Power Minerals Launches 10,000m Drilling Campaign at Santa Anna to Unlock Niobium-REE Potential
Power Minerals has commenced a significant 10,000m reverse circulation drilling program at its Santa Anna Project in Brazil, aiming to expand and deepen the footprint of high-grade niobium and rare earth elements mineralisation. Results are anticipated by late March 2026.
- 10,000m RC drilling underway targeting deeper and western extensions
- Focus on expanding mineralised footprint within Santa Anna Alkaline Complex
- Drilling to support updated mineralisation model and resource estimate
- Power Minerals now owns entire 17.05 km² Santa Anna Project
- Results expected by late March 2026
A Major Step in Exploration
Power Minerals Limited (ASX, PNN) has initiated a substantial reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at its Santa Anna Niobium-Rare Earth Elements (REE) Project in Goiás State, Brazil. The 10,000-metre program marks the third phase of drilling and builds on earlier successes that revealed broad zones of niobium and high-grade REE mineralisation near surface and at depth.
The campaign aims to extend the known mineralised footprint westward and test deeper targets within the Santa Anna Alkaline Complex, a geological formation known for hosting valuable carbonatite deposits. This drilling will provide critical data to refine the project’s mineralisation model and update the Mineral Resource Estimate, a key milestone for advancing the project’s development.
Unlocking Depth and Scale
Previous drilling at Santa Anna has already demonstrated promising results, including a standout hole (MN-RC-009) that intersected 51 metres at 1.16% total rare earth oxides (TREO) from surface to end of hole. Notably, only a small fraction of the complex has been tested below this depth, suggesting significant potential remains untapped. The current program will focus on expanding exploration both laterally and vertically, targeting magnetic anomalies and deeper mineralisation zones that have yet to be drilled.
Power Minerals’ Managing Director, Mena Habib, emphasised the strategic importance of this phase, noting that the drilling is designed to rapidly test new target areas and provide robust data to support a future Exploration Target or Mineral Resource Estimate. The company has also completed an auger drilling program to complement the RC drilling, targeting shallow weathered zones rich in niobium and REEs.
Consolidating Ownership and Advancing Development
In December 2025, Power Minerals exercised its option to acquire 100% ownership of the 17.05 square kilometre Santa Anna Project, consolidating control over this highly prospective asset. The project hosts not only niobium and REEs but also gallium, adding to its strategic value amid growing global demand for critical minerals essential to clean energy technologies.
The Santa Anna Alkaline Complex remains only partially explored, with large areas, particularly to the south and east, yet to be drilled. The ongoing campaign’s systematic sampling and rigorous quality controls aim to deliver high-confidence data that will underpin future resource estimates and potentially elevate the project’s profile within the critical minerals sector.
Looking Ahead
Drilling is expected to conclude by late March 2026, with assay results to be released subsequently. These results will be closely watched by investors and industry observers, as they will provide clearer insights into the scale and grade of mineralisation at Santa Anna, informing the project’s development trajectory and its role in Power Minerals’ South American portfolio.
Bottom Line?
As Power Minerals pushes deeper and wider at Santa Anna, the coming months will be pivotal in defining the project’s true potential in the critical minerals race.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the new drilling confirm extensions of high-grade niobium and REE mineralisation at depth?
- How might updated resource estimates impact Power Minerals’ valuation and development plans?
- What are the timelines and next steps for advancing Santa Anna towards production?
