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An overview of Critical and Strategic Minerals of Brazil. 2024 Edition.

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AN OVERVIEW OF
CRITICAL AND
STRATEGIC MINERALS
POTENTIAL OF BRAZIL
2024 EDITION

1
President of Brazil Organizers
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Guilherme Ferreira da Silva
Anderson Dourado R. da Silva
Minister of Mines and Energy Sulsiene Machado de Souza Gaia
Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira
Technical Content
National Secretary of Geology, Anderson Dourado R. da Silva
Mining and Mineral Transformation
Débora Rabelo Matos
Vitor Eduardo de A. Saback
Felipe Grandjean da Costa
Geysson de Almeida Lages
Geological Survey of Brazil
Guilherme Ferreira da Silva
Hugo José de Oliveira Polo
President-Director
Iago Sousa Lima Costa
Inácio Cavalcante Melo Neto
Ioná de Abreu Cunha
Izaac Cabral Neto
Director of Geology and
Mineral Resources Jonatas de Sales Macedo Carneiro
Francisco Valdir Silveira Lila Costa Queiroz
Marcelo Esteves Almeida
Director of Hydrology and Marcos Vinicius Ferreira
Territorial Management Nívia Pina de Souza Santos
Alice Silva de Castilho Rafael Bittencourt Lima
Rogério Cavalcante
Director of Administration Rogério Celestino de Almeida
and Finance
Stella Bijos Guimarães
Inácio Cavalcante Melo Neto
(Substitute)
Sulsiene Machado de Souza Gaia
Tamara Reginatto Manfredi
Director of Geoscientific
Infrastructure Reviewers
Paulo Afonso Romano Evandro Luiz Klein
Lúcia Travassos da Rosa Costa
Maisa Bastos Abram
Maurício Pavan Silva
Michelle Cunha Graça

Publishing
Luiz Silvestre
João Guilherme
Heber Oliveira

2 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
AN OVERVIEW OF
CRITICAL AND
STRATEGIC MINERALS
POTENTIAL OF BRAZIL
2024 EDITION
Silva, G.F.; Silva, A. D. R.; Souza Gaia, S. M. (Orgs.) 2024. An overview of Critical and Strategic Minerals
of Brazil. 2024 Edition. Serviço Geológico do Brasil, Brasília - DF, 2024. 35pp.

DISCLAIMER
This document has been prepared by the Geological
Survey of Brazil and presents an evaluation of
Brazil’s potential for selected critical minerals.
Comprehensive data, such as reserves, resources
or production, has been gathered from several
sources to conduct this analysis. This document
may be provided by third parties for informational
purposes only and shall not be relied upon third
parties as a specific professional recommendation.
The Geological Survey of Brazil does not endorse or
assume responsibility for any external data included
in this report. The complete list of references
for each mineral deposit is shown in the address
https://sgb.gov.br/pdac/ and can be downloaded in
the “Mineral Resources” section.
3
FOREWORD
“ The mining sector is crucial in the new global agenda, strenghthening the
energy transition and sustainable socioeconomic development. In this context,
Brazil presents itself as a significant player, with the potential to lead the changes
towards a low-carbon energy matrix. The Brazilian government is committed
to creating a fertile field for development guided by environmental, social, and
corporate governance standards dedicated to mining activities.
Through our potential in critical minerals and rare earths, our country is taking all
effort into increasing the role of leading a fair, inclusive, and balanced global energy
transition. This is evident in our 88% clean and renewable electric power matrix, our
production of biofuels, and our commitment to environmental, social, and corporate
governance standards. The Brazilian government is dedicated to fostering an Alexandre Silveira
environment that encourages the growth of the mining sector, emphasizing its role Ministry of Mines

”
in achieving a just and sustainable energy transition on a global scale. and Energy

“ The current mining activity in Brazil generates several opportunities for the
country and the global effort to transition to clean and renewable energy sources.
The country has a vast territory with diverse geological settings and mineral
systems, combined with other aspects such as constantly improving infrastructure,
availability of clean energy, legal security, and a growing commitment to socio-
environmental principles. These factors place the country’s mining industry in
a privileged position regarding competitiveness and sustainability. The main
priorities of the Ministry of Mines and Energy for attracting investments focus
on improving regulations and procedures, expanding the availability of areas for
research and production, creating instruments that facilitate access to financing,
improving public governance, and strengthening government institutions in the
Vitor Saback sector. The information generated about the potential of mineral resources that
National Secretary of stimulate investments in research and mineral production, combined with public
Geology, Mining and policies that promote the rational and sustainable use of mineral resources, will
Mineral Transformation result in the proper use of Brazilian natural resources, expanding job creation and

”
income generation.

“ We are at a crucial moment where mining is not merely an economic sector,

but a key asset in the transition to cleaner and sustainable energy sources. The
Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB), by showcasing the vast geological potential of
the territory referred in this publication, puts the country in a prominent position in
supplying essential minerals for green technologies, such as those used in electric
vehicle batteries and renewable energy systems. Our researches provide security to

”
Brazil’s commitment to sustainability and responsible mining practices.
Inácio C. Melo Neto
President-Director
of the Geological
Survey of Brazil

“ The geoscientific information consolidated in this second edition of the

“An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil” highlights the
country’s potential for producing minerals essential for the energy transition and
food security. This publication presents data on the availability of aluminum, copper,
chromium, gold, graphite, lithium, nickel, phosphate, platinum, potassium, tungsten,
uranium, zinc, and Rare Earth Elements. Such data is crucial for the productive
sector and the formulation of public policies, contributing to strategic planning for

”
a global supply chain of critical minerals.
Francisco Valdir Silveira
Director of Geology and
Mineral Resources

4 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
SUMMARY

Aluminum ....................................................................................................6
Copper ..........................................................................................................8
Chromium..................................................................................................10
Gold .............................................................................................................. 12
Graphite .....................................................................................................14
Lithium ........................................................................................................16
Nickel ........................................................................................................... 18
Phosphate ................................................................................................20
Platinum Group Elements ............................................................... 22
Potash ........................................................................................................ 24
Rare Earth Elements........................................................................... 26
Tungsten ................................................................................................... 28
Uranium .....................................................................................................30
Zinc .............................................................................................................. 32

5
ALUMINUM

6 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• The Pará State, in the north of Brazil, holds the largest bauxite reserves in the country,
historically accounting for over 90% of the Brazilian’s production. The state of Minas Ge-
rais follows with 7% of the production, while the states of São Paulo, Santa Catarina and
Goiás collectively hold 3%. Relevant bauxite occurrences are also found in the states of
Bahia, Maranhão and Amapá. In Pará, key extraction and processing companies inclu-
de Mineração Rio do Norte, Mineração Paragominas and Alcoa. In the Center of Brazil,
Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) and Terra Goyana are significant players.
• The bauxite formation found in Pará is characterized by thick lateritic profiles on silici-
clastic rocks of the Cretaceous period. In Minas Gerais, bauxite occurrences are associa-
ted with metasedimentary rocks in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero and granulitic rocks in the
southeast. Bauxite in the state of Goiás originates from the alteration of Neoproterozoic
anorthosites of the Barro Alto Mafic-Ultramafic Layered Complex.
• The evolution of the lateritic/bauxitic cover of the Amazon was polyphase and controlled
by chemical and physical processes in humid equatorial climates. São Paulo hosts bauxite
deposits over amphibolites, dolerites and granites, while the deposits in the southern region
come from alkaline rocks, basalts, diabase, and syenites in a subtropical climate.
• Before the discovery of deposits in northern Brazil, bauxite in alkaline rocks, especially
in Poços de Caldas (Minas Gerais), was the primary source of aluminum, accounting for
65% of national production until the 1970s. Pará’s dominance in bauxite production re-
flects changes in the industry and the allocation of resources over time.

