IMC Rare Earths Reports Up to 95.2% Terbium Recovery in Brazil Project Tests

IMC Rare Earths has reported laboratory-scale metallurgical tests indicating terbium recovery rates of up to 95.2% from its Itarantim project in Brazil. The tests focused on magnet rare earth elements, including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium. The best-performing composite, COMP C2, achieved an average terbium recovery of 81.1%, with a peak of 95.2%.

Conducted in collaboration with Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Norte and EMBRAPII-affiliated CT Mineral laboratory, these results were reviewed and approved by a qualified geology professor under regulation guidelines. While these findings represent laboratory results and not commercial-scale data, they highlight the potential significance of terbium in high-performance permanent magnets, used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other advanced technologies.

Terbium's importance is underscored by China's dominance in the rare earth supply chain, with the country controlling a majority of mining, refining, and sintered permanent magnet production. China has also imposed export controls on certain rare earth products, including terbium, prompting increased interest in alternative sources outside China, particularly for high-performance magnets.

Itarantim remains an early-stage project with an Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.1 billion tonnes and a terbium concentration of 8 parts per million. However, further exploration and technical studies are needed to determine the project's viability, profitability, and feasibility for commercial-scale development.