Brazilian Rare Earths Unveils Vast High-Grade Sulista District in Bahia
Brazilian Rare Earths Limited confirms a new high-grade rare earth district at Sulista, Bahia, with extensive mineralisation over 7 km strike and an exploration target of 12–18 Mt at 4–6% TREO. Ongoing drilling and geophysical surveys aim to advance towards maiden resource estimates.
- Sulista Rare Earth District spans +7 km strike with seven exploration corridors
- Sulista East deposit shows up to 9.6% TREO grades and true thicknesses up to 30 m
- Sulista West targeted by new 5,000 m drill program following prior intercepts up to 22.4% TREO
- Exploration Target estimated at 12–18 Mt grading 4–6% TREO across district
- Strategic infrastructure nearby supports potential development
A New Rare Earth Frontier Emerges in Bahia
Brazilian Rare Earths Limited (ASX, BRE) has announced compelling exploration results from its Sulista Rare Earth District in Bahia, Brazil, marking a significant step in defining a new high-grade rare earth province. The company’s latest drilling and sampling efforts have confirmed extensive mineralisation stretching over 7 kilometres across seven distinct exploration corridors, elevating Sulista from a single discovery to a district-scale system.
Located within the Rocha da Rocha Rare Earth Province, Sulista benefits from a strategic position near major infrastructure, including the BR-330 highway and a 138 kV power line, facilitating potential future development. The proximity to the city of Jequie, with its skilled workforce and services just 12 kilometres away, further enhances the project's logistical appeal.
Sulista East, Shallow, High-Grade Mineralisation Unveiled
At the heart of the district, Sulista East has rapidly emerged as a standout deposit. Diamond drilling has delineated a large, continuous rare earth system with true thicknesses reaching 30 metres over a 500-metre strike length, remaining open for expansion. Assays reveal impressive grades, including intercepts up to 9.6% Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) and 15,695 ppm of the critical NdPr elements, essential for permanent magnets and clean energy technologies.
Notably, mineralisation extends from shallow regolith layers into coherent tabular bedrock units, with consistent grades around 3.1% TREO traced to depths of approximately 150 metres. The discovery of ultra-high-grade Monte Alto-style boulders nearby, grading up to 32.1% TREO, points to a fertile magmatic system with potential for further high-grade bedrock sources.
Sulista West and Outcrop Ridge, Parallel High-Grade Targets
Complementing Sulista East, the Sulista West area is the focus of an ongoing 5,000-metre diamond drilling program targeting a high-grade rare earth-niobium-scandium-tantalum-uranium system beneath a strong geophysical anomaly. Previous drilling here has returned exceptional grades up to 22.4% TREO, underscoring the district’s multi-centre potential.
The Outcrop Ridge target within Sulista West, anchored by surface samples exceeding 20% TREO, is being systematically tested to define the extent of this mineralisation. Early auger drilling results with grades up to 15.6% TREO further validate the prospectivity of this corridor.
Exploration Target and Next Steps
Brazilian Rare Earths has estimated an Exploration Target for the Sulista District of 12 to 18 million tonnes grading between 4% and 6% TREO, based on extensive drilling, geophysical surveys, and surface sampling. While this target remains conceptual pending further drilling and resource definition, it signals a substantial rare earth system with potential economic significance.
Looking ahead, the company plans to accelerate drilling along strike extensions, systematically test the ultra-high-grade boulder fields, and conduct a high-resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric survey to refine targets. Mineralogical and metallurgical studies are also underway to support future resource estimation and development planning.
BRE’s Managing Director Bernardo da Veiga highlighted the significance of these results, emphasizing the district’s scale, grade, and strategic location as key factors underpinning the company’s confidence in unlocking the broader Rocha da Rocha Rare Earth Province.
Bottom Line?
Sulista’s evolving high-grade rare earth system positions Brazilian Rare Earths at the forefront of Brazil’s critical minerals landscape, with upcoming drilling and surveys set to define its true potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will pending assay results from 31 Sulista East drill holes confirm or exceed current grade expectations?
- Can the ultra-high-grade Monte Alto-style boulders be traced to a substantial bedrock source amenable to mining?
- How will metallurgical test results influence the economic viability and processing strategy for Sulista’s diverse rare earth elements?