Core Energy Minerals Confirms High-Grade Rare Earth Results at Campo Largo

Core Energy Minerals Confirms High-Grade Rare Earth Results at Campo Largo, Brazil

Core Energy Minerals (ASX: CR3) has announced assay results from its first-pass reconnaissance program at the Campo Largo Rare Earth Element (REE) Project in Paraná State, Brazil. These Core Energy Minerals Campo Largo rare earth results in Brazil confirm the presence of widespread, high-grade Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) within deeply weathered saprolite clay profiles, with an unusually high proportion of the most commercially sought-after rare earth oxides — the magnetic rare earths (MREO).

For an early-stage exploration program, these are compelling opening numbers. Multiple rock-chip samples returned TREO grades exceeding 1,000 ppm, with MREO proportions reaching as high as 46% in the best sample. The company has now completed its first-pass fieldwork and is progressing toward systematic auger drill testing, scheduled to commence in the current quarter.

Managing Director Tony Greenaway commented: "These first-pass results from our newly secured Campo Largo Rare Earth Project are an excellent start and reinforce our decision to build a land position in Paraná. Reconnaissance work has identified extensive, deeply weathered saprolite clay profiles across the project area, with assays confirming a very high proportion, up to 46% MREO, of high value magnet rare earth oxides which are critical for EVs, green energy, defence and tech applications."

First-Pass Assays Deliver TREO Above 1,000 ppm With Up to 46% Magnetic Rare Earth Oxides

The headline numbers from the reconnaissance rock-chip sampling program are detailed in the table below, focusing on the most significant TREO intercepts above 500 ppm.

Top 5 Samples by TREO Grade

A broader set of 19 samples returned TREO grades above the 500 ppm reporting threshold, underscoring the widespread nature of the rare earth enrichment across the project area. The NdPr (neodymium-praseodymium) content — the component most directly tied to permanent magnet value — was consistently elevated, ranging from approximately 12% to 36% of TREO across the significant results.

Additional Notable Results Above 500 ppm TREO

All 19 significant samples were collected from outcrop exposures across deeply weathered saprolite profiles, with analysis completed at SGS-Geosol, a certified laboratory in Vespasiano, Brazil (ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO17025 accredited). It is important to note that these elevated grades derive from reconnaissance-stage sampling only, with no drilling conducted at this stage.

Understanding Rare Earth Elements: What Is MREO and Why Does It Matter?

For investors unfamiliar with rare earth terminology, understanding the composition of rare earth deposits is critical for evaluating their commercial potential. The rare earth elements are not all created equal in the eyes of the market. Furthermore, the proportion of the most commercially valuable elements within a given deposit can make an enormous difference to a project's potential economics.

What Are Magnetic Rare Earth Oxides (MREO)?

MREO (Magnetic Rare Earth Oxides) refers specifically to the subset of rare earth elements used in the production of high-performance permanent magnets. These are neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb), gadolinium (Gd), and samarium (Sm). Their oxides form the basis of NdFeB (neodymium-iron-boron) magnets — the most powerful permanent magnets in commercial use.

These magnets are a critical component in:

• Electric vehicle (EV) drive motors
• Wind turbine generators
• Defence systems and electronics
• Consumer technology (hard drives, speakers, headphones)

Why Does the MREO Percentage Matter?

Many rare earth deposits are dominated by cerium and lanthanum — the lightest and most abundant rare earths — which have relatively low market value. However, a deposit with a high MREO proportion means a greater share of the total rare earth content has direct, high-value end-market demand.

When Core Energy reports MREO proportions of 40–46% in its best samples, it is saying that nearly half of all the rare earth content in those samples falls into the highest-value category. This is a particularly strong indicator of commercial relevance.

What Is NdPr (Neodymium-Praseodymium)?

NdPr is the most commercially dominant component of MREO and accounts for the bulk of the value in magnet-grade rare earth projects. NdPr oxide is, in addition, the primary product targeted by most rare earth development companies globally.

