The ferruginous lateritic profile of Seis Lagos deposit are mainly composed by iron minerals. How... more The ferruginous lateritic profile of Seis Lagos deposit are mainly composed by iron minerals. However the secondary minerals show a quite variable elemental composition, some of the Nb and Ti minerals have REE and/or Fe in their composition. INTRODUCTION The Seis Lagos Deposit is located in the São Gabriel da Cachoeira, northeastern of Amazonas State (Figure 1A), cutting the basement rocks of the Imeri Domain 1,81 a 1,79 Ga (Figure 1B) (ALMEIDA et al., 2011). This deposit is one of largest Nb-deposits in the world formed due to weathering of SiO2-undersaturated alkaline rocks (siderite carbonatite) (Figure 1C). It is a 5 km diameter, circular structure outcropping in the NW Amazon region constituted by an expressive at least 200 meter-thick ferruginous lateritic crust. Drill hole description, petrography, chemistry and x-ray diffractometry of the lateritic crust profile has been conducted to characterize its mineral assemblage and main processes of element mobilization and accumulat...
The Batolito Pelotas - Tijucas Terrain Project is an integrated geologicalgeophysical
map at sca... more The Batolito Pelotas - Tijucas Terrain Project is an integrated geologicalgeophysical
map at scale 1:750.00, comprising 20 cartographic sheets at the scale
1:100,000, which covers an area of 60,000 km2. The project is located in the Sul-
Riograndense Shield, represented by association of magmatic arc (Batolito Pelotas)
and by associations of the reworked basement and supracrustal sequences (Tijucas
Terrain). This report consists of regional integration of lithological, structural,
geochemical, geophysical and mineral occurrence data, together with field and
laboratory data. The aim of this study is to characterize the metallic mineralization
and its controls. The absence of mines in operation of metallic assets, although
existing in the past, points to greenfield area. However, a better geological and
geotectonic knowledge of the studied area can increase the attractiveness for
the mineral industry, since this study could improve the understanding of mineral
potentiality. Many regional sections have been done that improved the geological
mapping and its understanding. The obtained results from the lithochemical and
petrographic data show that in some specific areas is necessary a systematic
mapping for a better geotectonic understanding. In this project, it was established
that the separation between the Batolito Pelotas and the Tijucas Terrain is limited
by the Porto Alegre Magnetic Anomaly. Following definition the Encruzilhada
Block is part of the Tijucas Terrain. The Batolito Pelotas comprises five suites:
Viamão, Pinheiro Machado, Cordillera, Cerro Grande and Dom Feliciano. It was also
adopted the separation of the Jaguarão Block, In the southeastern part of the Sul-
Riograndense Shield occurs the Jaguarão Terrane as separated unit. The isotopic
signature of the available Batolito Pelotas samples shows two patterns of TDM
values, one around 2.0 Ga and another of 1.7 Ga, indicating a signature of mixed
sources for these rocks, an oceanic plate with a probable source juvenile (1.1 Ga)
and another Arquean (≈3,0 Ga) or Paleoporterozoic. The mineralizations explored
in the Batolito Pelotas and Tijucas Terrain have a relationship with volcanic rocks,
indicating that epithermal deposits may be present in a more common way than the
one pointed so far for the region. These data also indicate that northern part of the
Batolito Pelotas corresponds to an upper portion of continental magmatic arc by the
presence of great amount of volcanic rocks and of epizonal granites.
The ferruginous lateritic profile of Seis Lagos deposit are mainly composed by iron minerals. How... more The ferruginous lateritic profile of Seis Lagos deposit are mainly composed by iron minerals. However the secondary minerals show a quite variable elemental composition, some of the Nb and Ti minerals have REE and/or Fe in their composition. INTRODUCTION The Seis Lagos Deposit is located in the São Gabriel da Cachoeira, northeastern of Amazonas State (Figure 1A), cutting the basement rocks of the Imeri Domain 1,81 a 1,79 Ga (Figure 1B) (ALMEIDA et al., 2011). This deposit is one of largest Nb-deposits in the world formed due to weathering of SiO2-undersaturated alkaline rocks (siderite carbonatite) (Figure 1C). It is a 5 km diameter, circular structure outcropping in the NW Amazon region constituted by an expressive at least 200 meter-thick ferruginous lateritic crust. Drill hole description, petrography, chemistry and x-ray diffractometry of the lateritic crust profile has been conducted to characterize its mineral assemblage and main processes of element mobilization and accumulat...
