An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Organizers Guilherme Ferreira da Silva Ioná de Abreu Cunha Iago S. Lima Costa Contributors Anderson Dourado R. da Silva Débora Rabelo Matos Gilmar José Rizzotto Hugo José de Oliveira Polo Izaac Cabral Neto Leandro Guedes Bertossi Maisa Bastos Abram Marcelo de Souza Marinho Marcelo Esteves Almeida Marco Antônio G. Advíncula e Silva Maurício Pavan Silva Nívia Pina de Souza Santos Rafael Bittencourt Lima Rogério Celestino de Almeida Tamara Reginatto Manfredi Reviewers Maisa Bastos Abram Evandro Luiz Klein Publishing Guilherme Pinheiro Ana Laura Barros Heber Oliveira Acknowledgement Michelle Araújo President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira Geological Survey of Brazil President-Director Cassiano de Souza Alves Director of Hydrology and Territorial Management Alice Silva de Castilhos Director of Administration and Finance Cassiano de Souza Alves Director of Geology and Mineral Resources Paulo Afonso Romano Director of Geoscientific Infrastructure Paulo Afonso Romano Specialized Technical Advisor to the SGB Presidency Marcio Remédio 2 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Disclaimer This document has been prepared by the Geological Survey of Brazil and presents an evaluation of Brazil’s potential for selected critical minerals. Comprehensive data, such as reserves, resources or production, has been gathered from several sources to conduct this analysis. This document may be provided by third parties for informational purposes only and shall not be relied upon third parties as a specifi c professional recommendation. The Geological Survey of Brazil does not endorse or assume responsibility for any external data included in this report. Silva, G.F.; Cunha, I.A.; Costa, I.S.L. (Orgs.) 2023. An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil. Serviço Geológico do Brasil, Brasília – DF, 2023. 23pp 3 Foreword “Recognizing the importance of the mining sector for the economic and social development of the country and aiming to contribute to a sustainable future, the Federal Government of Brazil, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Secretariat of Geology, Mining, and Mineral Transformation are acting to boost the mining industry in Brazil. This effort focuses on creating a favorable environment for investments, ensuring regulatory stability and legal certainty, and increasing geological knowledge of the Brazilian territory. As a result of these positive actions, we present this publication containing essential information for the sector and the country’s development.” Alexandre Silveira Ministry of Mines and Energy “Result of the high quality and excellent work carried out by the technical staff of the Directorate of Geology and Mineral Resources of the Geological Survey of Brazil, this document publication presents relevant information on the mineral deposits and main occurrences of Copper, Graphite, Lithium, Nickel, Phosphate, Potassium and Uranium. Information on these selected commodities’ location, geological framework, reserves, and mineral status is presented here, contributing to a growing potential or summarizing the strength of consolidated mineral industries in the Brazilian territory. There is also information about the company’s mining assets which, since 2019, have been up for auction for the private mining sector. The Geological Survey of Brazil fulfills its institutional role of providing pre-competitive geoscientific information in the hope that it may be helpful for its work. This document is available in a printed version and can be downloaded from the website www.sgb.gov.br.” Cassiano de Souza Alves Director-President of the Geological Survey of Brazil “A relevant part of mineral production is intended for applications in the high technology industry, the clean energy generation industry, manufacturing of electric vehicles, robots, and electronic appliances and devices. In this scenario, Brazil is a recognized producer and exporter of several mineral commodities, being a global player in Nb, Fe, Mn, Ta, Al, and graphite, and a significant exporter of Ni, Mg, Sn, Cr, Au, Cu, and kaolin. Given this, following the mission of generating and disseminating geoscientific knowledge with excellence, it is with great satisfaction that the Geological Survey of Brazil, which is also a Scientific, Technological, and Innovation Institution (ICT), makes this report available with a brief Overview of the country’s Critical Minerals Potential, addressing technical aspects on the subject, with information that also contributes a lot to the mineral sector.” Paulo Afonso Romano Director of Geology and Mineral Resources 4 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Summary Copper Graphite Lithium Nickel Phosphate Potash Rare Earth Elements Uranium SGB Mining Assets for 2023 Bidding 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 5 Copper 1 U.S. Geological Survey – USGS (2023). Mineral commodity summaries 2023. Data refers to 2022. 