Selected Aluminum deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
Resources (Al)
Mineração
Porto Trombetas Al (Bauxite) 600 Mt 49.5 % Operating
Rio do Norte S.A.

Alcoa
Juruti Al (Bauxite) 558.1 Mt 34.25 % Operating
Alumínio S.A.

Norsk Hydro
Paragominas Al (Bauxite) 249.7 Mt 82.4 % Operating
do Brasil Ltd.

Barro Alto Al (Bauxite) Terra Goyana 180 Mt 56% Operating

Mineração
Bela Cruz Al (Bauxite) 55.86 Mt 50.2 % Operating
Rio do Norte S.A.

Almeirim Al (Bauxite) MSL Minerais S.A. 46 Mt 57.4 % Inactive

Alcoa
Poços de Caldas Al (Bauxite) 50 Mt 46% Operating
Alumínio S.A.

7
COPPER

8 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• Unlike the rest of the world, where copper is mainly exploited from porphyry-type
deposits, Brazil has around 30 copper deposits and advanced prospects, mostly
distributed in the Magmatic Segregation / IOCG (36%), IOCG (26%) and VMS (13%),
which account for 74% of the total. Added to the magmatic segregation deposits of
mafic-ultramafic complexes, the total reaches 85%. Only one porphyry-type deposit has
been described in Brazil, the Chapada deposit, in northern Goiás State.
• Brazil’s copper mineral potential lies almost entirely in Precambrian domains. Most of
the Brazilian copper deposits are located in the Carajás Mineral Province, which is also
the mineral province with the largest amount of metallic copper in the country, with an
estimated total of 27.34 Mt endowment. In Carajás, most of the deposits are of the IOCG
type, but the Brazilian copper deposits are also classified as Volcanic Massive Sulfides,
Porphyries, SEDEX, and Sediment-hosted.
• The Juruena – Teles Pires Mineral Province has the second highest potential. It comprises
7.23% of copper contained in two VMS-type deposits; the largest of which is called
Cabaçal, being a province with potential for discoveries for this mineral good in the
porphyry copper and VMS models.
• The Goiás Magmatic Arc has an active copper mine and potential for discoveries of
medium to small metamorphosed porphyry copper, as well as VMS deposits.
• The Vale do Curaçá Cupriferous District has cataloged deposits of magmatic segregation.
Recent work has identified alterations and characteristics of IOCG-type mineralization in this
province, which tends to increase the potential for discoveries of medium to large deposits.
• Brazil consumes around 3% of the world’s copper concentrate production.

Selected Copper deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
Resources (Cu)
Salobo Cu-Au-U Vale S.A. 1,148.4 Mt 0.61 % Operating
Chapada Cu-Au Lundin Mining Corp 1,101.1 Mt 0.23 % Operating
Furnas Cu-Au Ero Copper. 550 Mt 0.71 % Unexploited
Gameleira
Cu-Au Vale S.A. 535 Mt 0.57 % Unexploited
(Pojuca, Grota Funda)
Cristalino Cu-Au-U Vale S.A. 379 Mt 0.66 % Operating
Sossego Cu-Au-U Vale S.A. 315 Mt 0.78% Operating
Santa Rita (Mirabela) Ni-Cu-Co Atlantic Nickel 255.1 Mt 0.18 % Operating
Alemão Cu-Au-U Vale S.A. 230 Mt 1.26 % Operating
Igarapé Bahia Cu-Au Vale S.A. 219 Mt 1.4% Closed
Caboclo dos Mangueiros Ni-Cu-Co Bahia Nickel 200 Mt 0.13 % Unexploited
Saúva Cu-Au Lundin Mining Corp. 179 Mt 0.32% Exploration
Alvo 118 Cu-Au-U Vale S.A. 170 Mt 1% Unexploited
Mineração
Serrote da Laje Cu-Au 119.2 Mt 0.50% Operating
Vale Verde Ltda
Jaguar Ni-Cu-Co Centaurus 109.2 Mt 0.07 % Feasibility
Boa Esperança Cu-Co Ero Copper 59.28 Mt 0.81% Feasibility
Cabaçal Cu-Au-Ag Meridian Mining 52.9 Mt 0.3% Interrupted
Breves Cu-Au-Ag Vale S.A. 50 Mt 1.22 % Unexploited
Pedra Verde Cu Pedra Verde 44.23 Mt 0.9% Interrupted
Caraíba Cu Ero Copper 34.60 Mt 0.60% Interrupted

9
CHROMIUM

10 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• Although global chromite resources exceed 12 billion tons, chromium is often considered
a critical mineral due to the concentration of the world’s reserves in Kazakhstan and South
Africa, which account for 95% of the total resources. Chromium still needs a substitute in
stainless steel and superalloys. Brazil, on the other hand, is the only chromium-producing
country in the Americas, holding 0.11% of the world’s reserves.
• Most of the economic chromite deposits in Brazil result from the magmatic segregation
of mafic-ultramafic complexes (stratiform type) hosted in Precambrian continental rocks.
Although deposits formed by the reaction between basaltic magmas and ultrabasic
rocks are known in Brazil - commonly associated with obducted ophiolitic complexes
(podiform type), they have yet to prove their economic importance.
• The primary Brazilian stratiform chromite deposits are found in the mafic-ultramafic
complexes of Campo Formoso, Vale do Jacurici and Pedras Pretas (state of Bahia, localities
of Campo Formoso, Andorinha, Ipueira, Medrado, Santa Luz and Piritiba), making up 95%
of the national reserves, with an estimated total of 4.54 Mt of contained metal.
• In Minas Gerais (3% of national reserves) the stratiform deposits of Serro, Alvorada
de Minas (including Paneleiros), and Piumhi (Lavapés) stand out. Production of raw
chromium ore in Minas Gerais comes exclusively from small open-pit mines, with an
annual output of less than 10,000 tons.
• The Bacuri (Mazagão) mafic-ultramafic stratiform complex, in the Amapá state, has
estimated reserves of 8.8 Mt of chromite ore (ROM) (~3% of Brazil’s resources).
• Other geological provinces have deposits containing chromite associated with PGE
mineralization. These include the Carajás Province (Luanga and Cateté mafic-ultramafic
complexes) and the Borborema Province (Tróia).
• Podiform chromite occurs in the Morro Feio, Cromínia, and Abadiânia deposits in Goiás.
It is also found in the Araguaia Belt at Morro Grande and in the Complexo Quatipuru, in
addition to various mineralogical, chemical and mineral occurrences in other provinces.
Examples include Bodocó (Faz. Esperança) deposits in the Borborema Province.
• FERBASA holds 95% of the country’s chromite resources and is the only integrated
producer of ferrochrome in the Americas and the leading producer of ferroalloys in
Brazil. Mining had a total production of 513,788 thousand tons in 2022. The company
produces the following metal alloys: High carbon ferrochrome, Low carbon ferrochrome,
Ferrosilicon chrome, Ferrosilicon 75, and inoculants, totaling 301.6 thousand tons of
ferroalloys in 2022.