The ferruginous lateritic profile of Seis Lagos deposit are mainly composed by iron minerals. How... more The ferruginous lateritic profile of Seis Lagos deposit are mainly composed by iron minerals. However the secondary minerals show a quite variable elemental composition, some of the Nb and Ti minerals have REE and/or Fe in their composition. INTRODUCTION The Seis Lagos Deposit is located in the São Gabriel da Cachoeira, northeastern of Amazonas State (Figure 1A), cutting the basement rocks of the Imeri Domain 1,81 a 1,79 Ga (Figure 1B) (ALMEIDA et al., 2011). This deposit is one of largest Nb-deposits in the world formed due to weathering of SiO2-undersaturated alkaline rocks (siderite carbonatite) (Figure 1C). It is a 5 km diameter, circular structure outcropping in the NW Amazon region constituted by an expressive at least 200 meter-thick ferruginous lateritic crust. Drill hole description, petrography, chemistry and x-ray diffractometry of the lateritic crust profile has been conducted to characterize its mineral assemblage and main processes of element mobilization and accumulat...
The Batolito Pelotas - Tijucas Terrain Project is an integrated geologicalgeophysical
map at sca... more The Batolito Pelotas - Tijucas Terrain Project is an integrated geologicalgeophysical
map at scale 1:750.00, comprising 20 cartographic sheets at the scale
1:100,000, which covers an area of 60,000 km2. The project is located in the Sul-
Riograndense Shield, represented by association of magmatic arc (Batolito Pelotas)
and by associations of the reworked basement and supracrustal sequences (Tijucas
Terrain). This report consists of regional integration of lithological, structural,
geochemical, geophysical and mineral occurrence data, together with field and
laboratory data. The aim of this study is to characterize the metallic mineralization
and its controls. The absence of mines in operation of metallic assets, although
existing in the past, points to greenfield area. However, a better geological and
geotectonic knowledge of the studied area can increase the attractiveness for
the mineral industry, since this study could improve the understanding of mineral
potentiality. Many regional sections have been done that improved the geological
mapping and its understanding. The obtained results from the lithochemical and
petrographic data show that in some specific areas is necessary a systematic
mapping for a better geotectonic understanding. In this project, it was established
that the separation between the Batolito Pelotas and the Tijucas Terrain is limited
by the Porto Alegre Magnetic Anomaly. Following definition the Encruzilhada
Block is part of the Tijucas Terrain. The Batolito Pelotas comprises five suites:
Viamão, Pinheiro Machado, Cordillera, Cerro Grande and Dom Feliciano. It was also
adopted the separation of the Jaguarão Block, In the southeastern part of the Sul-
Riograndense Shield occurs the Jaguarão Terrane as separated unit. The isotopic
signature of the available Batolito Pelotas samples shows two patterns of TDM
values, one around 2.0 Ga and another of 1.7 Ga, indicating a signature of mixed
sources for these rocks, an oceanic plate with a probable source juvenile (1.1 Ga)
and another Arquean (≈3,0 Ga) or Paleoporterozoic. The mineralizations explored
in the Batolito Pelotas and Tijucas Terrain have a relationship with volcanic rocks,
indicating that epithermal deposits may be present in a more common way than the
one pointed so far for the region. These data also indicate that northern part of the
Batolito Pelotas corresponds to an upper portion of continental magmatic arc by the
presence of great amount of volcanic rocks and of epizonal granites.
