Rare Earths II

Main Content

Minerals
Rare Earths
Ownership
100%
Location
Mashonaland
Size
19,009 Acres
Infrastructure
Paved highway, water, nearby electrical power grid

Our Rare Earths II Properties are situated within the Mashonaland Central province of Zimbabwe. This geological structure preserves remnants of a well-established Proterozoic carbonatic platform, which played a pivotal role in accumulating carbonatic to mixed sediments of the Sete Lagoas Formation. These sedimentary formations are prominently exposed within the boundaries of our mineral rights.

These sedimentary deposits also encompass substantial reserves of sedimentary phosphates, which have the potential to contain significant quantities of rare earth elements (REEs). When these sediments undergo fracturing and are subjected to the percolation of hot fluids, a process known as hydrothermalism, the REEs become soluble along with phosphate and fluoride elements. They are subsequently remobilized within cracks, fractures, and other dissolution features, including karst formations. It is within this specific geological context that the sought-after REE deposits are created.

Why Rare Earths?

Rare earth elements (REEs) hold a significant status, being part of the list of 35 minerals recognized as critical to the economic and national security of the United States, a designation first published by the U.S. Department of the Interior on May 18, 2018. REEs encompass the lanthanide series, which includes lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium, along with scandium and yttrium. These elements are categorized as "light" and "heavy" based on their atomic numbers, with light REEs (LREEs) encompassing lanthanum through gadolinium (atomic numbers 57 through 64). Heavy REEs (HREEs) consist of terbium through lutetium (atomic numbers 65 through 71) and yttrium (atomic number 39), which shares similar chemical and physical characteristics with the HREEs. Notably, neodymium and praseodymium are essential materials in the production of magnets known for their exceptional magnetic strength, contributing to high energy density and efficiency in a wide range of applications. Dysprosium and terbium are also critical elements often added to magnet alloys to extend their operating temperature ranges. HREEs are typically less abundant and more costly than LREEs.