Selected Chromium deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
Resources (Cr2O3)

Pedrinhas (Campo Formoso) Cr FERBASA 10.31 Mt 29.8 % Operating

Ipueira (Andorinha) Cr FERBASA 2.70 Mt 37.82 % Operating

Magnesita
Pedras Pretas Cr 1.11 Mt 40.01 % Operating
Mineração S.A.

Tróia (Curiu, Esbarro, Cedro,

Cr-Pd-Pt-Au ValOre Metals 17.9 Mt 0.846% Feasibility
Trapiá, Santo Amaro)

Cromita
Paneleiros - Alvorada de Minas Cr Piumhiuense 0.71 Mt 20.07 % Operating
Ltda.

Mineração Vila
Bacuri (Mazagão) Cr 0.39 kt 44.28 % Operating
Nova Ltda.

11
GOLD

12 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• Over the past 120 years, industrial mining projects have boomed and spread throughout Brazil,
culminating in more than 80 mines producing approximately 2000 tons of gold;
• Brazil currently has four world-class mines: Cuiabá, Morro do Ouro, Crixás and the Morro Velho
mine. The Morro Velho mine, which closed in 2003, must also be considered world class;
• The Amazonian Craton (especially the Carajás, Tapajós and Juruena-Teles Pires provinces), the
Gurupi Belt and the Goiás magmatic Arc represent the current frontier of new discoveries, with
great potential for the future development of industrial gold mining;
• Although the state of Minas Gerais remains the country’s main gold producer (home to the two
largest gold mines in Brazil), the Amazon region in particular has become the new gold-frontier
and is beginning to consolidate as a key player in the field;
• The diversity of metallogenic environments for gold deposits and the vast geographic size of the
country suggest the possibility of major mining developments in the short and medium term;
• The gold deposits found in the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Mato Grosso, Goiás and Maranhão
are the main primary gold deposits explored by major industrial or artisanal mining companies.

Selected gold deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
Resources (Au)

Morro do Ouro Au-Ag Kinross 578.02 Mt 0.4 g/t Operating

Volta Grande (norte e sul) Au Belo Sun 196.35 Mt 0.95 g/t Feasibility
Suruca Au-Zn Lundin Mining Corp. 147.5 Mt 0.53 g/t Feasibility
Águas Claras Au-Cu Vale S.A. 95 Mt 2.43 g/t Interrupted
Castelo dos Sonhos Au Tristar Company 79.1 Mt 0.97 g/t Feasibility
G Mining
Tocantinzinho Au 51.13 Mt 0.9 g/t Exploration
Ventures Corp.
Jacobina (Canavieiras Sul, Norte
e Central, Morro do Vento, João Au-U Pan American Silver 42.47 Mt 2.26 g/t Operating
Belo, Serra do Córrego)
Cuiú-Cuiú
Au Cabral Gold 41.4 Mt 0.86 g/t Pre-feasibility
(Moreira Gomes, Central)
AGA Mineração
Crixás (Serra Grande) Au 38.35 Mt 2.95 g/t Operating
(AngloGold Ashanti)

Intermittent
Cachoeira Au Gold Mining Inc. 37.35 Mt 1.12 g/t
Operation
AGA Mineração
Córrego do Sítio Au 35.84 Mt 3.8 g/t Operating
(AngloGold Ashanti)

Amapari - Tucano Au Tucano Gold 35.19 Mt 1.61 g/t Interrupted

Posse-Mara Rosa Au Hochschild Mining 32.1 Mt 1.1 g/t Feasibility
Sandstorm/
Aurizona Mineração Au 30.8 Mt 1.78 g/t Operating
Equinox Gold
Intermittent
São Jorge Au Gold Mining Inc. 28.81 Mt 1.55 g/t
Operation
CentroGold Au Oz Minerals 28 Mt 1.9 g/t Pre-feasibility
AGA Mineração
Cuiabá Au 27.73 Mt 5.77 g/t Operating
(AngloGold Ashanti)

Cipoeiro Au Jaguar Mining 27.83 Mt 1.9 g/t Exploration

Fazenda Maria Preta
Au Equinox Gold 23.84 Mt 1.81 g/t Interrupted
(C1 Santa Luz)
13
GRAPHITE

14 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• Brazil has significant potential for the production of graphite, a mineral widely used in
various industries, such as the production of world-class batteries and the manufacture
of electronic components. Brazil has many graphite-producing regions, particularly in
the Bahia-Minas Province, which is considered one of the largest graphite-producing
regions in the world;
• Brazilian graphite occurrences are mainly confined to metamorphic environments. Me-
tamorphism - and consequently the rock-forming temperature and pressure - is consi-
dered the primary variable in the analysis of graphite potential because it regulates the
degree of crystallization and ore grade;
• Considering the potential, Brazil’s graphite production still needs to be improved and
there is room for growth in the industry. The Brazilian government has shown interest in
developing the country’s graphite production, and investment in the sector is expected
to increase in the coming years;
• In the long-term, Brazil offers attractive prospects for graphite exploration and growth
due to the increasing demand for the mineral on the market, coupled with its position
as the world’s third largest graphite producer and the second largest producer of high
quality flake graphite used in electric vehicles.

Selected Graphite deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
Resources (CG)

Nacional
Mina de Salto da Divisa Graphite 232.6 Mt 25% Operating
de Grafite Ltd.

Nacional
Mina Itapecerica Graphite 209.59 kt 9.79 % Operating
de Grafite Ltd.

Porto Nacional Graphite Porto Nacional 49.7 Mt 5.3 % Early exploration

Peresópolis Graphite Peresópolis 40 Mt 12% Early exploration

Extrativa /
Mina Maiquinique Graphite 33.3 Mt 9.6 % Operating
Grafite do Brasil

South Star
Santa Cruz Graphite 14.9 Mt 2.29 % Exploration
Mining Corp.

Mina Mateus Leme Graphite Grafita MG Ltd. 91.67 kt 14% Operating

Nacional
Mina de Pedra Azul Graphite 19.07 kt 12.59 % Operating
de Grafite Ltd.

Mina São Benedito Graphite São Benedito 2.09 kt 57.43 % Interrupted

15
LITHIUM

Selected Lithium deposits and resource estimates.