The ferruginous lateritic profile of Seis Lagos deposit are mainly composed by iron minerals. How... more The ferruginous lateritic profile of Seis Lagos deposit are mainly composed by iron minerals. However the secondary minerals show a quite variable elemental composition, some of the Nb and Ti minerals have REE and/or Fe in their composition. INTRODUCTION The Seis Lagos Deposit is located in the São Gabriel da Cachoeira, northeastern of Amazonas State (Figure 1A), cutting the basement rocks of the Imeri Domain 1,81 a 1,79 Ga (Figure 1B) (ALMEIDA et al., 2011). This deposit is one of largest Nb-deposits in the world formed due to weathering of SiO2-undersaturated alkaline rocks (siderite carbonatite) (Figure 1C). It is a 5 km diameter, circular structure outcropping in the NW Amazon region constituted by an expressive at least 200 meter-thick ferruginous lateritic crust. Drill hole description, petrography, chemistry and x-ray diffractometry of the lateritic crust profile has been conducted to characterize its mineral assemblage and main processes of element mobilization and accumulat...
The Morro dos Seis Lagos Alkaline Carbonatte Complex occurs in the northwestern part of Amazonas ... more The Morro dos Seis Lagos Alkaline Carbonatte Complex occurs in the northwestern part of Amazonas state (municipality of São Gabriel de Cachoeira). The complex is defined by three circular bodies aligned according to NS direction and are identified as Morro dos Seis Lagos, Morro do Meio and Morro do Norte. The Morro dos Seis Lagos body is known as the largest worldwide Niobium deposit hosted lateritic crust over 200m thick, which is composed essentally of goethite and hematite, derived from siderite carbonatite. This crust hosts rare earth (RE), niobium (Nb), ttanium (Ti) and manganese (Mn) ores that are predominantly generated by hydrothermal and weathering processes. The purpose of the Seis Lagos Mineral Resources Report is to integrate the compiled and obtained data in the present work to define the economic potential of RE in the Alkaline Complex of the Morro dos Seis Lagos. The report presents the descriptons of the drill cores with their respective mineralogical characteristics and lithological variations to contextualize it as a RE deposit. The main minerals identified by X-ray diffracton are Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides; Ti-Nb oxides, and aluminate phosphates of RE, among others. The Nb minerals of economic interest identified in the laterite crust are ilmenorutle, Nb-rutle, and Nb-brookite. Besides which indicatng significant concentratons of Nb and Ti, they present a closely spatal relationship with the minerals of the ferruginous crust. Although it contains high levels of Nb, comparing to Araxá, for example, its associaton with the laterite crust requires unusual mineral processing that should address the dominant presence of iron, which can hinder the ore processing. The RE minerals are also related to laterite crust and the RE elements can be extracted as byproducts. The main RE minerals are monazite, florencite and cerianite, which result in some intervals with up to 2% of Ce, mainly in the Esperança basin. However, these minerals are secondary ones immersed in the iron oxy-hydroxide minerals of the lateritc crust. The resultng texture is fne-grained minerals occurring as isolated crystals or in aggregates of minerals enveloped by the ferruginous matrix of the lateritc crust. Also, there has been identfed presence of Th, which according to the varios samples is ofen closely associated to RE minerals. In the case of high contents of this element, it can be a major obstacle for mining this deposit. At the most superfcial levels of the ferruginous crust, Th phosphates are observed as isolated crystals in pores and voids of the lateritc crust. Whereas in the carbonatte, thorbastnaesite occurs in greater proporton and contains Ce in its compositon. The lateritc crust is cut by manganese lenses composed mainly by minerals of the cryptomelane group, such as hollandite, and pyrolusite in a lesser proporton. In these lenses, the presence of cerianite associated with the hollandite is common, indicatng that the crystallizaton process of these minerals is contemporaneous. The obtained data allowed to calculate the RE resource of the Morro dos Seis Lagos deposit. Given the current worldwide demand for critcal RE’s (Nd, Eu, Tb, Dy, and Y = CRE, Σ of the critcal RE's) and the presence of high levels of these elements in the deposit, a separate resource estmaton for these elements was carried out. The measured total RE resource is 250,000 tonnes (mt) @ 0.65% RE2O3, and the critcal RE's is 50 mt @ 0.13% CRE 2O3. Also, the measured niobium resource was recalculated with the analytcal results obtained in this project, which has 1.15Mt @ 2.99% Nb2O5, whereas the Uaupes Project data had been estmated with 1.09Mt @ 2.85% Nb2O5 of measured resource. Locally, the Seis Lagos deposit presents areas with various geochemical anomalies of elements such as Sc, Zn, V, Ba, among others. For example, Sc, which is a commodity with high demand in the technological market, may have the contents in this deposit greater than 500 ppm in the carbonattc porton. Thus, the anomalous contents of these elements need to be beter characterized through additonal studies to determine their economic potentality.
