Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd. has produced its first batch of high-grade mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) from its newly commissioned demonstration plant in Brazil.
The milestone was achieved at the company’s rare earth research and processing centre (CPTR) in Poços de Caldas, following the facility’s successful start-up earlier in May.
The plant is processing ionic clay feed sourced from the Colossus Project’s Northern Concessions, which represents the ore expected to sustain the early years of the proposed mine plan.
As one of the largest known semi-industrial, continuous-operation ionic clay rare earth processing facilities outside China, the plant marks a step forward for Western critical mineral supply chains.
The facility features a 100-kilogram-per-hour throughput capacity and utilises an automated Programmable Logic Controller system to enable continuous processing.
The recovered batch contains key critical inputs for global permanent magnet supply chains, including dysprosium, terbium, neodymium, praseodymium, and samarium.
Viridis Managing Director Rafael Moreno said the achievement highlights the simplicity of the project’s processing flowsheet, which underpins its globally competitive operating cost profile.
“Very few Western rare earth companies possess the in-house capability to continuously process ionic clay material at scale into a saleable MREC product,” Moreno said.
“Viridis is now producing high-grade, heavy rare earth enriched MREC from its own permanent processing facility, enabling the company to finalise offtake discussions and validate DFS operating parameters and further de-risk the pathway toward commercial production through the successful completion of this key proof-of-concept milestone.”
With the demonstration plant now fully operational, Viridis is set to advance advanced-stage offtake negotiations by supplying product samples to prospective partners.
The company remains on track to finalise its definitive feasibility study (DFS) by the end of June 2026, ahead of placing orders for long-lead equipment in the third quarter of 2026.
Commercial-scale production at Colossus is currently targeted to commence in 2028.