Resource Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
estimates (Li2O)
Salinas Project
Li Latin Resources 70.3 Mt 1.27% Feasibility
(Colina, Fog's Block)
Nezinho de Chicão Li Sigma Lithium 26.7 Mt 1.49 % Feasibility
Barreiro Li Sigma Lithium 25.08 Mt 1.38 % Feasibility
Volta Grande Li-Ta-Nb AMG 20.29 Mt 1.06 % Producing
Xuxa Li Sigma Lithium 17.41 Mt 1.55 % Producing
Bandeira Li Lithium Ionic 13.72 Mt 1.40 % Feasibility
Murial Li Sigma Lithium 5.56 Mt 1.14 % Feasibility
Cachoeira Li CBL 4.5 Mt 1.40 % Producing
Outro Lado (Galvani) Li Lithium Ionic 2.97 Mt 1.46 % Feasibility
Lavra do Meio Li Sigma Lithium 2.27 Mt 1.09 % Feasibility

16 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• In Brazil, lithium is mainly found in the form of lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite deposits.
• The primary ore mineral is spodumene, followed by amblygonite, petalite, and lepidolite.
• In 2022, reported production reached 2,200 tonnes of contained lithium, a 29% increase over
2021 production1.
• Active mines and advanced exploration projects are concentrated in the state of Minas Gerais.
• The launch of Minas Gerais’ “Lithium Valley Brazil” initiative in May 2023 has caught the attention
of the market. The initiative aims to accelerate project development for the lithium supply chain
and demonstrates a receptive approach to global investment.
• Companhia Brasileira de Lítio – CBL reported 4.5 Mt of mineral resources (measured + indicated)
and a capacity to produce 45 ktpa (kilotonnes per annum) of high-quality spodumene concentrate
@5.5% Li2O at its operating Cachoeira Mine in the Middle Jequitinhonha region, Minas Gerais.
• In the same region, Sigma Lithium reported2 mineral resource (measured + indicated) estimates
of 77 Mt @1.43% Li2O and reserves (proven + probable) of 54.8 Mt @1.44% Li2O on its Grota do
Cirilo property. Sigma achieved its first production in 2023, with five shipments. The annual run-
rate production reached 270 kt (37 kt Lithium Carbonate Equivalent, LCE), with plans to expand
to 766 kt (104 kt LCE) over the next two years.
• Atlas Lithium plans to achieve the initial production and sales of lithium concentrate at its
Neves project in the Middle Jequitinhonha region by Q4 2024, with an expected production of
approximately 150 ktpa3.
• Lithium Ionic reported4 mineral resources (measured + indicated) of 16.69 Mt @1.41% Li2O at the
Bandeira and Outro Lado deposits, with a 20-year mine life producing 220 ktpa of SC5.5. The
definitive feasibility study is expected in Q1 2024.
• Latin Resources announced5 the JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its Salinas project
in the state of Minas Gerais, indicating a total of 70.3 Mt @1.27% Li2O. Production is expected to
commence in the second half of 2026, with an expected output of 405 to 525 ktpa of SC5.5 and
159 ktpa of 3% Li2O spodumene tails concentrate products.
• Although the state of Minas Gerais is the main player in lithium exploration, there are also potential
areas in northeastern Brazil (e.g., the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba) where
more than a hundred Li-bearing pegmatite bodies have been identified.
• On March 1, 2023, Oceana Lithium reported6 the discovery of high-grade near-surface lithium
mineralization within the “N Green” permits at its Solonópole lithium project in the state of Ceará.
The permits cover a series of pegmatite outcrops that returned high grade lithium rock chip
results of up to 4.25% Li2O over 500 m of outcropping pegmatite.
• Greenfield areas include the regions of Southern Tocantins-Northern Goiás and Itambé (Southern Bahia).
• The Geological Survey of Brazil – CPRM has conducted research projects in key lithium areas to
promote the development of the mineral industry. Completed projects in the Middle Jequitinhonha
(Minas Gerais) and Borborema Pegmatite Provinces in northeastern Brazil have identified new
targets for lithium mineralization. The results, including maps, charts, technical reports and
scientific papers, are available to the public (https://rigeo.cprm.gov.br and http://www.sgb.gov.
). Two ongoing projects are located in Eastern Minas Gerais and Solonópole
br/litio/index.html).
Province (Ceará).

1 U.S. Geological Survey, 2023, Mineral commodity summaries 2023: U.S. Geological Survey, 210 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/mcs2023.
2 https://ir.sigmalithiumresources.com/ar-tr-grota-do-cirilo-2023-06-12/
3 https://www.atlas-lithium.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/12.9.23-Corporate-Overview.pdf
4 https://www.calameo.com/read/007217922c183cc9a848a?page=1
5 https://www.investi.com.au/api/announcements/lrs/19629c02-e62.pdf
6 https://app.sharelinktechnologies.com/announcement/asx/148e47b47d580d2cd6e78088c4bdd9ae

17
NICKEL

18 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• The Brazilian nickel industry is competitive and robust, producing Class I and II nickel as one of the
top 10 nickel producers in the world. It includes five mining operations (Onça-Puma, Niquelândia,
Barro Alto, Codemin and Santa Rita) of sulfide and laterite ore;
• Brazil has significant nickel reserves and resources, approximately 16% of the world’s declared
reserves (16 Mt) and 6% of the world’s nickel resources (USGS, 2022). Nickel deposits in Brazil are
of both the lateritic and sulfide types, with the former predominating. Several exploration projects
are in various stages of development (see table below). Three mines operate at costs below the
world average (Barro Alto, Niquelândia, and Santa Rita);
• In addition, three companies produce stainless steel with nickel in Brazil: Aperam, Villares Metals,
and Gerdau. They produced almost 330 kt of stainless steel in 2020, which corresponds to an
estimated 13 kt of nickel consumption;
• Cobalt is usually an important by-product in many Ni deposits. Brazil has not produced cobalt since
2016, but the production recorded from 2010 to 2016, which accounted for 408 tons, was from
nickel sulfide ores. However, cobalt is reported as a secondary commodity in at least 8 Ni deposits
in Brazil, spread across lateritic and sulfide ore operations and projects;
• Hydroelectric power accounts for the majority of Brazil’s electricity generation, about 66 percent
in 2020. Access to low-cost, low-emission hydroelectricity in Brazil gives nickel producers a
competitive advantage in terms of operating costs and carbon footprint.

Selected nickel deposits and resource estimates.

Resource Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
estimates (Ni)

Jacaré Ni-Co Anglo American 306.6 Mt 1.28 % Feasibility

Santa Rita (Fazenda Mirabela) Ni-Cu-Co Atlantic Nickel 255.1 Mt 0.54 % Producing

Caboclo dos Mangueiros Ni-Cu-Co Bahia Nickel 200 Mt 0.2 % Exploration

Vermelho (V1 and V2) Ni-Co Horizonte Minerals 148.9 Mt 1.05 % Exploration

Onça-Puma Ni Vale S.A. 134 Mt 1.47 % Producing

Araguaia
Ni-Co Horizonte Minerals 132.26 Mt 1.26 % Feasibility
(Serra do Tapa, Pau Preto)

Luanga Pd-Pt-Au-Ni Bravo Mining 118.1 Mt 0.11 % Feasibility

Jaguar Ni-Cu-Co Centaurus Metals 109.2 Mt 0.87 % Feasibility

Brazilian
Piauí Níquel Ni-Co 98.8 Mt 0.74 % Feasibility
Nickel Ltda.