The Batolito Pelotas - Tijucas Terrain Project is an integrated geologicalgeophysical map at scal... more The Batolito Pelotas - Tijucas Terrain Project is an integrated geologicalgeophysical map at scale 1:750.00, comprising 20 cartographic sheets at the scale 1:100,000, which covers an area of 60,000 km2. The project is located in the SulRiograndense Shield, represented by association of magmatic arc (Batolito Pelotas) and by associations of the reworked basement and supracrustal sequences (Tijucas Terrain). This report consists of regional integration of lithological, structural, geochemical, geophysical and mineral occurrence data, together with field and laboratory data. The aim of this study is to characterize the metallic mineralization and its controls. The absence of mines in operation of metallic assets, although existing in the past, points to greenfield area. However, a better geological and geotectonic knowledge of the studied area can increase the attractiveness for the mineral industry, since this study could improve the understanding of mineral potentiality. Many regional sections have been done that improved the geological mapping and its understanding. The obtained results from the lithochemical and petrographic data show that in some specific areas is necessary a systematic mapping for a better geotectonic understanding. In this project, it was established that the separation between the Batolito Pelotas and the Tijucas Terrain is limited by the Porto Alegre Magnetic Anomaly. Following definition the Encruzilhada Block is part of the Tijucas Terrain. The Batolito Pelotas comprises five suites: Viamão, Pinheiro Machado, Cordillera, Cerro Grande and Dom Feliciano. It was also adopted the separation of the Jaguarão Block, In the southeastern part of the SulRiograndense Shield occurs the Jaguarão Terrane as separated unit. The isotopic signature of the available Batolito Pelotas samples shows two patterns of TDM values, one around 2.0 Ga and another of 1.7 Ga, indicating a signature of mixed sources for these rocks, an oceanic plate with a probable source juvenile (1.1 Ga) and another Arquean (≈3,0 Ga) or Paleoporterozoic. The mineralizations explored in the Batolito Pelotas and Tijucas Terrain have a relationship with volcanic rocks, indicating that epithermal deposits may be present in a more common way than the one pointed so far for the region. These data also indicate that northern part of the Batolito Pelotas corresponds to an upper portion of continental magmatic arc by the presence of great amount of volcanic rocks and of epizonal granites.
O interesse na exploração dos elementos terras raras (ETR) deve-se às oscilações que ocorreram no... more O interesse na exploração dos elementos terras raras (ETR) deve-se às oscilações que ocorreram no seu mercado nos últimos anos. Isto fez com que, em diversos países, empresas de mineração buscassem por novos depósitos ou reabertura /reavaliação de minas paralisadas e depósitos potenciais. Neste sentido, os órgãos governamentais de diversos países passaram a incentivar o desenvolvimento da cadeia produtiva deste bem mineral. No Brasil, diversos setores públicos e privados iniciaram debates para viabilização da exploração ao consumo de ETR. Dentro do Plano Nacional de Mineração 2030, coube ao Serviço Geológico do Brasil – CPRM, entre outras questões, a identificação de alvos de minerais estratégicos para a indústria de alta tecnologia. O Projeto Avaliação do Potencial de Terras Raras no Brasil é um dos instrumentos governamentais com objetivo de identificar o potencial brasileiro deste bem mineral. Os depósitos e ocorrências de ETR conhecidos no país são encontrados distribuídos em todo o território nacional. Os que apresentam maior importância econômica estão associados aos complexos alcalinos carbonatíticos, principalmente da Província Ígnea do Alto do Paranaíba. Nesta Província ocorrem associados aos depósitos de nióbio e fosfato que estão sendo minerados e os ETR poderão ser extraídos como produto secundário durante