Australian begins investigation into rare earths project in Bahia

Australian mining company Eminence Minerals hired Brazilian company Eco Sondagem to begin a new drilling campaign at the Campo Grande rare earth project in Bahia.

According to a relevant fact released by the company, the program foresees up to 72 auger holes, totaling around 2,000 meters of drilling. Work should begin in June 2026.

The campaign aims to test rare earth targets in ionic clays and laterites, defined from geological surveys, surface sampling, aerial radiometry and satellite analysis.

Campo Grande is 100% controlled by Eminence and has 99 research permits, covering approximately 1,755 km² in the state of Bahia. The area is close to assets owned by Brazilian Rare Earths, a company also listed on the Australian stock exchange and which helped put the region on the international rare earths radar.

Despite progress, the project is still in an extremely early stage. Eminence has not yet declared a mineral resource for Campo Grande, nor has it presented a feasibility study or investment decision. The new campaign seeks to confirm the geological continuity of the targets.

In practice, this means that the asset is still far from eventual commercial operation. The current stage is mineral exploration, used to verify whether there is sufficient volume, grade and geological characteristics to justify new investment phases.

In addition to rare earths, the company cites potential for bauxite and gallium in parts of the project.

Gallium is considered a critical mineral due to its application in semiconductors and advanced technologies, but the company still treats this potential as an additional front of technical evaluation.

The CEO of Eminence, Anthony Hills, stated that the hiring of Eco Sondagem represents a milestone in Campo Grande moving from the target generation phase to the drilling test phase.

"The award of the drilling contract represents another important milestone in the rapid advancement of the Campo Grande Project, from the generation of targets for drilling testing", he said.

The entry of yet another Australian company into exploration campaigns in Brazil reinforces the interest of Western companies in the national rare earths market. The move comes amid attempts by countries outside China to diversify supply chains for critical minerals and expand access to projects in jurisdictions considered strategic.

Source: CNN