Sulista Project Drilling Yields Up to 21% TREO and Expands Mineralised Corridor by 3.5 km
Brazilian Rare Earths Limited has confirmed an ultra-high-grade rare earth deposit at its Sulista Project in Brazil, highlighted by exceptional drill results and a new Outcrop Ridge discovery signaling district-scale potential.
- Diamond drilling confirms ultra-high-grade REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U deposit at Sulista West
- Assays reveal up to 21% total rare earth oxides (TREO) with significant critical mineral concentrations
- New Outcrop Ridge discovery shows surface samples up to 20.6% TREO over 3.5 km strike
- Ongoing 3,000m diamond drilling at Sulista East targets monazite sands and hard-rock mineralisation
- High-resolution drone geophysical surveys planned to guide further exploration
Exploration Breakthrough at Sulista West
Brazilian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: BRE) has delivered a significant exploration update from its Sulista Project in Bahia, Brazil, confirming the presence of an ultra-high-grade rare earth element (REE) deposit. Diamond drilling at Sulista West has delineated a coherent mineralised zone with true thicknesses reaching up to 18.5 metres and extending over at least 120 metres along strike. Assay results include impressive grades of up to 21% total rare earth oxides (TREO), with critical elements such as neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr), dysprosium-terbium (DyTb), niobium (Nb), scandium (Sc), tantalum (Ta), and uranium (U) present in substantial concentrations.
The deposit exhibits a distinctive Monte Alto-style cumulate mineralisation, characterized by chevkinite-rich zones that link high-grade surface outcrops directly to subsurface mineralisation. This continuity underscores the robustness of the deposit and validates the company’s exploration model, which has successfully identified multiple high-grade corridors within the Rocha da Rocha Province.
Outcrop Ridge Discovery Expands District Potential
Ground-based gamma surveys and geological mapping have identified a strong geophysical anomaly associated with Outcrop Ridge, further supporting the prospectivity of this new zone. The company plans to conduct detailed soil sampling, drone-based geophysical surveys, and targeted drilling to test the continuity of mineralisation from surface into bedrock.
Advancing Sulista East and Sulista North Targets
At Sulista East, exploration is focused on thick zones of high-grade monazite sands, with previous auger drilling intersecting intervals such as 10 metres at 6.1% TREO. A 3,000-metre diamond drilling program is underway to evaluate the potential for underlying hard-rock REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation. This area exhibits a scale comparable to the Monte Alto deposit, indicating significant upside if continuity is confirmed.
Sulista North, situated less than 1.5 kilometres northwest of Sulista West, has yielded ultra-high-grade boulder samples with TREO grades up to 21%. These findings highlight the presence of multiple mineralised corridors within the broader Sulista Project, reinforcing its district-scale exploration potential.
Strategic Implications and Next Steps
Brazilian Rare Earths’ CEO Bernardo da Veiga emphasized the strategic importance of these results, noting the potential for the Rocha da Rocha Province to become a major supplier of critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. The company is accelerating its exploration efforts with additional diamond and auger drilling, comprehensive drone-based magnetic and radiometric surveys, and detailed geological mapping to refine targets and expand resource definitions.
While assay results for some drill holes remain pending and economic feasibility studies are forthcoming, the current data significantly bolster confidence in the project’s potential. Environmental permitting and regulatory considerations in Brazil will also play a critical role in the project’s advancement.
Bottom Line?
Sulista’s expanding high-grade discoveries position Brazilian Rare Earths at the forefront of critical mineral exploration, with the next drilling results poised to shape its strategic trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will pending assay results confirm and extend the ultra-high-grade mineralisation at Sulista West?
- How will metallurgical testing and economic studies impact the feasibility of mining these complex mineral assemblages?
- What regulatory and environmental hurdles might influence the timeline for project development in Bahia, Brazil?
