St George drill results deliver major Brazilian rare earths boost

St George Mining has again lifted the bar at its Araxá project in Brazil, delivering another round of standout drilling results that continue to expand and enhance its already world-class rare earths and niobium resource.

The latest diamond drilling assays from St George’s 100 per cent–owned Araxá project in Minas Gerais returned thick, high-grade mineralisation from surface, extending mineralisation into areas that have only been sparsely drilled to date. The company says the results have strengthened the case for a substantial resource upgrade.

Highlights from the new hits included exceptional intersections of up to 8.16 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO) and niobium oxide grades as high as 3.57 per cent, underscoring Araxá’s position within the world’s premier niobium-producing region. With a further 28 diamond drill hole samples still awaiting lab results, management says there is strong potential for additional high-grade results.

One of the standout results returned a thick 128.6 metres grading 4.87 per cent TREO and 0.85 per cent niobium oxide from surface. Notably, the final 11.6 metres of the hole ran at an even higher 5.61 per cent TREO, confirming mineralisation remains open at depth. 

That hit is now the second-thickest high-grade intersection drilled from surface at Araxá, significantly extending the existing resource envelope. St George says the result highlights the potential for ongoing drilling to add both scale and grade to the project.

Additional impressive assays include a hefty 100.6m grading 4.25 per cent TREO and 0.73 per cent niobium oxide from surface, including a punchy 19.6m at 8.16 per cent TREO and 1.39 per cent niobium oxide. A bonus 20-metre-thick intercept recorded 5.94 per cent TREO and 0.91 per cent niobium oxide from 39m.

Importantly, drilling to date has covered less than 10 per cent of the project’s tenement area, leaving significant upside potential for further resource growth. Most drill holes continue to finish in high-grade mineralisation, suggesting the system remains open in all directions.

Diamond drilling is continuing around the clock at Araxá, with three rigs in operation as part of the company’s 10,000-metre drilling program, due for completion in the next few weeks. The current mineral resource is modelled from surface to a depth of just 100 metres, offering clear potential for expansion both laterally and at depth.

Araxá’s location provides further strategic advantages with established infrastructure and nearby mining and processing expertise. The world’s largest niobium producer, Brazilian heavyweight CBMM - based just next door to St George’s project - has been successfully producing niobium for decades using conventional techniques such as grinding, magnetic separation and flotation.

In October, St George partnered with government-funded technology institute CEFET to develop a large-scale pilot plant. This pilot-first approach is designed to de-risk processing, support environmental and operating approvals and provide greater flexibility in selecting an eventual mine site.

Often overlooked, niobium is a quiet powerhouse metal. Just tiny amounts added to steel massively boost strength while cutting weight, making it essential for buildings, pipelines and cars. It’s also used in jet engines, turbines, medical implants and specialist glass. With its growing role in advanced tech, niobium is now officially classed as a critical mineral.

St George Mining executive chairman John Prineas said: “It’s drill, drill, drill at Araxá. The consistency of the results is very impressive. Together with the new mineralisation discovered beyond previously defined limits, the drilling is transforming the scale of the MRE and further positioning St George as one of the leaders in the rare earths and niobium sectors.”

With mineralisation continuing to deliver a potent mix of all-important magnet rare earths, Araxá’s existing 40.6-million-tonne resource already stands as South America’s largest and highest-grade carbonatite-hosted rare earth deposit. As drilling continues to extend scale and confidence, the project is fast shaping up as a globally significant contender for rare earths and niobium.

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