Brazilian Critical Minerals appoints REE expert Nicholas Holthouse as director

• Brazilian Critical Minerals appoints former Meteoric Resources CEO Nicholas Holthouse as non-executive director
• Holthouse brings substantial experience with hard rock and soft iconic clay REEs to his new role
• Appointment comes as the company continues ISR trials at its flagship Ema project in Brazil

Special Report: Brazilian Critical Minerals has greatly enhanced the rare earth capabilities of its board by appointing former Meteoric Resources’ chief executive officer Nicholas Holthouse as a non-executive director.

Holthouse is one of a handful of people who has substantial rare earths experience across hard rock and soft ionic clay rare earth environments.

 His extensive project development and mine operational background combined with his broad understanding of the rare earths sector and Brazil will provide Brazilian Critical Minerals (ASX:BCM) with invaluable insights and direction.

“The appointment of Nick to the board is a huge coup for the company and further validation of the direction in which the in-situ recovery Ema project has taken over the last several months,” managing director Andrew Reid said.

“Nick’s knowledge and experience are the perfect complement to the company as it seeks to become one of the few rare earth projects able to be funded and executed during this low period of rare earth pricing.

“We welcome Nick to the board as we now crack on with business as BCM positions itself as a leader capable of funding and executing rare earth projects, leveraging the extensive expertise of its team during the current market pricing challenges. 

“We have commenced in-the-ground field injection trials in advance of commencing a feasibility study during 2025.”

Holthouse added that he was very excited to join the company at a time of escalating demand for REEs that drive energy, technological, sustainability and national security advancements.

Ema project

The Ema project in Brazil’s Amazonas state is known both for its massive resource of 943Mt grading 716ppm total rare earth oxides as well as the soft, friable, quartz rich-nature of its mineralisation that is amendable to in-situ recovery.

ISR involves pumping a solution underground to dissolve minerals and extracting them – a process that is generally cheaper, more efficient, uses less water and causes minimal surface disruption.

BCM recently started trials that will determine if the project truly has the right conditions for ISR with collected solutions rich in rare earths used to generate a final mixed rare earths concentrate.

Success will mean the results of the February 2025 scoping study is within reach.

This study had found that Ema could produce close to 100,000t of rare earths over 20 years with life of mine costs of US$6.15/kg total rare earth oxides and US$16.95/kg neodymium and praseodymium – making the US$55m development the cheapest rare earths mine to build and run globally.

This article was developed in collaboration with Brazilian Critical Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.