Milestone In Brazil’s Mining Industry! Senai And Mining Company Join Forces For Rare Earth Mineral Exploration In Bahia, Once Considered Unfeasible

Brazilian Rare Earth Reserves May Reach 3.5 Billion Tons. Although it is the largest holder of rare earth reserves in the world, Brazil still has low production

The partnership between Tabuleiro Mining Company and SENAI CIMATEC — one of the most advanced centers for education, science, technology, and innovation in Brazil — will mark a milestone in Brazilian mining! The Rare Earth project will enable the exploration of substances that were previously technically and commercially unviable. This unprecedented initiative involves technology and innovation to make the exploration of rare earth minerals in Bahia possible, which was previously not feasible.

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The partnership between Tabuleiro Mining Company and SENAI CIMATEC aims to study and develop a new concept of economically viable and sustainable rare earth extraction in Brazil. Furthermore, this innovative and strategic project also intends to promote the technical and scientific production of articles with significant impact in the academic field.

The Rare Earth project will be fully developed to highlight Brazilian industry and mining both nationally and internationally. “The partnership with Tabuleiro Mining Company, through the Rare Earth project, is strategic for CIMATEC, as it positions us on the technological frontier of this sector in the Brazilian and Latin American scenario. Moreover, the fact that this partnership is with a Bahian company is also extremely significant, as it is linked to our mission to support the development of our local industry,” emphasizes the Executive Business Manager of SENAI CIMATEC, André Oliveira.

After obtaining the license to start processing the mineral in Bahian soil, the mining company also intends to extend the use of the developed technology to mining partners and cooperatives.

Brazil is the Largest Holder of Rare Earth Reserves in the World

But what are rare earths? Rare earths are raw materials in the production of super magnets, electronics, defense equipment, aerospace industry, energy, among other segments. They are called rare earths because they are difficult to extract, as the challenges of removal and processing are significant, mainly due to the limited availability of technical expertise for separating the mineral ore containing rare earths.

Brazilian rare earth reserves may reach 3.5 billion tons. Although it positions itself as the largest holder of rare earth reserves in the world, Brazil still has low production, according to data from the United States Geological Survey (2015).

The Third Largest Niobium Deposit in the World Discovered

The third largest niobium reserve has been discovered in northeastern Siberia in Russia. According to mining company Polymetal, it — located in Tomtor, a city formed by several small villages in the Republic of Sakha — has already been evaluated and its scale and high content confirmed.

And it doesn’t stop there: in addition to the niobium deposit, the site also holds a large quantity of rare earths. Rare earths are necessary to produce almost any modern high-tech item, including smartphones, computers, chips, and even fighter jet fuselages.

According to a source quoted by Russia Today, a feasibility study for a project will begin soon, and the construction of a plant capable of producing 160,000 tons is scheduled for 2025.