Brazilian Rare Earths' CEO and Managing Director, Bernardo da Veiga, commented:
"In just 16 months, we've progressed from Monte Alto's first ultra-high-grade diamond-core intercepts to the successful production of a high-purity mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) and uranium peroxide co-product.
This is a major milestone that validates our development strategy: advancing systematic techno-economic studies to establish a fully integrated rare earths and critical minerals supply chain in Brazil, whilst retaining the tactical optionality of a low-capex, low-opex, ultra-high-grade 'DSO-style' operation.
Brazil offers a unique location for value creation - abundant low-cost hydroelectric power, skilled labour, and domestic reagent supply provide structural cost advantages for downstream processing. From our high-purity MREC, we aim to produce four key products: NdPr oxide, a heavy rare earth-rich SEG+ concentrate, uranium, and a valuable co-product stream including niobium, scandium, and tantalum.
Global market dynamics highlight the strategic importance of heavy rare earths. Our potential SEG+ product is particularly rich in dysprosium, terbium, samarium, gadolinium and yttrium that are critical to advanced industries.
Monte Alto's exceptional chevkinite-rich mineralogy, combined with the successful results from ANSTO's metallurgical test work, reinforce our confidence that we can unlock shareholder value from this world-class, ultra-high-grade resource through low-cost leaching and conventional solvent-extraction in Brazil."
A link to the full announcement can be found here.
