South America

South America, led by Brazil, has emerged as the world’s primary source for Heavy Rare Earth (HREE) ionic clays outside of China. This category focuses on the unique “Ionic Adsorption Clay” (IAC) deposits in the Poços de Caldas region, which offer low-cost extraction with minimal environmental impact. With Brazil holding an estimated 21 million metric tons of reserves, we track how the “Nova Indústria Brasil” strategy is turning the continent into a global refining and recycling powerhouse.

Key Focus: Brazil’s Caldeira and Colossus projects, ionic clay metallurgy, and Latin America’s first REE refining hubs.