Monte Alto Metallurgical Results Successfully Deliver High-Purity MREC and Yellowcake Product

Rhea-AI Summary

Brazilian Rare Earths Limited (BRELY) has announced successful metallurgical results from its Monte Alto Project, achieving high-purity Mixed-Rare-Earth Carbonate (MREC) production and uranium peroxide (yellowcake) extraction. The company reported excellent leaching extractions of magnetic rare earth elements, with NdPr at 85%, Tb at 88%, and Dy at 89%, with peak NdPr recovery reaching 90%. The process achieved exceptional mineral-to-MREC recoveries between 83-87% from run-of-mine mineral samples grading 15.3% TREO. The company's strategy focuses on four high-value products: NdPr oxide for permanent magnets, SEG+ product rich in heavy rare earths, uranium yellowcake, and co-products including niobium, tantalum, and scandium. The direct mineral-to-MREC route bypasses mineral beneficiation, offering capital and operational cost advantages while increasing total rare-earth yields.

Positive

• Successful production of high-purity MREC meeting quality specifications for conventional separation
• Strong magnetic rare earth recoveries with NdPr reaching 90% peak recovery
• Efficient uranium co-product extraction achieving yellowcake production
• Cost-effective direct mineral-to-MREC process bypassing beneficiation
• Multiple revenue streams from four high-value products
• Strategic location advantages in Brazil with low-cost hydroelectric power and domestic reagent supply

Negative

• None.

• High-purity MREC production: Successfully produced a Mixed-Rare-Earth Carbonate (MREC) product that meets quality specifications for conventional solvent-extraction separation circuits
• Strong magnetic rare-earth recoveries: High recoveries of magnetic rare earth elements NdPr and DyTb via hydrometallurgical leaching, with TREO extraction rates between 86-90%
• Uranium co-product recovery: Successful extraction of uranium with precipitation of uranium peroxide (a form of yellowcake)
• Direct ‘run-of-mine’ mineral-to-MREC route: Bypassing mineral beneficiation unlocks both capex and opex advantages and increases total rare-earth yields

• Next metallurgical stages underway: Metallurgical studies now progressing to production of separated NdPr rare earth products and potential recovery of valuable co-products, including niobium, tantalum and scandium
  

SYDNEY, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brazilian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: BRE / OTCQX: BRELY) (‘BRE’) is pleased to report the successful production of both a mixed-rare earth carbonate (MREC) and a uranium peroxide from the ultra-high grade REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation from the Monte Alto Project.  

Metallurgical Highlights

• High-value magnetic rare-earths: Excellent leaching extractions of NdPr (85%), Tb (88%), Dy (89%), with peak recovery values for NdPr reaching 90%
• Exceptional mineral-to-MREC rare-earths recoveries: Projected closed-circuit recoveries for Monte Alto ‘run-of-mine’ mineral sample grade of 15.3 % TREO (153,000 ppm) to the production of high-purity MREC between 83-87%
• MREC for valuable product separation: MREC product meets physical and chemical criteria for rare earth separation from conventional solvent-extraction circuits
• Successful uranium extraction: Efficient uranium recovery using standard tertiary-amine ion-exchange resin to produce a clean MREC product
• Scalable performance: Larger-batch leaching results confirm scalability and reproducibility from previous successful trials
  

These results mark the successful completion of the second and final phase of Scoping-level metallurgical test work undertaken with ANSTO Minerals and represents a major milestone in BRE's strategy to establish a fully integrated rare-earths and critical-minerals supply chain in Brazil.

Furthermore, the successful production of high-purity MREC and uranium peroxide represents a key advancement in BRE’s product strategy, which initially targets four high-value products:

• NdPr oxide: a critical permanent magnet rare earth product
• SEG+ product: a highly marketable concentrate product that is rich in dysprosium, terbium, samarium, gadolinium and yttrium
• Uranium yellowcake product: a strategic co-product for growing global demand
• Multi-revenue co-products: multiple potential co-product streams including niobium, tantalum and scandium
  

Brazilian Rare Earths’ CEO and Managing Director, Bernardo da Veiga, commented:

“In just 16 months, we’ve progressed from Monte Alto’s first ultra-high-grade diamond-core intercepts to the successful production of a high-purity mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) and uranium peroxide co-product.

This is a major milestone that validates our development strategy: advancing systematic techno-economic studies to establish a fully integrated rare earths and critical minerals supply chain in Brazil, whilst retaining the tactical optionality of a low-capex, low-opex, ultra-high-grade ‘DSO-style’ operation.

Brazil offers a unique location for value creation - abundant low-cost hydroelectric power, skilled labour, and domestic reagent supply provide structural cost advantages for downstream processing. From our high-purity MREC, we aim to produce four key products: NdPr oxide, a heavy rare earth-rich SEG+ concentrate, uranium, and a valuable co-product stream including niobium, scandium, and tantalum.

Global market dynamics highlight the strategic importance of heavy rare earths. Our potential SEG+ product is particularly rich in dysprosium, terbium, samarium, gadolinium and yttrium that are critical to advanced industries.

Monte Alto’s exceptional chevkinite-rich mineralogy, combined with the successful results from ANSTO’s metallurgical test work, reinforce our confidence that we can unlock shareholder value from this world-class, ultra-high-grade resource through low-cost leaching and conventional solvent-extraction in Brazil.”

A link to the full announcement can be found here.

Contacts

Bernardo Da Veiga, Managing Director and CEO

investors@brazilianrareearths.com
www.brazilianrareearths.com

Sign up to our investor hub at investors.brazilianrareearths.com

FAQ

What are the key metallurgical results from Brazilian Rare Earths' Monte Alto Project?

The project achieved high-purity MREC production with excellent leaching extractions of NdPr (85%), Tb (88%), and Dy (89%), along with successful uranium peroxide extraction. Mineral-to-MREC recoveries reached 83-87% from 15.3% TREO grade samples.

What are the four main products Brazilian Rare Earths (BRELY) plans to produce?

BRELY plans to produce NdPr oxide for permanent magnets, SEG+ product rich in heavy rare earths, uranium yellowcake, and co-products including niobium, tantalum, and scandium.

What advantages does Brazilian Rare Earths have for its Monte Alto operations?

The company benefits from Brazil's abundant low-cost hydroelectric power, skilled labor, domestic reagent supply, and a direct mineral-to-MREC process that reduces capital and operating costs.

What is the significance of BRELY's MREC production achievement?

The high-purity MREC production meets quality specifications for conventional solvent-extraction separation circuits, enabling efficient processing while bypassing mineral beneficiation, which reduces costs and increases rare-earth yields.

How does Brazilian Rare Earths' metallurgical process improve efficiency?

The company's direct run-of-mine mineral-to-MREC route bypasses mineral beneficiation, providing both capital and operational cost advantages while achieving high total rare-earth yields between 83-87%.