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Serra Verde Integrates USA Rare Earth Project with Pasqal and Riven Systems to Test AI and Quantum Computing in the Search for Molecules Capable of Separating Rare Earths with Fewer Steps, Equipment, Inputs, and Industrial Costs.
Brazil’s sole commercial-scale rare earth producer is making an uncommon technological investment in mining: utilizing artificial intelligence and quantum computing to identify molecules capable of making the separation of elements more efficient. The Serra Verde operation in Minaçu, Goiás, is part of USA Rare Earth, which announced the collaboration with Pasqal and Riven Systems in September 2026.
The goal is to find new chemical extractants that can selectively bind to rare earth elements. If the research goes as planned, the process could require fewer stages, less equipment, reduced reagent usage, and smaller industrial plants. This project is still in the research and development phase.
Project Targets One of the Most Expensive Stages of the Rare Earth Supply Chain
Extracting the ore is only part of the challenge. Next, chemically similar elements, such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, must be separated. This stage typically involves successive processing phases and significant amounts of inputs.
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The partnership leverages three areas of expertise. Riven Systems will conduct thousands of automated experiments to generate chemical data; Pasqal will apply quantum computing techniques and machine learning; and USA Rare Earth will connect development with the mining, processing, and magnetic materials supply chain.
Serra Verde Positions Brazil within a Global Strategic Supply Chain
Serra Verde operates the Pela Ema deposit in Minaçu and entered commercial production in 2024. The company reports that it aims to reach 6,400 tons per year of rare earth oxides by the end of 2027 and is working with an estimated mine life of approximately 25 years.
The Brazilian project produces mixed rare earth carbonate containing elements used in high-performance permanent magnets. These materials are crucial for electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics, aerospace applications, defense, and other magnet-intensive technologies.
China Still Commands Most of the Global Processing
The most sensitive point of the supply chain lies in refining and separation. China dominates a significant portion of global rare earth processing capacity and permanent magnet production, leading the United States, Europe, and other countries to accelerate alternative projects.
The concentration of processing stages in Asia has heightened the strategic value of alternative sources. Serra Verde has gained prominence as one of the few large-scale operations outside Asia for critical heavy rare earths, particularly dysprosium and terbium, and became part of USA Rare Earth in 2026.
Quantum Computing Will Be Compared with Classical AI Methods
The project does not assume that quantum computing is inherently superior. The aim is to compare the results of classical artificial intelligence models with quantum machine learning methods and determine in which chemical problems the technology can provide practical advantages.
Riven Systems will automate physical experiments and feed models with real data. Pasqal, which works with neutral atom quantum processors, will look for patterns and molecular candidates. The most promising compounds will need to return to the laboratory for validation.
Fewer stages could reduce CAPEX, energy, and reagent consumption
If more selective extractants are found, the separation could require fewer circuits and equipment. The potential benefits include lower initial investment, reduced energy consumption, less chemical input, and more compact physical plant areas.
In an industry where processing costs are crucial, small improvements in selectivity can generate significant economic effects. The partnership considers these benefits as a technological goal that still needs to be proven at an industrial scale.
Brazil seeks to transform mineral reserves into higher-value processing
The country has one of the largest known rare earth reserves in the world and aims to enhance not only mining but also the beneficiation and subsequent stages of the supply chain. In Goiás, in addition to Serra Verde, new mining and processing projects are being developed.
The focus on AI and quantum computing adds a technological layer to this race. If the research progresses, Brazil could engage in a more sophisticated stage of the critical minerals supply chain, reducing the gap between extracting ore and producing high-value materials. Should the country prioritize more local rare earth processing projects? Share your opinion in the comments.
