• St George recruits former CBMM execs Thiago Amaral and Adriano Rios to help drive Araxá project
  • CBMM is the world’s largest producer of niobium, controlling 90% of global production
  • Araxá acquisition to be completed late September/early October

 

Special Report: Brazilian niobium-REE hunter St George Mining has recruited two highly sought-after niobium experts from the world’s dominant producer CBMM for its Araxá project.

Because Brazil produces ~92% of the world’s niobium – predominantly from the CBMM mine – explorers are looking to take advantage of demand for a diversification of sources.

As CBMM is and has been the world’s leading niobium producer for quite some time – first starting operations in the 1950s – its personnel come as some of the most experienced in the world.

 

Key recruitments

In a boon for its exploration and development plans, St George Mining (ASX:SGQ) has recruited two senior Brazilian former CBMM mining executives in Thiago Amaral and Adriano Rios to help drive the development of its Araxá niobium-REE project.

Amaral’s roles at CBMM included head of sustainability and global quality and product regulation coordinator – responsible for licensing, ESG, production processing and regulation, with experience in niobium sales and marketing.

Rios is the ex-director of operations for the COMIPA JV between CBMM and CODEMIG – owned by the State of Minas Gerais. He was also production manager, responsible for planning, managing and monitoring mineral processing and metallurgy units – including the development of CBMM’s first REE processing capability.

For SGQ, Amaral will be appointed as director, ESG and technical development, while Rios will serve as consultant for mining operations for Araxá.

 

Why now?

China’s export restrictions across a range of critical minerals, including gallium, graphite, germanium and now antimony – of which the country has a monopoly over production – have businesses looking to diversify supply chains of these materials.

With the recent discovery of the first new sources of niobium in decades, focus has shifted recently to the strategic metal, which is used in high-performance solar panels, wind turbines and creates more efficient industrial applications for a range of technologies.

It’s also shown great promise for use in next generation nanocrystalline materials for advancing technologies.

 

Araxá’s niobium and rare earths credentials

Significant high-grade niobium mineralisation has already been discovered at the tenure, with more than 500 intercepts of niobium grades above 1% and SGQ plans to quickly progress to potential resource definition and permitting.

In addition to niobium, high-grade rare earths mineralisation has been confirmed through historical drilling over a widespread area at the project.

It’s in an established mining district with potential to access infrastructure and labour – factors favourable for near-term development.

St George remains on track to complete the acquisition of Araxá in late September/early October.

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with St George Mining, 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.

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