Glossary of Key Terms

The Geological Story: Why Campo Largo Is Compelling

The geology underpinning the Campo Largo Project is consistent with one of the most commercially attractive rare earth deposit styles in the world — Ion-Adsorption Clay (IAC) deposits. The project area is underlain by the Três Córregos Granite, a Neoproterozoic granitic intrusion within the Ribeira Belt of Paraná State.

This intrusion hosts elevated uranium, thorium, and potassium (U-Th-K) signatures associated with REE-enriched systems. Where these granites have undergone deep chemical weathering over geological time, the original rare earth content can be leached from the primary rock and re-concentrated in the clay-rich saprolite horizon above.

Key Geological Observations From the First-Pass Programme

• Deeply weathered saprolite clay profiles confirmed extensively across the project area, with field observations described as positive by the geological team
• Widespread distribution of elevated TREO values across multiple sample locations spanning the project tenements
• Comparable geology to the Tunas Project (~60 km northeast), where CR3 is currently completing infill auger drilling — providing a meaningful analogous reference point
• The Três Córregos Granite has been interpreted as the source rock for REE enrichment, with NE-SW trending shear zones influencing weathering profiles

The project covers 4,369 hectares (43.69 km²) across four tenement applications, all 100% held by CR3's wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary, Mineração Remo Ltda.

What Comes Next: The Path to Systematic Drilling

The completion of first-pass reconnaissance marks a clear transition point. The Core Energy Minerals Campo Largo rare earth results in Brazil have outlined the following near-term work programme:

1. Systematic auger drill testing — scheduled to commence in the current quarter, targeting priority areas identified through reconnaissance sampling
2. Detailed geological mapping and geochemical sampling — to refine structural and lithological understanding across the tenements
3. Permitting and access arrangements — progressing in parallel with drill programme planning
4. Regolith profile characterisation — auger drilling will test the depth, thickness, and lateral continuity of the saprolite clay horizon
5. QA/QC protocols — appropriate quality control procedures will be implemented in subsequent phases, building on the reconnaissance baseline

The auger drill programme will be the critical next catalyst. If drilling confirms that the elevated surface grades are representative of a substantial saprolite profile at depth, Campo Largo would have the geological foundation required to advance toward resource definition.

The Investment Case: Why These Results Matter for CR3

Campo Largo adds meaningful optionality to an already active portfolio. The significance of the Core Energy Minerals Campo Largo rare earth results in Brazil lies not just in the grades themselves, but in what they suggest about the broader project's potential.

For instance, several factors strengthen the investment case:

• High MREO proportion (up to 46%) points toward a product profile aligned with the most in-demand segment of the rare earth market
• Widespread sample distribution across the tenement area suggests mineralisation is not confined to a narrow zone — a positive indicator for potential scale
• Saprolite clay host is the deposit type favoured for relatively low-cost processing via heap leaching or simple acid leach techniques
• Proximity to the Tunas Project (~60 km) provides geological context and operational synergies within CR3's Brazilian land position
• No prior exploration — CR3 is working a genuinely fresh target with no recorded prior activity at Campo Largo

CR3's broader portfolio spans rare earth and uranium projects across Brazil, Australia, and Namibia, with the company operating across multiple active fronts simultaneously.

A Company to Watch in the Critical Minerals Space

Core Energy Minerals is an early-stage exploration company with a focused strategy: build a portfolio of critical mineral assets in established mining jurisdictions, advance them systematically, and demonstrate value through exploration milestones.

The Campo Largo first-pass results represent exactly the kind of early validation that exploration-stage investors look for — grades that justify further work, a deposit style that offers a viable path to development, and a clear near-term catalyst in the form of systematic auger drilling.

The Core Energy Minerals Campo Largo rare earth results in Brazil have delivered a strong opening chapter, with reconnaissance assays confirming TREO grades above 1,000 ppm and MREO proportions as high as 46% — a composition profile firmly aligned with the magnet rare earth market. With systematic auger drilling scheduled to commence this quarter, the next phase of work will test whether the surface results are supported by depth continuity across the 4,369-hectare project. Investors focused on the critical minerals and rare earth space should watch for drilling updates as the key near-term catalyst.

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