History
EXPLORATION HISTORY
In March 2010, we submitted exploration claims to ANM (the Brazilian Mining Agency) covering 23 areas between the states of Goiás and Tocantins with the objective of better understanding the geological potential of the area. Since then, the Serra Verde team has conducted extensive exploration on the property, with work to date consisting of airborne magnetic and gamma-ray spectrometry, geological mapping, surface sampling, extensive auger drilling, and a diamond drilling program.
Exploration activity since mid-2012 has concentrated on expanding the resource potential of the greater Pela Ema target and obtaining a more detailed understanding of the geology of the area and the distribution of the mineralization.
In total, exploration work to date has included 11,090 auger, diamond drill and reverse circulation drill holes, amounting to ~57,600m of drilling within the Pela Ema area.
GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT AND MINERALIZATION
Serra Verde is one of the largest ionic clay deposits in the world. The Serra Verde REEs occur in thick weathered saprolites containing REE bearing clays, which developed from leaching of the underlying Serra Dourada granite, which is the largest intrusion of the Goiás Tin Province. The intrusion is approximately 64 km long in the north south direction and varies between 3.5 and 12 km wide (mean 7.5 km) in the east west direction.
Timeline
2010
Airborne geophysical survey identified exploration areas in addition to regional geological mapping
2011
Start of exploration program
2012
Preliminary Economic Assessment carried out
2014
Pre-Feasibility Study completed
2015
Mining plan and Certification of Pela Ema rare earth deposit
2016
Development of Agitated Leaching Process Pilot plant in operation in METAGO
2017
Grant of Preliminary License
2018
Project execution begins
2019
Installation License granted
H1 - Completion of Definitive Feasibility Study
H1 - Began access road construction
H2 - Completed Order of Magnitudes Study on secondary REE deposit
2020
Powering of the transmission line
H1 - Received final construction permits and lifetime mining concession
H1 -Secured land lead time equipment
H2 - Detailed engineering substantially complete
H2- Commenced construction
2021
Mining machines delivered
2022
P&D Plant License
2023
H1- VBR and EMG invest in Serra Verde
H1- Commissioning begins
H2 - Received Environmental Operating License
H2 - Start of commercial production