o processamento do minério. Em outras regiões, os complexos alcalinos estão mineralizados, no entanto tem problemas de logísticas e questões legais como Morro dos Seis Lagos (AM), ou pequeno volume, como no caso de Barra do Itapirapuã (SP/PR). Em Araxá (MG) tem-se o projeto executado pela Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) que está em fase mais avançada, produzindo 100 toneladas/mês de bicarbonatos e hidróxidos de ETR desde 2013. Outros projetos que estão sendo executados neste tipo de depósito são os da MBAC Fertilizantes Ltda. em Araxá, na área conhecida como Área Zero e, da Prime Star no Complexo Alcalino de Poços de Caldas (MG), conhecida como Morro do Ferro. Ambos os projetos estão em fase de estudo de viabilidade econômica. Neste tipo de depósito a produção está relacionada aos ETR leves, associados principalmente à monazita como mineral de minério, ocorrendo também mineralizações secundárias como os fosfatos aluminosos de ETR. Dentro da tipologia de depósitos associados às rochas graníticas tardias com enriquecimento de ETR nas fases finais da granitogênese., há duas minerações realizando estudos de viabilidade econômica, quais são Mineração Taboca SA no depósito de Pitinga em Presidente Figueiredo (AM) e a Mineração Serra Verde SA no Granito Serra Dourada em Minaçu (GO). O mineral de minério de Pitinga é a xenotima que ocorre como cristais prismáticos milimétricos e podem ocorrer na forma de veios relacionados ao processo de faturamento que corta o corpo álcali-granito Madeira. A mineralização econômica do granito Serra Dourada está relacionado ao saprolito que ocorre sobre o biotita granito, denominada como depósito tipo íons adsorvidos em argilas. O Brasil foi grande produtor de monazita no passado associada a tipologia de depósitos relacionada a placer marinhos, no entanto, dentro do contexto atual, este tipo de mineralização não mostra ser econômico. O retorno da exploração deste tipo de mineralização é pouco provável, pois geralmente apresentam-se como depósitos pequenos e dispersos, além de ser mineral rico em ETRL com alto teor de Th, o que traz sérios problemas de manuseio e armazenamento. O potencial brasileiro para ETR é grande. Hoje, o país tem a segunda maior reserva mundial com 22 Mt de reserva lavrável de óxidos de terras raras (OTR). Esta reserva poderá ser maior quando os projetos em desenvolvimento finalizarem os seus estudos de viabilidade econômica. Apesar de já ter produzido compostos de elementos terras raras (ETR) até início dos anos 2000, a partir das monazitas de placers marinho. Estes cenários, no entanto, não colocam o país em vantagem em relação aos demais países, visto que há necessidade de forte investimento no desenvolvimento das rotas tecnológicas de cada depósito. Isto porque cada mineralização exige rotas adequadas ao tipo de minério de forma a ser economicamente viável, pois são processos caros, de baixo rendimento e altamente poluente. Por outro lado, conta ao favor do país, o fato das mineralizações de ETR estarem associadas com outros bens minerais que já estão sendo minerados, que é um fator que pode contribuir para a sua exploração, pois minimiza os custos de mineração. O desenvolvimento da cadeia produtiva de ETR dependerá, não apenas de esforço governamental como o que está sendo feito nos últimos anos, tanto no setor executivo quanto legislativo. O fator mercadológico tem grande peso neste desenvolvimento, pelo fato do mercado ser pequeno, pelo desenvolvimento de pesquisa em materiais substitutivos e/ou diminuição na quantidade de ETR utilizado no produto e pelo monopólio chinês de produção de OTR. Apesar do crescimento no consumo de produtos de energia limpa e carros elétricos, que utilizam OTR na sua fabricação, a demanda por este bem mineral não apresentará um aumento significativo para viabilizar os diferentes projetos que estão em andamento no mundo. Assim, a viabilização dos depósitos brasileiros, a exceção da produção de ETR por parte da CBMM, dependerá do comportamento favorável do mercado externo.
