St George Mining Strengthens Leadership with Brazilian Geologist for Rare Earths Initiative
St George Mining has significantly enhanced its executive team by appointing a highly experienced in-country geologist, as the company ramps up planning and development efforts for its world-class Araxá rare earths-niobium project located in Brazil. This strategic move aims to leverage local expertise to advance the project toward production.
New Hire Brings Decades of Local Mining Experience
Carla Grasso joins St George Mining as a senior resource geologist, bringing over twenty years of operational experience in the mining sector. Her extensive background includes key roles with major industry players such as Vale and The Mosaic Company, where she specialized in resource modelling, mine planning, and operational geology.
Notably, Grasso spent fifteen years working at Mosaic's Araxá phosphate mine, which is situated immediately adjacent to St George's project and shares the same carbonatite geological complex. Her deep familiarity with the local geology, particularly the Barreiro carbonatite that hosts the Araxá deposit, is expected to provide invaluable insights as the company progresses with detailed development studies.
Key Responsibilities and Project Significance
In her new position, Grasso will oversee critical technical aspects of the development studies, including resource modelling, reserve estimation, grade control strategies, pit optimisation, and geometallurgical analysis. St George Mining executive chairman John Prineas emphasized her importance, stating, Carla is an exceptional addition to our highly experienced Brazilian team. Her knowledge of carbonatite mineralisation, especially at the Barreiro Carbonatite, and vast experience in short and long-term mine planning will be invaluable as we unlock the huge potential of Araxá.
This hiring comes on the heels of a substantial 75 per cent upgrade to the resource estimate at Araxá, reinforcing its status as a potential Tier 1 global rare earths asset. The JORC-compliant resource now totals 70.91 million tonnes, grading 4.06 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO).
Resource Details and Future Prospects
The resource includes 0.77 per cent magnet rare earth oxides, essential for electric motors, wind turbines, and high-tech electronics, and 0.62 per cent niobium pentoxide, used in advanced steels and emerging battery technologies. Confidence in the resource has surged, with the measured and indicated component increasing by 218 per cent to 29.49 million tonnes, grading 4.56 per cent TREO, including 0.84 per cent magnet rare earth oxides and 0.75 per cent niobium pentoxide.
Additionally, an inferred inventory of 41.42 million tonnes grading 3.71 per cent TREO and 0.52 per cent niobium pentoxide offers further potential for expansion through ongoing drilling. The resource remains open in all directions and at depth, with mineralisation starting at surface and extending to 160 metres, supporting prospects for a long-life, low-cost open-pit mining operation.
Strategic Location and Ongoing Activities
The Araxá project is strategically located next to Brazilian Metallurgy and Mining Company's (CBMM) flagship operation, which produces approximately 75 per cent of the world's niobium and benefits from established mining infrastructure. St George is currently conducting an 8000 metre drilling program with three diamond rigs to assess deeper extensions and potential resource expansion targets.
Recent discoveries at East Araxá, one kilometre east of the main deposit, have shown enhanced grade profiles, with notable drill results including 48 metres grading 5.71 per cent TREO from 2 metres depth, including 15 metres grading an exceptional 12.61 per cent TREO from 4 metres.
Conclusion: A Watershed Moment for Development
With government support for expedited approvals and development studies accelerating, St George Mining is poised to advance the Araxá project steadily. The appointment of Carla Grasso could mark a pivotal moment as the project transitions from a promising geological asset to a fully-fledged mine development story, driving value and momentum in the rare earths sector.