Barro Alto Ni Anglo American 75.8 Mt 1.25 % Producing

Morro do Engenho Ni-Co-Sc SGB-CPRM 65.95 Mt 1.07 % Exploration

Niquelândia (WAVE) Ni-Co Wave Nickel Brasil 55 Mt 0.94 % Producing

Santa Fé Ni-Co-Sc SGB-CPRM 45.56 Mt 1.17 % Exploration

Morro Sem Boné /

Ni Anglo American 40.29 Mt 1.79 % Feasibility
Morro do Leme

Itapitanga Ni-Co Centaurus 40 Mt 0.95 % Exploration

Nexa
Limoeiro Ni-Cu-Pt 35 Mt 0.25 % Feasibility
Resources S.A.

CODEMIN (Niquelândia) Ni Anglo American 11.9 Mt 1.21 % Producing

Fortaleza de Minas (O'Toole) Ni-Cu-Co Fortaleza de Minas 6.6 Mt 2.2 % Interrupted

Prometálica
Americano do Brasil Ni-Cu-Co Mineração Centro 3.09 Mt 1.12 % Interrupted
Oeste S.A.

• U.S. Geological Survey, 2022, Mineral commodity summaries 2022: U.S. Geological Survey, 202 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/mcs2022 19
PHOSPHATE

20 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• Brazil has great potential for the occurrence of igneous and sedimentary phosphate deposits. Only 20% of
Brazilian reserves are associated with sedimentary rocks, despite the large number of different potential basins.
The majority of deposits are associated with residual enrichment processes of carbonatite-alkaline bodies with
the development of thick weathering mantles (almost 80%). Brazil also has unexplored potential for AMCG-
related deposits;
• Only seven igneous deposits (Tapira, Araxá, Catalão I, Catalão II, Salitre, Cajati, and Angico dos Dias) are in
production. The main mines are related to the Alto Paranaíba Province, world-class igneous deposits. The
Santana (Pará - PA) and Três Estradas (Rio Grande do Sul) projects, which are more recent discoveries of
igneous deposits, are in the process of going into operation;
• Sedimentary reserves in production are associated with the Neoproterozoic deposits of Patos de Minas
(Minas Gerais State - MG), Arraias (Tocantins and Goiás States), Irecê (Bahia State), Ressaca (Mato Grosso
do Sul) and Pratápolis (Minas Gerais) some with inconclusive expansion potential. The Neoproterozoic
Jauru deposit (Minas Gerais) is a potential sedimentary resource discovered by the Government and now
under feasibility studies by BEMISA;
• The Miriri Project (Paraíba and Pernambuco States) is a Cretaceous sedimentary deposit opportunity offered by
the Geological Survey of Brazil. It corresponds to a phosphate deposit with a total area of 7,752.84 hectares and
114.7 million tons with an average grade of 4.19% P2O5;
• The Itataia phosphorus-uranium deposit is the second largest uranium reserve in Brazil, associated with a
complex geological evolution in metasedimentary rocks, hydrothermal influence and a paleokarst stage;
• The Gavião Project is a new igneous phosphate area in the pre feasibility phase. The production estimated is 120
kt of DANF phosphate, with an average content of 5% P2O5;
• Brazil also has aluminous phosphate reserves, such as the Sapucaia mine (Pará State), which uses a
calcination process to promote phosphorus solubility and is used as a thermophosphate fertilizer. In addition to
this mine, five new nearby targets with expansion potential have been identified: Boa Vista, Serrote, Serrotinho,
Caeté and Tracuá.

Selected phosphate deposits and resource estimates.

Resource Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
estimates (P2O5)
Tapira P2O5-Nb-Ti Mosaic 699,9 Mt 8.6 % Producing

Serra do Salitre Ti-P2O5-Nb Eurochem + Mosaic 609.4 Mt 9,55% Producing

Mata da Corda P2O5-Ti Nexon Mineração S.A. 520 Mt 3.5 % Exploration
Beberibe P2O5 Lepanto Mineração 390 Mt 15% Exploration
Anitápolis P2O5 IFC (Mosaic) 320 Mt 6.41 % Exploration
Jauru (Mirassol D´Oeste) P2O5-Fe BEMISA 314 Mt 5% Planned
Serra Negra P2O5-Ti Mosaic + Eurochem 228 Mt 10% Exploration
Rocinha P2O5 Mosaic 226 Mt 13% Producing
Maecuru (Maicuru) Ti-P2O5-REE Mosaic 200 Mt 15% Exploration
Catalão I P2O5-Nb-Ti-U Mosaic + CMOC 150.9 Mt 10.5 % Producing
Fazenda Ipanema P2O5-Fe Fazenda Ipanema 120 Mt 6.07 % Exploration
Miriri P2O5 CPRM 114.73 Mt 4.19 % Producing
Indústrias Nucleares
Fazenda Itataia U-P2O5 79.5 Mt 11% Feasibility
do Brasil
Três Estradas P2O5 Aguia Resources Ltd. 83.21 Mt 4.11 % Planned
Arraias P2O5 Itafos 79.0 Mt 4.9 % Producing
Mina Cajati P2O5 Mosaic 69.2 Mt 5.1 % Producing
Serra da Capivara (Santana) P2O5 Itafos 60.4 Mt 12% Planned
Lucena P2O5 Aguia Resources Ltd. 55 Mt 6% Exploration
Morro Verde (Pratápolis) P2O5 Mineração Morro Verde 40 Mt 10% Producing
Juquiá (Registro) P2O5 Socal Mineração S.A. 18 Mt 10% Producing
Bonfim P2O5 Dusolo/FENGRO 18 Mt 6% Interrupted

21
PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENTS

22 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• The platinum group elements (PGE) consist of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium
(Rh), ruthenium (Ru), osmium (Os) and iridium (Ir). These are very rare metals (30
times rarer than gold) and because of their excellent physical and chemical behavior as
catalysts, they are essential to climate-safe energy technologies, such as green hydrogen
production. However, since 1900, about 90% of PGE production has come from South
Africa and Russia, making PGE part of many countries’ critical minerals strategy;
• Brazil does not yet have a PGE mine, but the Pedra Branca and Luanga deposits have very
advanced exploration work and are likely to become PGE mines in the near future;
• Similar to other PGE deposits worldwide, the Brazilian PGE deposits are hosted by layered
mafic-ultramafic complexes;
• The Luanga deposit in the Carajás Mineral Province is the largest PGE deposit in South
America with 142 Mt at 1.24 g/t PGE+Au and 0.11% Ni. The high-grade PGE zones of the
Luanga mafic-ultramafic intrusion consist of sulfide-rich harzburgites, orthopyroxenites
and minor chromitites;
• The Luanga mafic-ultramafic intrusion is of Neoarchean age (ca. 2.76 Ga), similar to many
other medium- to small-sized mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the Carajás Mineral Province,
all of which are attractive to PGE exploration (e.g., Lago Grande, Serra da Onça, Puma,
Fafá, etc.);
• In the northeast of Brazil, the Pedra Branca PGE deposit is another well explored
mineralization (since the 1980’s) with an inferred mineral resource of 63.5 Mt with 1.08 g/t
of PGE+Au. The PGE are mainly hosted in tectonically disrupted chromitite layers of the
Troia-Pedra Branca mafic-ultramafic complex. The age of this mafic-ultramafic intrusion
is approximately 2.04 Ga, which is very similar to the age of the world-class PGE-bearing
Bushveld igneous complex, in South Africa;
• There is no hope of finding new large igneous complexes in Brazil, but a number of small
Precambrian mafic-ultramafic intrusions occur in the northeast of Brazil (Borborema
Province and northern São Francisco craton), that are waiting to be explored (conduit-
type intrusions? e.g., Limoeiro Ni-Cu-PGE deposit);
• Despite the Pedra Branca and Luanga PGE deposits, economic grades of PGE are also
found in many Brazilian Ni–Cu sulfide deposits (e.g., Limoeiro, Mirabela) of mafic-ultramafic
intrusions and komatiites (Fortaleza de Minas). In addition, some Brazilian gold deposits
may also host unconventional (hydrothermal) PGE mineralization (Serra Pelada, Buraco
do Ouro);
• The PGE mineralization in Brazil is all Precambrian in age and no PGE occurrences have
been found in the Mesozoic basaltic sills of the Brazilian intracratonic basins. However,
following the Norilsk-type deposit model, it may represent an exploration frontier;
• The geology of Brazil’s major mineral provinces is quite favorable for the discovery of new
PGE resources, and the increasing importance of PGE in supporting the transition to clean
energy may spur new PGE exploration programs by private and governmental companies.

