Brazilian Rare Earths Hits 10.9% Grade With 58kg Yttrium Oxide Per Tonne
Brazilian Rare Earths confirms exceptional yttrium-rich heavy rare earth grades in bedrock drilling
Brazilian Rare Earths has reported exceptional heavy rare earth grades from diamond drilling at its Monte Alto HREE+Y Discovery in Bahia, Brazil. Drillhole MADD0210 returned 2.5m at 7.5% TREO from 6m, including 1.3m at 10.9% TREO from 7.2m. The peak interval contains 58,249 ppm (5.8%) Y2O3 — equivalent to approximately 58 kilograms of yttrium oxide per tonne of sampled mineralised rock. Yttrium represents over 50% of TREO in the peak interval, alongside a combined 4,623 ppm dysprosium and terbium (DyTb) and 6,240 ppm NdPr.
The drilling confirms that heavy rare earth mineralisation identified at surface continues into fresh bedrock at the Monte Alto HREE+Y Discovery, located approximately 2.5km south of the flagship Monte Alto Deposit.
Bernardo da Veiga, Managing Director & CEO
“The defining feature of these results is not simply the 10.9% total rare earth grade – it is the exceptional heavy rare earth composition. The peak interval contains 5.8% yttrium oxide, equivalent to approximately 58 kilograms per tonne of sampled mineralised rock. Yttrium alone represents more than half of the total rare earth oxides in that interval, alongside 4,623 ppm dysprosium and terbium. The drilling confirms that the exceptional yttrium-rich mineralisation first identified at surface continues into fresh bedrock.”
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Why yttrium matters for investors
Yttrium is a critical heavy rare earth with distinct applications from dysprosium and terbium, which are primarily valued for permanent magnet performance. Yttrium’s application profile centres on extreme-temperature systems, semiconductor manufacturing, lasers and defence electronics. Key applications include:
- Yttria-stabilised zirconia for thermal barrier coatings in jet engines and gas turbines, oxygen sensors, and solid oxide fuel cells and electrolysers
- Plasma-resistant ceramics for advanced semiconductor fabrication equipment
- Yttrium-aluminium-garnet (YAG) crystals for industrial, communications and medical lasers
- Yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) components for microwave and radar signal control in defence systems
- Advanced materials including superalloys, phosphors, fibre optics, optical glass and high-temperature superconductors
The USGS reported in 2026 that the United States has no fully commercial yttrium separation or refining facility, remains 100% net-import reliant, and nearly all imported yttrium is derived from concentrates processed in China. The USGS also reported that substitutes are generally less effective and yttrium is not directly substitutable in electronics, lasers and phosphors.
Yttrium’s supply concentration in China and lack of US domestic processing creates strategic value for Western-aligned projects with high yttrium grades.
Drilling results confirm mineralisation extends into bedrock
The programme comprised six diamond drill holes totalling 604m completed between November 2025 and January 2026. Four of six holes returned significant heavy rare earth mineralisation; two provided structural information without significant assays. Across every significant bedrock interval, yttrium represents approximately 48–53% of TREO. Heavy rare earths (Y2O3 + Dy2O3 + Tb4O7) account for approximately 58% of TREO in the peak interval.
| Drillhole | Interval (m) | From (m) | TREO (%) | Y2O3 (ppm) | DyTb (ppm) | U3O8 (ppm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MADD0205 | 1.1 | 5.9 | 3.5 | 17,875 | 1,570 | 508 |
| MADD0207 | 1.9 | 33.7 | 6.9 | 36,606 | 3,251 | 1,101 |
| MADD0209 | 2.9 | 49.2 | 6.7 | 32,280 | 3,208 | 1,097 |
| MADD0210 (incl.) | 1.3 | 7.2 | 10.9 | 58,249 | 4,623 | 1,588 |
The mineralisation at the HREE+Y Discovery occurs within a syn-tectonic, biotite-rich hydrothermal breccia vein containing a xenotime ± monazite ± apatite assemblage. The vein occupies a late fracture cross-cutting the granite gneiss host rock and is related to a major north–south shear zone. A second deeper horizon of HREE+Y mineralisation aligned to regional foliation was intersected in MADD0207 and MADD0209.
New high-grade target corridor remains open at depth
Auger hole STU2478, located approximately 200m southwest of the initial diamond drilling, returned 12m at 8.7% TREO from 18m to end of hole, including 1,004 ppm DyTb and 0.44% Y2O3. The interval remains open at depth.
A second auger hole (STU2499) approximately 150m north returned 2.7m at 3.2% TREO from 5m to end of hole. Both intervals remain open and define a 200m target trend warranting diamond drill follow-up.
Grab sample R0073, located 470m south along the shear zone trend, returned 4.4% TREO including 1,547 ppm DyTb and 1.0% Y2O3.
The open mineralisation at depth and along strike indicates expansion potential beyond the initial discovery footprint.
Monte Alto District formally adopted as unified framework
Brazilian Rare Earths will now report the flagship Monte Alto Deposit, the Monte Alto HREE+Y Discovery, the Velhinhas Corridor and associated regional exploration corridors within one unified Monte Alto District exploration and development framework. The district comprises:
- Monte Alto Deposit — the advanced development anchor with grades up to 45.7% TREO and over 32,000m of core drilling
- Monte Alto HREE+Y Discovery — exceptional yttrium, dysprosium and terbium enrichment approximately 2.5km south of Monte Alto
- Velhinhas Corridor — multiple large-scale exploration corridors extending rare earth mineralisation more than 10km south
- Monte Alto East, West and regional target corridors
The unified approach enables coordinated exploration, infrastructure and development strategy linked to BRE’s planned Camaçari rare earth processing hub.
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Near-term catalysts and next steps
The district growth programme includes:
- Step-out diamond drilling to test continuity of the HREE+Y Discovery along strike and down dip
- Continue the +5,000m second-phase diamond programme at Velhinhas across at least four parallel mineralised trends
- Close-spaced auger drilling on the strongest radiometric responses across East, Monte Alto and West corridors
- Assays remain pending for a further 18 auger holes totalling 301m
The Scoping Study and Mineral Resource estimates for the Rocha da Rocha mining province and Camaçari processing hub are expected in August 2026.
The Monte Alto District has potential to deliver a diversified rare earth assemblage combining the advanced Monte Alto Deposit, the differentiated HREE+Y chemistry, and regional exploration scale at Velhinhas.
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