How Summit Minerals’ Brazil Tests Unlock High-Grade Tantalum and Niobium

Metallurgical Breakthrough at Equador Project

Summit Minerals Limited (ASX – SUM) has announced encouraging results from initial metallurgical testwork on samples from its Equador Project, located in the Brazilian states of Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte. Independent Metallurgical Operations Ltd (IMO) conducted the tests, which demonstrate the project's tantalum (Ta) and niobium (Nb) bearing pegmatites respond well to simple density-based beneficiation techniques.

The Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) tests delivered tantalum concentrates reaching up to 3.6% Ta and niobium concentrates up to 1.3% Nb, representing upgrade factors of 45 times for tantalum and 35 times for niobium compared to original head grades. Gravity table separation, a more practical processing method, also showed strong recoveries with tantalum exceeding 50% and niobium recoveries between 52% and 87%, despite non-optimized conditions.

Implications for Processing and Development

These results are significant because they suggest that the Equador pegmatites can be upgraded effectively using well-established, straightforward processing methods. This bodes well for the potential economic viability of the project, as simpler processing flowsheets typically translate to lower capital and operating costs.

Summit's Managing Director, Dr Matthew Cobb, highlighted the importance of these findings, noting that the pegmatites in the south-east portion of the project show elevated tantalum and niobium values and significant mineral fractionation. The metallurgical data provides a clear pathway for stage-two testing, focusing on optimizing crush size and separation densities to maximize recoveries and concentrate grades.

Next Steps – Mineralogy, Sampling, and Exploration

Building on these promising early results, Summit plans a second round of bulk sampling from the same target areas to support detailed mineralogical studies. These studies will refine processing parameters and help tailor beneficiation techniques to the specific mineral characteristics of the deposit.

Meanwhile, the company continues its soil sampling program across the Equador Project and adjacent areas, with samples already dispatched to Intertek Laboratories in Western Australia for multi-element analysis. This geochemical work aims to define multiple drilling targets once permitting is complete.

Additionally, Summit is preparing for a site visit to its other Brazilian projects in Minas Gerais, where further sampling and metallurgical work will be undertaken. The company remains focused on advancing its portfolio of battery mineral projects with a disciplined exploration and development approach.

Context in the Battery Minerals Market

Tantalum and niobium are critical components in high-performance electronics and emerging battery technologies, making Summit’s progress at Equador particularly timely. The ability to produce high-grade concentrates through simple processing could position the project competitively within the global supply chain for these strategic metals.

While these metallurgical results are preliminary and require further optimization, they provide a solid foundation for Summit Minerals to advance its Brazilian projects toward resource definition and potential development.