Selected PGE deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated
Deposit Commodity Owner Grades Status
Resource
Luanga Pd-Pt-Au-Ni Bravo Mining 191.2 Mt 0.67g/t (Pd) - 0.57g/t (Pt) Exploration

Pedra Branca Pd-Pt-Au ValOre Metals 63.6 Mt 0.68g/t (Pd) - 0.36g/t (Pt) Exploration

Limoeiro Ni-Cu-Pt Nexa Resources SA 35 Mt 0.16 g/t (Pt) Feasibility

Serra Pelada;
Au-Pt Colossus Minerals 12.37 Mt 0.25 g/t (Pt) Feasibility
Serra Leste

23
POTASH

Selected Potash deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
Resource (K2O)
Autazes K Potássio do Brasil 767 Mt 30.71 % Feasibility

Nova Olinda do Norte K Potássio do Brasil 693.3 Mt 16.79 % Feasibility

Arari K Petrobras 675 Mt 27 % Feasibility

Fazendinha K-Salt Petrobras 487 Mt 33 % Feasibility

Itacoatiara K Potássio do Brasil 263 Mt 16.4-21.7 % Feasibility

Cerrado Verde,
K Verde Agritech 253 Mt 9.2 % Exploration
São Gotardo

Dores do Indaiá K Kalium Mineração 220 Mt 10.56 % Exploration

Santa Rosa de Lima K Mosaic 55.2 Mt 24.26 % Operating

Taquari-Vassouras K Mosaic 9.5 Mt 14,9 % Exploration

24 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• Brazil’s main potential is associated with evaporite-hosted potash deposits of Lower
Cretaceous and Permo-Carboniferous age. Currently, the only national productive plant is
concentrated in the Taquari/Vassouras mine (Sergipe State) which produces approximately
250,000 tons of K2O and is operated by Mosaic;
• Brazil’s current measured potash rock reserves are 3.7 billion tons, with 523 million tons
of K2O equivalent (average content of 18.0% K2O). Inferred reserves are 430 million tons,
with 99 million tons of K2O equivalent (average content of 23.0% K2O);
• The main reserves and resources are located in the Sergipe (Northeastern Brazil) and
Amazonas Basins (Northern Brazil);
• In the Sergipe Basin, it is located in the regions of Taquari/Vassouras, Santa Rosa de Lima
(both silvinite, with a remaining reserve of 2.3 Mt of K2O) and Rosário do Catete (carnalite,
12 Bt of ore with 2.5 Bt of KCl, 8.3% content, and 1.5 Bt of K2O “in situ”), all in the state of
Sergipe and owned by Mosaic;
• In the Amazonas Basin, the delineated reserves are located in the regions of Itacoatiara,
Nova Olinda do Norte and Autazes (silvinita), Amazonas State, owned by Potássio do
Brasil. The reserves of the three deposits located in the state of Amazonas total 1.71 Billion
tons of KCl (average content 30.43%), or approximately 1.1 Billion tons of K2O. Studies
have demonstrated the technical, economic, legal, environmental and social feasibility of
the project. It is currently in a consultation phase with the indigenous population;
• Three other potential resource targets evaluated by Potássio do Brasil indicate more than
1.2 Bt of KCl (30% content), that is, approximately 739.8 Mt of K2O;
• PETROBRAS has started to sell its mining assets, which include Fazendinha-Arari and
Maués-Boa Vista dos Ramos, and the cities of Nova Olinda, Autazes, Itacoatiara, Silves,
Itapiranga, Maués and Boa Vista dos Ramos;
• The Geological Survey of Brazil - CPRM has carried out a re-evaluation of resources and
reserves based on ANP data. It outlined four areas that could contain more than 1.5 Bt of
KCl (inferred content of 30%), or 900 Mt of K2O1.
• Other potential basins with similar evaporite age sections remain unexplored for
this commodity. Twenty-four basins have evaporite units cited in their sedimentary
sequences. Among the emerging basins, 11 were mentioned in a promising way for the
occurrence of evaporites, such as: Acre, Solimões, Amazonas, Tacutu, Parnaíba, Paraná,
Recôncavo, Araripe, Potiguar, Sergipe-Alagoas and Parecis. Among the offshore basins,
13 stand out: Santos, Pelotas, Campos, Espírito Santo, Mucuri, Cumuruxatiba, Jacuípe,
Jequitinhonha, Almada, Camamu, Pernambuco/Paraíba, Ceará and Bragança Viseu, São
Luís and Ilha Nova;
• Other sources of potash are being developed in Brazil, such as glauconite-hosted potash
as an alternative source of potash for the production of a slow-release fertilizer suited
to Brazil’s tropical climate. It promises to be a booming source of business, with grades
ranging from 6 to 10% K2O. Kalium Mineração, Harvest Minerals, Verde Agritech and Terra
Brasil are mining companies focused on this market share in Brazil.

