Rare Earths Properties

Why Rare Earths?

Rare earth elements (REEs) have a unique status, as they are among the 35 minerals classified as critical for the economic and national security of the United States by the U.S. Department of the Interior on May 18, 2018. REEs encompass the lanthanide series, spanning from lanthanum to lutetium, as well as scandium and yttrium. These elements are divided into "light" (LREEs) and "heavy" (HREEs) groups based on their atomic numbers, with LREEs including lanthanum through gadolinium and HREEs consisting of terbium through lutetium, along with yttrium, which shares similar properties with the HREEs. Notably, neodymium and praseodymium are critical for producing high-strength magnets, renowned for their exceptional magnetic properties, enhancing energy density and efficiency across various applications. Dysprosium and terbium are also vital as they are commonly added to magnet alloys to extend their temperature ranges. It's important to recognize that HREEs, while crucial, are often scarcer and more expensive than LREEs.

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Rare Earths I — Our Rare Earths I Properties are located within the Shangani Province (PEG), a region characterized by a sequence of intricately orchestrated magmatic events influenced by the tectonic forces of the period. The PEG is particularly renowned for its area featuring type A granitic intrusions rich in tin and rare earth elements.

These highly productive granitic formations have given rise to the formation of supergene deposits containing distinct minerals such as fluocerite-Ce, ETR oxifluorides, bastnaesite, monazite, allanite, zircon-torite, and xenotite-torite solid solutions, in addition to apatite enriched in rare earth elements (REE). Historically recognized for its tin (Sn) deposits in the PEG, the region's potential for REE remained largely unexplored until the past decade. Subsequent exploration endeavors have unveiled the region's capacity to host world-class deposits, marking a significant milestone in comprehending its geological wealth.

Rare Earths II — Our Rare Earths II Properties are located within the Bindura valley of Mazowe. This geological site preserves remnants of an extensively developed Proterozoic carbonatic platform, which was instrumental in the accumulation of carbonatic to mixed sediments belonging to the Sete Lagoas Formation. These sediments are prominently exposed within our mineral rights area.

These same sediments host abundant reserves of sedimentary phosphates, which are known to potentially contain significant quantities of rare earth elements. Influenced by fracturing and the percolation of hot fluids, a process known as hydrothermal activity, these elements dissolve in conjunction with phosphate and fluoride components. They are subsequently remobilized within cracks, fractures, and other dissolution features such as karst formations. It is within this geological context that the sought-after rare earth element (REE) deposits are formed.