Aldoro Resources reported that hydrometallurgical testing of the Kameelburg niobium and rare earth deposit in Namibia yielded encouraging results, with a simple process but relatively high recoveries of rare earths and strontium, while drilling also intersected high-grade niobium ore. Tests commissioned by the company and conducted by ALS Metallurgy Services in Western Australia showed that Kameelburg can be treated using a direct acid leaching method, eliminating the need for flotation or magnetic separation processes used at MP Materials' Mountain Pass operation in the US and Lynas Rare Earth's Mt Weld rare earth mine in Western Australia. The hydrochloric acid leaching process can be carried out at ambient temperature and pressure, and if scaled up, is expected to significantly reduce development costs.

According to overseas media reports, London-listed Pensana announced that construction of the Longonjo rare earth mine in Angola is progressing as planned, with a total investment of $250 million, targeting first commissioning and production of mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) in 2027. The mine has a life of 20 years, with initial annual production of 20,000 mt of mixed rare earth carbonate, expanding to 40,000 mt in the fourth year. $36 million has been invested in the development of the mine and beneficiation plant, and main construction works are 22% complete. Manufacturing of long-lead equipment is progressing well, with committed procurement capital expenditure of approximately $135 million. The company is optimizing the heavy rare earth recovery circuit, targeting over 122 mt per year of dysprosium and terbium, positioning Longonjo as one of the largest heavy rare earth producers in the Western world. The modular separation facility can be expanded with mine expansion and includes a metallization circuit. Pensana has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Toyota Tsusho for the offtake of up to 20,000 mt per year of mixed rare earth carbonate from Longonjo for a five-year term. The company has established a multi-partner offtake framework covering Japan's Toyota Tsusho, US-based ReElement Technologies, and US/Germany-based VAC/eVAC Magnetics. The project has received a $165 million strategic investment from Cascade Natural Resources and debt financing from ABSA, with political and commercial risk insurance provided by the US Export-Import Bank.

US rare earth developer Rare Element Resources (RER) is advancing its demonstration plant for producing Pr-Nd oxide, which is planned to start full operation in late summer 2026. RER stated that the demonstration plant is planned to operate for up to 12 months to support the design and construction of a full-scale commercial separation facility. The company has not yet disclosed the quantitative details of the plant. RER fully owns the Bear Lodge rare earth project in Wyoming and plans to establish a processing facility near Upton, Wyoming. The Bear Lodge project was designated as a covered project under the Fast-41 program of the Federal allowed Improvement Steering Council in March 2026. RER expects to complete all federal and state permitting and licensing requirements by early 2028.

Aclara Resources announced that its Penco Module ion-adsorption type rare earth project in the Biobío region of Chile has obtained an environmental permit resolution. The project employs Aclara's patented "Circular Mineral Harvesting" technology to sustainably extract the heavy rare earth elements dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb) with low water consumption, for use in permanent magnets in EVs, renewable energy, and national defense. Penco Module has become one of the few heavy rare earth projects approved in Chile (outside China) and is expected to start production in mid-2028, with an annual output of 811 mt of rare earth oxides.

Magnum Mining & Exploration intersected near-surface mineralization in the first 24 air-core holes at the Piracanjuba North geophysical anomaly in Brazil. Key intersections: 11m from surface grading 0.0507% TREO and 0.011% MREO (magnet rare earth oxides), including 2m from 8m depth grading 0.0849% TREO and 0.0239% MREO. Ammonium sulphate extraction of dysprosium and terbium achieved recoveries up to 66%.

Ark Mines reported positive results from bulk sample beneficiation and metallurgical testing at its Sandy Mitchell project in Queensland. The testwork produced monazite and titanium products. The rare earth concentrates graded 54.8% total rare earth oxides (TREO), including 23.4% Pr-Nd and 1.49% yttrium. The leucoxene grade reached 73.5%. The company will further investigate the recoverability of zircon, biotite, muscovite, and garnet.

[SMM Rare Earth Flash] London-listed Pensana announced that construction of the Longonjo rare earth mine in Angola is progressing as planned, with a total investment of $250 million, targeting first commissioning and production of mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) in 2027. The mine has a life of 20 years, with an initial annual output of 20,000 mt, expanding to 40,000 mt in the fourth year. The company is optimizing the heavy rare earth recovery circuit, targeting annual production of dysprosium and terbium exceeding 122 mt, and is expected to become one of the largest heavy rare earth producers in the Western world. Pensana has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Toyota Tsusho for the potential off-take of up to 20,000 mt of mixed rare earth carbonate per year for five years. The project is also supported by offtake framework agreements with multiple partners.

[SMM Rare Earths Briefing] Aldoro Resources announced that the hydrometallurgical tests on its Kameelburg rare earth–strontium–niobium deposit in Namibia have yielded positive results. Using a direct acid leaching process at ambient temperature and pressure, the strontium extraction rate exceeded 99%, and the rare earth recovery rate reached 72%, without requiring crushing, roasting, or solvent extraction, significantly reducing development costs. Meanwhile, drilling has discovered high-grade niobium mineralization at the margin of the carbonatite, with an intersection of 170 meters showing total rare earth oxide grade of 0.81%, strontium at 3.21%, and niobium at 0.43%. The company stated that this process substantially lowers project risk and confirms Kameelburg as one of the most important undeveloped rare earth–strontium deposits globally.

U.S. rare earth developer U.S. Rare Earths (USAR) plans to invest more than $203 million in France by 2030 to expand capacity for rare earth element separation, metals, alloys and magnet manufacturing. USAR said on Monday this expansion builds on French initiatives, including the LCM rare earth metal and alloy production facility in Lacq, an investment in Carester SAS, and investment from European private investment platform InfraVia Capital Partners.

[SMM Rare Earth Newsflash] US rare earth developer Rare Element Resources (RER) announced that its rare earth separation demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming, is progressing and plans to begin full operations by late summer 2026. The plant will utilize proprietary technology to produce high-purity neodymium-praseodymium oxide, plans to operate for up to 12 months, providing critical data for future commercial separation facilities. RER wholly owns the Bear Lodge rare earth project, which was designated as a federal FAST-41 covered project in March 2026. The company raised $30.5 million through an oversubscribed rights issue in March to fund plant operations and project licensing, and is expected to complete all licensing requirements by early 2028.