St George Mining has uncovered a new zone of high-grade niobium mineralisation at its Araxá project in Brazil, with assays confirming thick intercepts from surface well beyond the current mineral resource estimate envelope.
The company says its latest discovery lies 400 metres northwest of the existing resource in a previously undrilled area, marking a clear extension of the niobium system.
Standout results from the discovery hole included an 81.5m hit running at 1.27 per cent niobium oxide from surface, with a 43m section at an eye-catching 2.01 per cent from surface and 10.5m at an even better grade of 3.41 per cent niobium oxide from 17m.
St George says that multiple holes in the northern and western expansion areas delivered several intercepts of more than 80m of high-grade niobium from surface, underscoring the system's continuity and scale at this world-class carbonatite host.
The new zone also hosts rare earths extensions, with one notable intercept of 100m at 2.16 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO) from surface.
St George says the find has bolstered the already booming prospects at Araxa and has fortified the need for a major resource upgrade, with the system still open in all directions.
The discovery lies nearly 1.2km north of the measured and indicated resource core, hinting at additional high-grade domains that could support multiple mining operations.
Drilling continues to press on around the clock, with three rigs currently on the go, targeting further step-outs northwest and infill work to incorporate the new zone.
The results of another 29 holes are still sitting in the assay lab, with management now targeting a resource upgrade in the first quarter of the year.
St George views the results as confirmation of the mineral system's large scale and extensive continuity in the world's premier niobium district. Intercepts exceeding 80m of high-grade niobium from surface highlight the deposit's world-class character and its clear edge over peers, whose mineralisation, more often than not, doesn’t kick in until 50m or more below surface.
St George Mining executive chairman John Prineas said: “This new zone of high-grade niobium is shaping up as a priority area for a potential mining operation at Araxá given the very high-grade niobium mineralisation that commences from surface. The potential commercial advantage of mineralisation starting from surface cannot be underestimated.”
Araxá already contains a niobium resource of 41.2 million tonnes grading 0.68 per cent niobium oxide and a rare earths resource of 40.6 million tonnes at 4.13 per cent TREO, positioning it as a leading carbonatite-hosted deposit in South America.
The project adjoins rare earths powerhouse CBMM's established niobium operations in the Barreiro carbonatite complex, allowing St George to benefit from proven infrastructure, hydro-power, and a mining-savvy region in Minas Gerais.
With a seemingly ever-expanding rare earths system and no domestic niobium supply in major powers like the US or China, St George’s project is likely to only grow in strategic appeal, given its strong open-pit potential and ready access to regional infrastructure.
With assays confirming surface-high grades and the mineral footprint growing almost by the day, Araxá continues to emerge as a key player in the global niobium game as one to watch closely in the rare earths-niobium tug-of-war.
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By Andrew Todd
