Power Minerals Ltd (ASX:PNN) Confirms High Grade Carbonatite Hard Rock Intrusion at Santa Anna Project
30 September 2025
Price Sensitive Announcement $
Highlights:
▪ Interpreted high-grade carbonatite hard rock intrusion validated at
Power’s Santa Anna REE Project, Brazil
▪ Carbonatite-hosted REE deposits are typically high-grade with very
competitive cost structures relative to other larger, bulk tonnage
REE deposits
▪ Santa Anna mineralisation starts from surface and has potential to
be a free-digging deposit – and remains open at all areas
▪ Ongoing drill program is helping deliver a better understanding of
high-grade pockets with grades up to 6.2% TREO
▪ Expansion drilling underway and set to continue with the aim to define a maiden JORC 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE)
▪ Drone-based magnetic and radiometric surveys to commence to more accurately map the phases of the carbonatite complex and prioritise targets for ongoing drilling
▪ Santa Anna is well-positioned to be a major ex-China hard-rock critical minerals player;
o Prime location with access to existing infrastructure
o Strategic partnership with EDEM provides an in-country expert team to help ensure project delivery
o EDEM is the fifth largest bauxite producer in Goiás State, which also hosts Santa Anna. This assists with securing a path to fasttrack regulatory approvals
o Supportive state government in a proven mining jurisdiction
Overview:
Power Minerals Limited has announced the Company has confirmed hard rock carbonatite REE potential at its Santa Anna Project in Goiás State, Brazil.
Power has integrated available geophysical, geochemical and geological information from the Santa Anna complex and confirmed that significant REE mineralisation is interpreted to continue at depth into the hard rock carbonatite portion of the intrusion. As detailed in Power’s ASX announcements of 10 July and 4 August 2025, high-grade and extensive REE mineralisation was intersected well below previous drilling in the fresh carbonatite.
Visual examination of drill core has identified carbonatite with intense hydrothermal alteration to nelsonite (recognisable by containing apatite). The nelsonite is strongly magnetic and can be observed in the pit walls established by project vendor EDEM within fault zones cutting the carbonatite. Logging is continuing and the association of nelsonite and REE is not known yet, but the visual identification of this lithology provides confidence in the carbonatite hosting model of the REE, both near surface and at depth with the Santa Anna complex.
This work has further validated Power’s interpretation of the presence of a high-grade carbonatite, hard rock intrusion at the Santa Anna Project.
The Santa Anna intrusion occurs in a carbonatite alkaline complex. A considerable number of samples (1,001 individual drill samples) have reported calcium oxide (CaO) – magnesium oxide (MgO) levels in excess of 30%, evidence that the complex includes carbonatite material. As Power controls the entire Santa Anna intrusion, it could initially focus on the development of the complex’s secondary concentrations in the overlying clayrich weathered zone.
The project consists of two granted permits that encompass the entire complex, with excess space around the interpreted margin. It is possible that late-stage dykes may penetrate outside the main circular intrusion, and the large permit area would cover this possibility and allow for exploration in this area. The enlarged area also provides set-back space for any potential large open-pit depth and processing facilities.
The table below compares significant selected, known western-world carbonatite-hosted REE deposits. Most have been known for more than 30 years. The Santa Anna intrusion was only discovered in 2021.
Next steps
Power plans to conduct drone-based magnetic and radiometric surveys to more accurately map the phases of the carbonatite complex. This detailed mapping will then be used to prioritise the ongoing drilling program.
Given the supportive Goiás State jurisdiction and Santa Anna’s location – with access to existing infrastructure it is anticipated that key requirements in the development of the Santa Anna carbonatite complex may be delivered by Power in a time effective manner. The sealed highway GO-156 passes just 800 metres north of intrusion boundary, providing excellent road access.
In addition, Power’s strategic partnership with established mining company EDEM, the project vendors, provides a team of in-country experts to help ensure project delivery. EDEM is the fifth largest producer of bauxite in Goiás, which is the same province in which Santa Anna is located. The Company anticipates that this may help assist with a path to fast-track regulatory approvals.
Company Notes:
“Hard-rock carbonatite deposits occurring in alkaline complexes can contain elevated REE concentrations, which have the potential to make them more efficient and economical to mine
when compared to other deposit styles such as REE in heavy mineral sands and ionic-adsorption
clays.”
“We are excited about how our work at Santa Anna is progressing and the immense potential we are continuing to uncover. Our ongoing drilling campaign is enhancing our understanding of the local geology, as we move towards delivering an Exploration Target, followed by a potential maiden JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate for the project.”
Power Minerals Managing Director Mena Habib
Full ASX Announcement: https://hotcopper.com.au/threads/ann-high-grade-carbonatite-hard-rock-intrusion-confirmed-at-sa.8796169/