{
  "id": 6665221,
  "title": "IMC Rare Earths Reports Up to 95.2% Terbium Recovery in Brazil Project Tests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/imc-rare-earths-reports-up-to-95-2-terbium-recovery-in-brazil-project",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-10T23:56:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/09/10/imc-rare-terbium-recovery-brazil/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "IMC Rare Earths reported terbium recoveries of up to 95.2% from laboratory-scale metallurgical tests at its Itarantim ionic adsorption clay project in Brazil. In the best-performing composite, known as COMP C2, terbium recovery averaged 81.1% and reached 95.2%, according to the company. The tests examined four magnet rare earth elements: neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium. […]",
  "key_points": [
    "IMC Rare Earths reports 95.2% terbium recovery in lab tests",
    "Tests conducted on Itarantim project in Brazil",
    "Terbium crucial for high-performance magnets in tech industries"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The high terbium recovery rates from the Itarantim project in Brazil offer a potential alternative source for the critical rare earth element, challenging China's dominance in the supply chain.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}