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Papers by Lucy Takehara Chemale
map at scale 1:750.00, comprising 20 cartographic sheets at the scale
1:100,000, which covers an area of 60,000 km2. The project is located in the Sul-
Riograndense Shield, represented by association of magmatic arc (Batolito Pelotas)
and by associations of the reworked basement and supracrustal sequences (Tijucas
Terrain). This report consists of regional integration of lithological, structural,
geochemical, geophysical and mineral occurrence data, together with field and
laboratory data. The aim of this study is to characterize the metallic mineralization
and its controls. The absence of mines in operation of metallic assets, although
existing in the past, points to greenfield area. However, a better geological and
geotectonic knowledge of the studied area can increase the attractiveness for
the mineral industry, since this study could improve the understanding of mineral
potentiality. Many regional sections have been done that improved the geological
mapping and its understanding. The obtained results from the lithochemical and
petrographic data show that in some specific areas is necessary a systematic
mapping for a better geotectonic understanding. In this project, it was established
that the separation between the Batolito Pelotas and the Tijucas Terrain is limited
by the Porto Alegre Magnetic Anomaly. Following definition the Encruzilhada
Block is part of the Tijucas Terrain. The Batolito Pelotas comprises five suites:
Viamão, Pinheiro Machado, Cordillera, Cerro Grande and Dom Feliciano. It was also
adopted the separation of the Jaguarão Block, In the southeastern part of the Sul-
Riograndense Shield occurs the Jaguarão Terrane as separated unit. The isotopic
signature of the available Batolito Pelotas samples shows two patterns of TDM
values, one around 2.0 Ga and another of 1.7 Ga, indicating a signature of mixed
sources for these rocks, an oceanic plate with a probable source juvenile (1.1 Ga)
and another Arquean (≈3,0 Ga) or Paleoporterozoic. The mineralizations explored
in the Batolito Pelotas and Tijucas Terrain have a relationship with volcanic rocks,
indicating that epithermal deposits may be present in a more common way than the
one pointed so far for the region. These data also indicate that northern part of the
Batolito Pelotas corresponds to an upper portion of continental magmatic arc by the
presence of great amount of volcanic rocks and of epizonal granites.
map at scale 1:750.00, comprising 20 cartographic sheets at the scale
1:100,000, which covers an area of 60,000 km2. The project is located in the Sul-
Riograndense Shield, represented by association of magmatic arc (Batolito Pelotas)
and by associations of the reworked basement and supracrustal sequences (Tijucas
Terrain). This report consists of regional integration of lithological, structural,
geochemical, geophysical and mineral occurrence data, together with field and
laboratory data. The aim of this study is to characterize the metallic mineralization
and its controls. The absence of mines in operation of metallic assets, although
existing in the past, points to greenfield area. However, a better geological and
geotectonic knowledge of the studied area can increase the attractiveness for
the mineral industry, since this study could improve the understanding of mineral
potentiality. Many regional sections have been done that improved the geological
mapping and its understanding. The obtained results from the lithochemical and
petrographic data show that in some specific areas is necessary a systematic
mapping for a better geotectonic understanding. In this project, it was established
that the separation between the Batolito Pelotas and the Tijucas Terrain is limited
by the Porto Alegre Magnetic Anomaly. Following definition the Encruzilhada
Block is part of the Tijucas Terrain. The Batolito Pelotas comprises five suites:
Viamão, Pinheiro Machado, Cordillera, Cerro Grande and Dom Feliciano. It was also
adopted the separation of the Jaguarão Block, In the southeastern part of the Sul-
Riograndense Shield occurs the Jaguarão Terrane as separated unit. The isotopic
signature of the available Batolito Pelotas samples shows two patterns of TDM
values, one around 2.0 Ga and another of 1.7 Ga, indicating a signature of mixed
sources for these rocks, an oceanic plate with a probable source juvenile (1.1 Ga)
and another Arquean (≈3,0 Ga) or Paleoporterozoic. The mineralizations explored
in the Batolito Pelotas and Tijucas Terrain have a relationship with volcanic rocks,
indicating that epithermal deposits may be present in a more common way than the
one pointed so far for the region. These data also indicate that northern part of the
Batolito Pelotas corresponds to an upper portion of continental magmatic arc by the
presence of great amount of volcanic rocks and of epizonal granites.