1 For more information access: https://rigeo.sgb.gov.br/handle/doc/21740

25
RARE EARTH ELEMENTS

26 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• Brazil is the third country with the largest Rare Earth Elements (REE) reserves of 21 Mt
(USGS, 2023). Nevertheless, Brazil is still not so relevant in REE production on a global
scale. REE production in Brazil comes mainly from monazite concentrated in paleobeach
sands. In 2020, 708 t of monazite were produced and sold on the international market
(Brazil Nuclear Industry, 2020);
• Most of the REE reserves in Brazil are found in alkaline-carbonatitic rocks such as
Araxá, Poços de Caldas, Catalão, Tapira, Jacupiranga, and Itapirapuã; in granites such as
Pitinga, Minaçu and Montividio do Norte and, to a lesser extent, in sedimentary deposits
in the region of São Gonçalo do Sapucaí and São Francisco do Itabapoana. Studies in
the region of Seis Lagos and Repartimento (also known as Serra do Repartimento) are
inactive due to legal barriers in areas of environmental protection;
• In 2015, measured reserves were approved in the Minaçu-GO region, totaling approximately
300 Mt contained in ionic clays with a content of 0.15% REEO+Y. The operation will be
carried out by the mining company Serra Grande. Construction of the mine infrastructure
is well advanced and all necessary permits have been obtained;
• The largest REE deposit in Brazil in carbonatites is Araxá, with measured reserves of
approximately 20 Mt, with 3.02% and 2.30% REE content. Araxá is the world’s largest
producer of Nb and is currently developing projects to recover REE as a by-product. The
mines of Catalão, Poços de Caldas, Tapira, Pitinga, and Mata da Corda are also conducting
studies for the recovery of REE as a by-product of the main ore;
• REE concentrations in paleoplacers (monazite and ilmenite association) form smaller
deposits with a predominance of LREE. Continental sited (cassiterite associated), such as
in Rondônia or southern Pará, are potential deposits of HREE minerals. At the Bom Futuro
deposit (RO), for example, waste from cassiterite mining is sold to a Canadian rare earths
company (Canada Rare Earth Corporation 2021);
• In the coming years, a possible verticalization of the REE production lines in Brazil is
expected with the operations beginning in Serra Verde (GO) and Morro do Ferro/Poços
de Caldas (MG), in addition to the implementation of a xenotime REE extraction plant at
the Pitinga mine.

Selected REE deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
Resource (TREO)

Minaçu (Pela-Ema) REE-Sn-W-Nb-Ta Serra Verde 910 Mt 0.15 % Producing

Caldeira - Capão do Mel REE Meteoric Resources 409 Mt 0.27 % Exploration

Carina REE Aclara Resources 168.1 Mt 0.15 % Exploration

Seis Lagos REE-Nb-P-Fe-Mn-Ti SGB-CPRM 43.5 Mt 1.5 % Without feasibility

Mineração
Poços de Caldas REE-U-Th-Mo-Zr-Al 3.55 Mt 3.9 % Exploration
Terras Raras S/A

Catalão II P-Nb-REE CMOC-Mosaic 25 Mt 0.98 % Operating

Tapira P-Ti-Nb-REE Mosaic 5.8 Mt 1-10 % Operating

• INDÚSTRIAS NUCLEARES DO BRASIL. Relatório integrado. Rio de Janeiro: INB Gerência de Governança Corporativa, 2020
• U.S. Geological Survey, 2023, Mineral commodity summaries 2023: U.S. Geological Survey, 210 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/mcs2023
27
TUNGSTEN

28 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• Tungsten is exploited in Brazil through 17 mining concessions, the main ones being in the
states of Rio Grande do Norte (11), Pará (2) and Rondônia (1). The mineral deposits and
mining operations belong to the hydrothermal magmatic system, where the vast majority
are linked to skarns (86%), while a small part is associated with veins in greisenized zones
(14%). Brazil’s tungsten mineral potential is mainly associated with the Neoproterozoic
rocks of the Seridó Mineral Province, and subordinately with the Paleoproterozoic rocks
of the Carajás Mineral Province;
• Brazil’s main tungsten mineral deposits are located in the Seridó Mineral Province, where
the numerous deposits/occurrences (>700) are primarily hosted in skarns with scheelite
as the ore mineral. This province is the largest concentration of tungsten ore in the country
and holds the largest Brazilian reserve;
• The Carajás Mineral Province has the second largest tungsten mineral potential, represented
by the Pedra Preta and Serra do Bom Jardim deposits related to quartz/pegmatite veins
with wolframite in greisenized zones located on the summits of Paleoproterozoic granites;
• The Ribeira Fold Belt is represented by the Itaoca tungsten deposit containing minerals
from the scheelite-powellite series linked to skarns of Cambrian age;
• The rocks of the Jamari Complex in Rondônia are home to tungsten deposits (Igarapé
Manteiga Mine) linked to the granites of the Rondônia Intrusive Suite from the
Neoproterozoic age, with disseminated wolframite and cassiterite associated with intense
greisenization processes and quartz-mica-fluorite veins.

Selected tungsten deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
Resource (WO3)

Mineração
Brejuí W 11 Mt 0.61 % Operating
Tomaz Salustino

Bodó (Bonito) W Bodó Mineração 9 Mt 2.0 % Paralyzed

Mineração Nosso
Bonfim W-Au 0.9 Mt 4.8 % Paralyzed
Senhor do Bonfim
Mineração
Pedra Preta W 0.51 Mt 1.01 % Operating
Pará Tungstênio

Igarapé Manteiga W Metalmig 0.02 Mt 0.3 % Paralyzed

Cerro da Caatinga W-Sn-Mo Cerro da Caatinga 0.6 Kt 1.38 % Exhausted

29
URANIUM

30 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• Brazil currently has one of the largest uranium reserves in the world, with approximately
280 kt of contained uranium (U3O8), and the country has the potential to have one of the
three largest reserves in the world.
• The Itataia and Lagoa Real deposits were discovered in the late 1970s and were responsible
for Brazil ranking seventh place among countries with significant uranium resources. In
2022, Brazil had the eighth largest uranium resource in the world, although no discoveries
had been made since the late 1980s. At the end of 1982, it amounted to about 160kt.
• Brazil has already identified several styles of Uranium deposits on its territory, such
as Metassomatic deposits (Lagoa Real), Archean Paleoplacer (Serra das Gaivotas),
Paleoproterozoic Unconformity (Rio Cristalino), associated with Phosphate (Itataia) and
Sedimentary/Sandstones (Figueiras).
• The only uranium mine currently operating in Brazil is located in Caetité, in the state of
Bahia, where mineral resources are estimated at 99.1 thousand tons of uranium. Over 38
anomalies (areas of high uranium concentration) have been identified in this area, which is
why it is referred to as a uranium province. This hub can produce approximately 400 tons
of U3O8/year with the potential to reach 800 tons of U3O8 /year.
• At the country’s only operation, uranium is concentrated by a sulfuric acid leaching process,
resulting in a concentrated liquor that, after enrichment, produces the yellow cake.
• The only state in Brazil that requires uranium for electricity generation is Rio de Janeiro,
where the Angra 1 and Angra 2 nuclear power plants are located. The nominal demand
is 440 tons per year. However, between 310 and 340 tons of enriched uranium per year
remain, depending on the operating history of the nuclear power plants. The INB –
Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil nuclear fuel plant is also located in the state of Rio de
Janeiro and provides fuel for Brazil’s nuclear power plants.
• Law 14,514/2022 provides mechanisms to make the monopoly on uranium exploration
in Brazil more flexible, greatly expanding the opportunities for private investment in the
sector. Today, INB is the owner of all deposits in Brazil1.

