Highlights
- Aclara Resources hosted a Brazilian delegation at its pilot-scale heavy rare earth extraction facility in Penco, Chile.
- The facility demonstrates an innovative eco-friendly mineral processing technology.
- The Circular Mineral Harvesting process includes 95% water recycling and no tailings dam.
- The company aims to produce 15 kg of heavy rare earth mixed carbonates by the end of February.
- Aclara is positioning itself as a key alternative to China's rare earth monopoly.
- Projects in Chile and Brazil focus on sustainable and ethical critical mineral extraction.
A couple months ago in Penco, Chile, Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX: ARA) hosted a senior delegation from the Brazilian state of Goiás, offering a firsthand look at its pilot-scale heavy rare earth extraction facility and proprietary eco-friendly processing technology. Held on February 15 (opens in a new tab), the visit marked a significant step toward deepening Brazil-Chile cooperation in building a South American supply chain for heavy rare earths—critical materials that remain heavily concentrated in China and are essential to global defense, renewable energy, and advanced technology industries.
Aclara’s patented Circular Mineral Harvesting process (opens in a new tab), implemented at the pilot facility in Penco, Chile, impressed Brazilian regulators and lawmakers with its low environmental footprint—featuring no blasting, no tailings dam, and 95% water and reagent recycling—the pilot campaign processes ionic clays from Aclara’s Carina Module, located in Goiás, Brazil. With production underway, the company expects to produce up to 15 kg of heavy rare earth mixed carbonates by the end of February, positioning itself to engage more seriously with downstream partners and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Among the visiting officials were Andrea Vulcanis, Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development of Goiás, and Joel Santana, Secretary of Industry, Trade and Services—key figures in permitting and investment promotion. Their presence reflects Brazil’s strategic interest in developing local critical mineral assets under environmentally responsible frameworks. The delegation also toured Aclara’s community outreach center and held talks with the Biobío regional government, indicating Aclara’s dual focus on ESG leadership and regional political alignment.
About Aclara
Aclara is a development-stage company advancing rare earth projects in Chile and Brazil, with a unique focus on ion-adsorption clay deposits rich in heavy rare earths. Unlike hard rock operations, Aclara’s process avoids radioactive waste, minimizes environmental disturbance, and purportedly eliminates the need for large-scale industrial infrastructure.
The company’s Carina Module in Brazil and Penco Module in Chile are positioned as next-generation alternatives to China’s near-monopoly on rare earth processing, particularly in heavy elements like dysprosium and terbium used in EVs and defense systems.
The company’s progress reflects broader geopolitical shifts, as Western and allied nations seek to secure diversified, ethical, and scalable sources of rare earth materials. The Brazilian delegation’s endorsement signals strong regional support and could lower permitting risk and accelerate timelines for the Carina project. With ongoing exploration in Peru, Aclara is also building a continental footprint that may prove pivotal in reshaping rare earth supply chains across the Western Hemisphere.
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