St George Mining (ASX: SGQ) has announced a 75% increase to the mineral resource estimate (MRE) at the Araxá rare earths-niobium project in Brazil to 70.91 million tonnes at 4.06% total rare earth oxides (TREO) and 0.62% niobium oxide at a 2% TREO cut-off.
The update included a 218% increase in the Measured and Indicated category to 29.49Mt at 4.56% TREO and 0.75% niobium oxide and a new Inferred total of 41.42Mt.
The resource remains open in all directions and at depth and the top 120 metres is constrained within the weathered profile, which features free-digging mineralisation and supports the potential for low-cost open pit mining.
Separate modelling of Araxá as a niobium resource using a cut-off of 0.2% niobium oxide indicated an additional 24.56Mt of material which meets the niobium cut-off in cells that did not satisfy the 2% TREO cut-off criteria.
Material Uplift in Scale
The update delivered a material uplift in Araxá’s overall scale while maintaining strong grades, reflecting the effectiveness of St George’s drilling strategy in tightening geological controls, firming up mineralised boundaries, and converting previously less well-defined areas into more confidently-constrained volumes.
St George believes it has increased the inventory of higher-quality material that could support early scheduling considerations and reinforced the clear potential for growth through continued drilling.
Araxá, which the company acquired in February 2025, is located in Minas Gerais, adjacent to CBMM’s world-leading niobium mining operations.
St George expects to announce an MRE update for the project in Q3 2026
Confirmation of Tier 1 Status
Executive chair John Prineas said the new MRE confirmed Araxá’s Tier 1 status in the world’s premier niobium-producing region.
“Today’s announcement of such a major upgrade to the size and quality of the resource at Araxá is a milestone in St George’s history because it confirms the world-class nature of our flagship asset,” he said.
“This project is in a prime position as one of the world’s most promising, near-term rare earths and niobium development opportunities at a time when the Western world is actively seeking new and secure supply chains of critical strategic minerals.”
Mr Prineas said the update would substantially de-risk the project and underpin the company’s economic studies into a potential mining development.
“Araxá’s location in a region with a long history of commercial niobium production, access to existing infrastructure, and availability of an experienced workforce strongly supports our aim to accelerate development and safely and sustainably unlock its world-class potential.”
