IMC Rare Earths Discover New Shallow Terbium Zone

SÃO PAULO, Oct. 8, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Brazilian mining company IMC Rare Earths Ltd has discovered a new high-grade, shallow, and near-surface terbium-rich ionic clay zone at Block H of its Itarantim rare earth project, outside the current 1.1 billion tonne Mineral Resource. This new discovery, which began just two meters below the surface, is a significant step towards the company's goal of expanding its resource base.

The new discovery, which was highlighted by the company's Chief Executive Officer, Frank Scolaro, is a high-grade 7-meter interval grading at 5,695 ppm TREO, 38 ppm Tb4O7, and 258 ppm Dy2O3. The interval includes a higher-grade 3-meter zone from four to seven meters, and an individual 1-meter sample returned 58 ppm Tb4O7. The shallow depth and concentration of terbium make Block H a priority for follow-up drilling, according to Scolaro.

The new zone, named Block H, is not included in the existing 1.1 billion tonne Mineral Resource, giving IMC Rare Earths Ltd a new area to test for potential resource growth. The company plans to conduct infill and step-out drilling around Hole AD-00555 to define the size and continuity of the shallow high-grade zone. Initial leach testing has recovered 64% to 83% of the terbium from the upper three meters of the enriched zone, indicating a high leachability of the material.

Block H also contains rich deposits of high-value heavy rare earths, with dysprosium and terbium oxides making up 5.2% of TREO in the Block H interval. The company is also exploring the potential of Block D, where the enriched zone is interpreted to continue and thicken beyond the depth reached by current auger drilling. IMC plans to use diamond drilling to test the continuation of the enriched zone at greater depth.

The new discovery is particularly important because terbium and yttrium are crucial for the production of high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and industrial equipment, such as data centers. The company's exploration program is now focused on testing the growth potential identified at Blocks H and D, with the objective of defining the size and continuity of the new Block H discovery and determining whether it can be added to the Itarantim Mineral Resource.

IMC Rare Earths Ltd is also evaluating potential processing methods for Itarantim, including vat, heap, and in-situ leaching, supported by metallurgical testwork at ANSTO in Australia. The company's technical team supervises drilling, with samples logged, photographed, and processed under the company's exploration procedures. All holes are vertical and sampled at one-meter intervals from surface, with samples submitted to ALS for ME-MS81d and ME-MS19 analysis.

The company's exploration program is focused on two priorities: defining the size of the new discovery at Block H and testing the continuation of the enriched zone at Block D. These steps are crucial for the company's future resource growth and development plans. The company is also considering the potential for Block H to provide an early, high-grade source of feed or a starter area, which could support the company's future operations.