Brazilian Critical Minerals Ltd. has updated the mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Ema project in Brazil, with the upgrade pushing Ema into the top tier of global rare earth deposits.
The company revealed that Ema, located in the Amazon region of Brazil, now hosts a total resource of 1.07 billion tonnes at 732 parts per million (ppm) Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO).
The high-confidence Indicated category surged by 58 per cent to 392 million tonnes, significantly de-risking the project as it moves toward production.
The upgrade establishes Ema as one of the largest ionic clay adsorption (IAC) deposits in the world. Significantly, it is currently the only known ISR-ready rare earth project in the Western world.
In-situ recovery (ISR) is a low-cost, low-impact extraction method commonly used in Southeast Asia but rarely seen in Western rare earth projects. Because the mineralisation at Ema is near-surface and shares geological characteristics with world-class Chinese deposits, it is highly amenable to this efficient mining style.
Managing Director Andrew Reid said the upgrade was a pivotal step for establishing Ema as an important REE project.
“With over one billion tonnes defined, we are rapidly de-risking the project while maintaining strong exposure to high-value magnet rare earths,” Reid said.
“Importantly, Ema’s scale and near-surface geometry, combined with its suitability for in-situ recovery, position it as a potential low-cost, long-life supplier at a time when secure, Western rare earth supply has never been more critical.
“Ema is emerging as one of the most compelling development assets in the sector.”
The new data also showed a notable increase in the grades of magnet metals, elements like neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr), dysprosium (Dy), and terbium (Tb) which are essential for electric vehicle motors and wind turbines.
The Indicated NdPr grade rose by 5 per cent, while heavy rare earth grades (DyTb) increased by 6 per cent.
With a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) now 80 per cent complete and due for delivery this quarter, BCM is fast-tracking Ema to meet the global demand for secure, non-Chinese rare earth supplies.
The project covers a vast 189 square kilometre area, and with 55 per cent of the tenure still underexplored, the company believes there is substantial room for further growth.
Ema has the potential to become a key asset in developing Brazil’s role in the global rare earth supply chain