Aclara Resources said the initial inferred mineral resource for its regolith-hosted ion adsorption clay project in central Brazil is estimated at 168 million tonnes with a grade of 1,510 ppm total rare earth oxide and 477 ppm desorbable rare earth oxide.
“The combination of its large size and attractive grades makes the Carina Module an outstanding deposit of ionic clays and significantly increases Aclara’s total resource base. The fact that we can apply our patented metallurgical recovery process, which combines competitive costs with superior environmental qualities, provides a promising backdrop for the upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment,” said CEO Ramon Barua.
“We are excited by the possibility of becoming a significantly larger supplier of magnetic rare earths, especially dysprosium, given how critical these elements are in our planet’s fight against climate change.”
The company said it is pursuing additional resources through the completion of a reverse circulation drilling campaign, which is already underway and scheduled to be completed in Q2 2024.
Aclara’s primary project, the Penco Module, is located in the BioBio region of southern Chile.
Source: Aclara Resources