Os depósitos e ocorrências de ETR conhecidos no país são encontrados distribuídos em todo o território nacional. Os que apresentam maior importância econômica estão associados aos complexos alcalinos carbonatíticos, principalmente da Província Ígnea do Alto do Paranaíba. Nesta Província ocorrem associados aos depósitos de nióbio e fosfato que estão sendo minerados e os ETR poderão ser extraídos como produto secundário durante o processamento do minério. Em outras regiões, os complexos alcalinos estão mineralizados, no entanto tem problemas de logísticas e questões legais como Morro dos Seis Lagos (AM), ou pequeno volume, como no caso de Barra do Itapirapuã (SP/PR). Em Araxá (MG) tem-se o projeto executado pela Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) que está em fase mais avançada, produzindo 100 toneladas/mês de bicarbonatos e hidróxidos de ETR desde 2013. Outros projetos que estão sendo executados neste tipo de depósito são os da MBAC Fertilizantes Ltda. em Araxá, na área conhecida como Área Zero e, da Prime Star no Complexo Alcalino de Poços de Caldas (MG), conhecida como Morro do Ferro. Ambos os projetos estão em fase de estudo de viabilidade econômica. Neste tipo de depósito a produção está relacionada aos ETR leves, associados principalmente à monazita como mineral de minério, ocorrendo também mineralizações secundárias como os fosfatos aluminosos de ETR. Dentro da tipologia de depósitos associados às rochas graníticas tardias com enriquecimento de ETR nas fases finais da granitogênese., há duas minerações realizando estudos de viabilidade econômica, quais são Mineração Taboca SA no depósito de Pitinga em Presidente Figueiredo (AM) e a Mineração Serra Verde SA no Granito Serra Dourada em Minaçu (GO). O mineral de minério de Pitinga é a xenotima que ocorre como cristais prismáticos milimétricos e podem ocorrer na forma de veios relacionados ao processo de faturamento que corta o corpo álcali-granito Madeira. A mineralização econômica do granito Serra Dourada está relacionado ao saprolito que ocorre sobre o biotita granito, denominada como depósito tipo íons adsorvidos em argilas.
O Brasil foi grande produtor de monazita no passado associada a tipologia de depósitos relacionada a placer marinhos, no entanto, dentro do contexto atual, este tipo de mineralização não mostra ser econômico. O retorno da exploração deste tipo de mineralização é pouco provável, pois geralmente apresentam-se como depósitos pequenos e dispersos, além de ser mineral rico em ETRL com alto teor de Th, o que traz sérios problemas de manuseio e armazenamento.
O potencial brasileiro para ETR é grande. Hoje, o país tem a segunda maior reserva mundial com 22 Mt de reserva lavrável de óxidos de terras raras (OTR). Esta reserva poderá ser maior quando os projetos em desenvolvimento finalizarem os seus estudos de viabilidade econômica. Apesar de já ter produzido compostos de elementos terras raras (ETR) até início dos anos 2000, a partir das monazitas de placers marinho. Estes cenários, no entanto, não colocam o país em vantagem em relação aos demais países, visto que há necessidade de forte investimento no desenvolvimento das rotas tecnológicas de cada depósito. Isto porque cada mineralização exige rotas adequadas ao tipo de minério de forma a ser economicamente viável, pois são processos caros, de baixo rendimento e altamente poluente. Por outro lado, conta ao favor do país, o fato das mineralizações de ETR estarem associadas com outros bens minerais que já estão sendo minerados, que é um fator que pode contribuir para a sua exploração, pois minimiza os custos de mineração.
O desenvolvimento da cadeia produtiva de ETR dependerá, não apenas de esforço governamental como o que está sendo feito nos últimos anos, tanto no setor executivo quanto legislativo. O fator mercadológico tem grande peso neste desenvolvimento, pelo fato do mercado ser pequeno, pelo desenvolvimento de pesquisa em materiais substitutivos e/ou diminuição na quantidade de ETR utilizado no produto e pelo monopólio chinês de produção de OTR. Apesar do crescimento no consumo de produtos de energia limpa e carros elétricos, que utilizam OTR na sua fabricação, a demanda por este bem mineral não apresentará um aumento significativo para viabilizar os diferentes projetos que estão em andamento no mundo. Assim, a viabilização dos depósitos brasileiros, a exceção da produção de ETR por parte da CBMM, dependerá do comportamento favorável do mercado externo.