Canadian Neo and Cyclic Materials Partner on Rare Earth Recycling to Boost EU Processing Capacity

Australia’s St George Mining announced on Monday a resource update for its Araxa rare earths project in Brazil, representing an increase of up to 75%. St George, which owned 100% of the project, said this was the result of work conducted since July 2025. The company said the Araxa project’s ore resource had increased from 40 million mt to 70.91 million mt. The total rare earth oxides (TREO) grade was 4.06%, and the niobium (Nb2O5) grade was 0.62%.

The US Defense Logistics Agency signed a contract with rare earth producer REalloys to support the development of next-generation thermal reduction technology for samarium and gadolinium metals. The core of the effort is to build a plant with an annual capacity of 300 mt to reduce mixed samarium–europium–gadolinium concentrates into high-purity metals. At present, the US has no commercial production of either metal and is heavily reliant on overseas supply. REalloys said its process can cut costs by 50% and has been patented. The move aims to establish domestic capacity and strengthen national defense supply chain security.

US critical minerals producer Energy Fuels said that once its Donald project in Australia comes on stream, it was expected to meet up to 50% of US demand for heavy rare earth elements. The project was expected to supply rare earths to the White Mesa facility in Utah from the end of 2027 to early 2028. In Phase 1, the Donald project could meet about 25% of US heavy rare earth demand, and Phase 2 could increase this to 50%. The project will produce 1,531 mt of Pr-Nd oxide, 168 mt of dysprosium, and 29 mt of terbium per year. After the Phase 2 expansion of the White Mesa facility, dysprosium capacity will reach 288 mt/year and terbium 80 mt/year.