Araxá Project’s Rare Earths and Niobium Resources Boosted by Expert Hire

• Appointment of Carla Grasso as Principal Geologist based in Araxá, Brazil
• Grasso brings over 21 years’ experience including work at adjacent Araxá phosphate mine
• Focus on mine planning, resource estimation, and geometallurgical assessment
• Follows recent major resource upgrade boosting rare earths and niobium tonnage
• Strengthens St George’s in-country leadership for project development

Strategic Leadership Appointment

St George Mining Limited has announced a key executive appointment with the hiring of Ms Carla Grasso as Principal Geologist for its Araxá Rare Earths-Niobium Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Positioned in the city of Araxá itself, Ms Grasso’s role is pivotal as the company advances economic studies and mine planning following a significant resource upgrade announced just days earlier.

Ms Grasso’s extensive background in Brazilian mining operations, particularly her 15 years at the nearby Araxá phosphate mine owned by The Mosaic Company, equips her with invaluable local expertise. Her deep familiarity with the Barreiro Carbonatite geological formation, which hosts St George’s project, is expected to accelerate the transition from resource definition to mine development.

Expertise Driving Development

With over two decades of experience in resource geology, Ms Grasso brings a comprehensive skill set encompassing resource modelling, reserve reporting, and mine planning. She is well-versed in international reporting standards including the Australian JORC Code, US SK-1300, and Canadian NI43-101, and holds qualifications as a Competent Person under AusIMM and CBRR. This ensures technical rigour and compliance in all resource estimations and public disclosures.

Her responsibilities will include overseeing mineral resource models, coordinating geometallurgical sampling and analysis, and leading both short- and long-term mine planning efforts. This hands-on leadership is critical as St George seeks to optimise pit designs, grade control, and metallurgical performance to underpin a viable mining operation.

Building on a World-Class Resource

The appointment comes on the heels of a major resource upgrade for the Araxá Project, which now boasts a total of 70.91 million tonnes at 4.06% total rare earth oxides (TREO) and 0.62% niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅) using a 2% TREO cut-off. An additional 24.56 million tonnes of niobium material was identified at a lower cut-off, highlighting the project’s substantial scale and quality.

Located adjacent to CBMM’s world-leading niobium operations, Araxá benefits from established infrastructure and a skilled local workforce. St George’s in-country team, now bolstered by Ms Grasso’s appointment, is well positioned to navigate regulatory pathways and advance the project through detailed economic and feasibility studies.

Outlook and Market Positioning

Executive Chairman John Prineas emphasised the strategic importance of this hire, noting Ms Grasso’s expertise as a catalyst for unlocking Araxá’s potential. With rare earths and niobium critical to emerging technologies and clean energy applications, St George aims to establish itself as a globally significant supplier.

As the company progresses from resource definition to development, the focus will shift to refining mine plans, optimising processing routes, and securing project approvals. Ms Grasso’s leadership in these technical areas will be closely watched by investors eager for tangible milestones towards production.

Bottom Line?

With a seasoned geologist now leading mine planning, St George is poised to turn its resource potential into operational reality.

Questions in the middle?

• What are the timelines for completing the economic and feasibility studies at Araxá?
• How will Ms Grasso’s appointment influence project financing and partnerships?
• What are the key risks in advancing from resource upgrade to mining operation?