How St George Mining’s New Pilot Plant Could Transform Brazil’s Rare Earths Industry

Government Partnership Fuels Rare Earths Innovation

St George Mining Limited has announced a significant milestone in its Araxá Project development with the establishment of the St George Technological Centre at the Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais (CEFET) in Brazil. This collaboration, supported by substantial government funding, includes the construction of a large-scale pilot plant dedicated to downstream processing studies of rare earths and niobium extracted from the Araxá carbonatite deposit.

The pilot plant initiative is a strategic step forward, building on a successful nine-month metallurgical pilot study completed prior to St George’s acquisition of the project. That study demonstrated the ability to produce rare earth oxalate with over 99% purity and an impressive 86% total rare earth oxide recovery, while effectively removing radioactive contaminants such as thorium and uranium.

Expert Team and Cutting-Edge Research Drive Progress

To ensure the pilot plant’s success and accelerate the project’s advancement, St George has appointed a team of seasoned metallurgical experts. This includes Mr Alaercio Viera, bringing hands-on experience from Brazil’s leading niobium and rare earth operations, alongside Australian consultants Gavin Beer and Peter Adamini, both internationally recognised for their expertise in critical metals metallurgy.

The Technological Centre will not only serve St George’s processing needs but also foster research programs focused on sustainable mining and innovative processing techniques. The partnership with CEFET ensures access to advanced materials science capabilities, enabling the development of optimised and environmentally responsible production methods.

Araxa Project – A World-Class Resource with Strategic Importance

The Araxá Project stands as one of the largest and highest-grade carbonatite-hosted rare earth and niobium deposits globally. With a JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate of over 40 million tonnes grading 4.13% total rare earth oxides and 0.68% niobium pentoxide, the project is poised to become a cornerstone in Brazil’s critical metals supply chain.

St George’s ongoing drilling program aims to expand and upgrade this resource further, enhancing the project’s commercial viability. The company’s integration into initiatives like the MagBras Project, which seeks to establish a fully integrated rare earth magnet supply chain within Brazil, underscores the strategic value of Araxá’s output for both domestic industry and international partners.

Looking Ahead – From Pilot Plant to Market Integration

With government concessions expected to halve pilot plant costs through tax benefits, and a structured plan for knowledge transfer to CEFET over five years, St George is laying the groundwork for a sustainable and scalable operation. The pilot plant will enable testing of new processing routes and downstream products, including mixed rare earth concentrates and separated neodymium/praseodymium oxides, critical for high-performance magnets.

As the company advances metallurgical studies and resource expansion, the Araxá Project is increasingly positioned to supply critical metals essential for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing, reinforcing Brazil’s role in the global critical minerals landscape.