Battery minerals, Exploration/Development, News

Rare earths surge for BCM

Brazilian Critical Minerals (BCM) is striking rare earth gold at its Ema project, with drilling revealing mineralisation across an 82-square-kilometres footprint.

The second batch of 49 infill holes from the 2025 program, part of an expanded 101-hole campaign, returned thick, consistent rare earth elements (REE) zones, reinforcing the project’s scalability and supporting the planned in-situ recovery (ISR) approach.

“These results highlight the key attributes we seek in a scalable ionic adsorption clay rare earth system: lateral continuity, predictable grade–thickness, and a consistent vertical enrichment profile,” BCM managing director Andrew Reid said.

“Mineralisation strengthens toward the lower saprolite near the fresh rock interface, supporting a laterally extensive horizon now widespread over more than 80 square kilometres.”

Notable intercepts include 8.5m at 1513 parts per metre (ppm) total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 10m and 10m at 1253ppm TREO from 8m, with neodymium and praseodymium enrichment concentrated near the base of the saprolite, the optimal zone for low-cost, in-situ leaching.

The proportion of heavy rare earths at depth has increased to more than 31 per cent of TREO composition, enhancing the project’s economic potential.

Drilling has also confirmed the lateral continuity required for ISR wellfield design, providing confidence in future resource upgrades.

The results will feed into the 2026 first half mineral resource estimate update, a key milestone ahead of the bankable feasibility study, which remains on track for completion in the second quarter of 2026.

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