Selected Uranium deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
Resource (U3O8)

Early
Rio Cristalino U INB 150 Kt 0.1 %
Exploration

Itataia / Santa Quitéria U-P INB-Galvani 142.5 Kt 0.05 % Feasibility

Lagoa Real / Caetité U INB 87.089 Kt 0.2 % Operating

Poços de Caldas U INB 26.8 Kt 0.01 % Reclamation

Early
Serra das Gaivotas / Moeda U-Au INB 15.0 Kt 0.01 %
Exploration
Early
Espinharas U INB 10.0 Kt 0.1 %
Exploration
Early
Figueira U INB 8.0 Kt 0.1 %
Exploration

1 For more information, access https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2022/lei/L14514.htm

31
ZINC

32 | SGB - An overview of critical and strategic minerals potential of Brazil 2024 Edition
HIGHLIGHTS
• Brazil has a notable potential to become a major producer of zinc and associated base
metals, such as lead, associated with a variety of Precambrian mineral systems.
• One of Brazil’s leading areas for zinc and associated metals is the Vazante-Paracatu
Mineral Province, located northwest of the state of Minas Gerais, which forms a north-south
trending belt approximately 250 km in length. It comprises two major zinc producing
districts, the Vazante Zinc District and the Paracatu-Unaí Mineral District (Zn-Pb-Cu). The
Vazante District hosts the exceptional world-class Vazante silicate zinc deposit (Vazante
and Extremo Norte mines). The main ore in the deposit is willemite (ZnSiO4) hosted by
pelite-carbonate rocks of the Vazante Group. Total resources are estimated at 19,68Mt @
8,79% Zn. The Paracatu-Unaí Mineral District (Zn-Pb-Cu) hosts the Morro Agudo mine,
where mineralization is associated with sulfides hosted by dolomites of the Vazante Group.
Total resources in the Morro Agudo area are estimated at 16.87 Mt @ 3.61% Zn, 0.58% Pb.
• In the Southern Ribeira Belt, located in the states of Paraná and São Paulo, significant Zn
and Pb production records are associated with Lajeado Group and Perau Formation rocks.
Lead production began in the 1940s and was primarily associated with Lajeado Group
carbonates. Within the Perau Formation area, the Perau and Canoa Sediments hosted Zn-
Pb (Cu-Ag). Despite the lack of current production, the region has a favorable geological
environment for new and significant discoveries.
• Aripuanã is a typical VHMS (Volcanogenic Hosted Massive Sulfide) polymetallic deposit
located in the northwestern corner of the state of Mato Grosso. It is associated with
Proterozoic bimodal volcanism. The deposit contains up to 1,500 kt of Zn, 540 kt of Pb,
and 160 kt of Cu. It also contains 835k oz of Au.
• The Mesoproterozoic Nova Brasilândia Belt, located in northwestern Brazil, hosts
occurrences of zinc, lead, copper and gold-rich gossans. The recently discovered Nova
Brasilândia deposit, classified as Clastic Sedex with Broken Hill Type (BHT) affinity and
hosting Zn-Cu-Pb mineralization, opens the possibility of defining a new polymetallic
mineral district in the southern part of the Amazon Craton. In addition to defining a
new polymetallic district, this discovery has the potential to contribute to an increase in
Brazilian zinc production.

Selected Zinc deposits and resource estimates.

Estimated Grades
Deposit Commodity Owner Status
Resource (Zn)
Aripuanã Zn-Pb-Cu Nexa Resources SA 41.5 Mt 2.4 % Planned
Vazante Zn-Pb-Ag Nexa Resources SA 19.68 Mt 8.79 % Producing
Morro Agudo Zn-Pb-Ag Nexa Resources SA 16.87 Mt 3.61 % Producing
Bonsucesso Zn-Pb Nexa Resources SA 8.49 Mt 3.78 % Feasibility
Nova Brasilândia Mineração
Zn-Cu-Pb 6.2 Mt 6.84 % Producing
d'Oeste Santa Elina
Boquira Pb-Zn-Ag Metal Data Ltda. 5.6 Mt 1.43 % Interrupted
Nova Redenção Pb-Zn-Ag SGB-CPRM 5.2 Mt 0.5 % Early exploration
Palmeirópolis Zn-Cu-Pb Alvo Minerals 4.6 Mt 3.9 % Exploration
Fazenda Coqueiro Zn-Pb CBPM 4.2 Mt 6.12 % Feasibility
Ambrósia Norte Zn-Pb Nexa Resources SA 2.16 Mt 3.85 % Interrupted
Ambrósia Sul Zn-Pb Nexa Resources SA 2.15 Mt 5.12 % Interrupted
Canoas Pb-Zn-Ag Canoas 0.97 Mt 3.5 % Closed
Perau Pb-Ag-Zn-Cu Perau 0.84 Mt 1.13% Closed

33
RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
LITHIUM

Favorability map for lithium Avaliação do potencial de

pegmatite of the Borborema lítio no Brasil - área: Província
Pegmatite Province Pegmatítica da Borborema

O “Projeto Avaliação do Potencial do Lítio no Brasil” na Província Pegmatítica Oriental

do Brasil: O Serviço Geológico do Brasil fomentando a pesquisa mineral

AGROMINERALS

Mapa de avaliação
Avaliação do potencial agromineral
do potencial agromineral
do Brasil: eixo Manaus – Boa Vista
do Brasil: área Tocantins

Soil Fertilization and Maize-Wheat Grain Production

with Alternative Sources of Nutrients

PHOSPHATE
Avaliação do potencial de fosfato
Avaliação do potencial de fosfato
no Brasil: investigação na Formação
no Brasil – áreas Monte Alegre (PA)
Jandaíra, Bacia Potiguar, municípios
e Monte Dourado (PA), borda norte
de Areia Branca e Guamaré, estado
da Bacia do Amazonas
do Rio Grande do Norte

Avaliação do potencial de fosfato

Avaliação do potencial de fosfato
no Brasil, fase III: bacia Sergipe -
no Brasil, fase III: centro-leste
Alagoas, área sub-bacia Sergipe,
de Santa Catarina
estado de Sergipe

GRAPHITE
Ocorrência de Grafita na Faixa
Avaliação do Potencial Araguaia, norte do Estado
da Grafita no Brasil do Tocantins, municípios de
Xambioá e Araguanã.

Mapa de favorabilidade para grafita - porção

centro-leste, Província grafítica Ceará Central

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MINERAL POTENTIAL MODELING FOR COPPER

Mapa de prospectividade mineral Mapa de prospectividade para

Cobre: Setor Aquiri, Província cobre-ouro skarns - área Serra da
Mineral de Carajás (PA) Umburana, Província Borborema

Província mineral de Carajás,

Mapa de favorabilidade para
PA: controles críticos das
cobre: área sudeste do Cráton
mineralizações de cobre e ouro
Amazônico, subáreas 1 e 2
do lineamento Cinzento

URANIUM

Mapa de avaliação do potencial de Avaliação da favorabiliade para

urânio do Brasil: escala 1:5.000.000 depósitos de urânio no Brasil

REE

Mapa de prospectividade para

Avaliação do potencial
ETR-Sn (F, In)-Ta-W-U Província
de terras raras no Brasil
Estanífera de Goiás

Geologia e avaliação do potencial para fosfato e elementos

terras-raras da região de Campos Novos, Roraima

GOLD

Mapa de favorabilidade para ouro

Economia Mineral do Ouro orogênico: Quadrilátero ferrífero,
setor central

Mapa de favorabilidade
Mapa de favorabilidade para
para ouro: Lineamento
ouro Oeste de Goiás
Tocantinzinho - Setor Oeste

TUNGSTEN

Áreas de relevante interesse mineral (ARIM): evolução crustal e metalogenia

da província mineral do Seridó: estados do Rio Grande do Norte e Paraíba

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