Australian miner St George Mining has struck a series of spectacular high-grade intercepts at its flagship Araxá rare earths and niobium project in Brazil, signalling potential for a massive expansion of the already world-class resource.
Exceptional Drill Results Point to Major Growth
The company's latest diamond drill assays have confirmed remarkably thick and rich mineralisation starting right at surface, well beyond the boundaries of the current resource. The standout result was a colossal 99.1-metre intersection grading 5.62% total rare earth oxides (TREO) from surface, which included even more dazzling sub-intervals reaching up to 22.42% TREO.
Another drill hole delivered an equally impressive 100.6-metre hit at 4.82% TREO and 0.64% niobium pentoxide, also from surface. This hole contained a rich 25.5-metre section assaying 6.55% TREO and 1.17% niobium pentoxide from just 15 metres down-hole.
These results are part of a consistent pattern, with other holes returning over 120 metres at better than 3% TREO and nearly 70 metres above 6% TREO, all from surface. Critically, the mineralisation remains open in all directions and at depth, with high-grade hits continuing at the bottom of most holes.
Positioned for a Low-Cost, High-Value Operation
The current resource at Araxá, acquired just 12 months ago, already stands at 40.6 million tonnes at 4.13% TREO, making it South America's largest and highest-grade carbonatite-hosted rare earth deposit. The associated niobium resource is 41.2 million tonnes at 0.68% niobium pentoxide.
Executive chairman John Prineas stated the results support a substantial resource upgrade planned for release this quarter and will positively impact ongoing economic studies. "This style of deposit, we believe, will be very likely to support a low-cost open pit mine which can quickly access high-value mineralisation," Prineas said.
The deposit is also enriched in high-value magnet rare earths, with a neodymium-praseodymium-to-TREO ratio of 20% across the resource. A key mineralogical discovery of primary pyrochlore as the host for niobium suggests a robust primary mineral source may lie beneath the already enriched zones.
Drilling in a Premier Mining Address
St George's project sits in an enviable location within the prolific Barreiro carbonatite complex in Minas Gerais, Brazil, just 6 kilometres from the city of Araxá. It neighbours the established niobium operation of rare earths giant CBMM, providing access to proven infrastructure, reliable hydropower, and a skilled local workforce.
The company's 10,000-metre expansion drill program is in full swing with three diamond rigs operating around the clock. With assays pending for 32 holes, the campaign has been extended indefinitely into 2026 to test the full extent of the mineralised system.
Backed by strong government support for fast-tracked approvals and a seasoned in-country team, St George has firmly planted its flag in one of the world's premier addresses for critical minerals, positioning itself for significant growth in the global rare earths and niobium sector.