2 National Mining Agency - ANM (2023). Anuário Mineral Brasileiro - 2022. Data refers to 2021. 3 Fundação Gorceix (2022). Estudos para o Plano Nacional de Mineração 2050. Data refers to 2020. 99.5 Mt of producted ore (ROM)2 US$ 68.5 millions in collected taxes2 Exported US$ 4.43 billion FOB2 1,6% world’s mined copper1 Mineral Royalties: 2% US$ 63.1 millions invested in exploration programs2 4503 Indirect Employments2 11th importer world ranking3 2246 Full-time Employments2 8th exporter world ranking3 6 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Highlights • Unlike the rest of the world, where copper is exploited mainly from porphyry-type deposits, Brazil has about 30 copper deposits and advanced prospects distributed, mostly, in the Magmatic Segregation / IOCG (36%), IOCG (26%) and VMS (13%), which add up to 74% of the total. Added to the deposits of magmatic segregation of mafi c-ultramafi c complexes, the total reaches 85%. Only one porphyry-type deposit has been described in Brazil, the Chapada deposit, in Alto Horizonte, GO (Sousa, 2021). • The mineral potential of Brazilian copper is, almost entirely, in Precambrian domains. Most of the Brazilian copper deposits are located in the Mineral Province of Carajás, which also corresponds to the mineral province with the largest amount of metallic copper in the country, with an estimated total of 27.34 Mt contained metal. In Carajás, most of the deposits are of the IOCG type, but the Brazilian copper deposits are also classifi ed as Volcanic Massive Sulfi des, Porphyries, SEDEX, and Sediment-hosted. • The Juruena – Teles Pires Mineral Province has the second greatest potential. It comprises 7.23% of copper contained in two VMS-type deposits; the biggest one is named Cabaçal, and it is a province with potential for discoveries for this mineral good in the porphyry copper and VMS models. • The Goiás Magmatic Arc has an active copper mine, and potential for discoveries of medium to small metamorphosed porphyry copper deposits, as well as VMS deposits. • The Cupriferous District of Vale do Curaçá has cataloged deposits of magmatic segregation. In recent works, alterations and characteristics of IOCG-type mineralization were identifi ed in this province, which tends to increase the potential for discoveries of medium to large deposits. • Brazil consumes around 3% of the world production of concentrated copper. 7 Graphite 1National Mining Agency - ANM (2023). Anuário Mineral Brasileiro - 2022. Data refers to 2021. 2Fundação Gorceix (2022). Estudos para o Plano Nacional de Mineração 2050. Data refers to 2020. 2nd world’s largest producer (64 kt Cg)2 3rd world’s biggest reserve (70Mt Cg)2 Mineral Royalties: 2% US$ 800 thousand invested in exploration programs1 More than 1000 Indirect Employment2 More than 500 Full-time Employments2 US$ 1.3 million in collected taxes1 8 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Highlights • Brazil has a signifi cant potential to produce graphite, a mineral widely used in various industries, such as the production of batteries world-classing, and in the manufacture of electronic components. Brazil has many graphite-producing regions, particularly in the Bahia-Minas Province, which is considered one of the largest graphite-producing regions in the world1. • Brazilian graphite occurrences are mainly confi ned to metamorphosed environments. Metamorphism (and consequently the rock-forming temperature and pressure) is considered the primary variable when analyzing graphite potential because it regulates the degree of crystallization and ore grade. • Considering the potential, Brazil’s graphite production still needs to be improved, and there is room for growth in the industry. The Brazilian government has shown interest in developing the country’s graphite production, and investment in the sector is expected to increase in the coming years. • Long-term, Brazil offers enticing prospects for graphite exploration and growth due to increasing market demand for the mineral, coupled with its position as the third-largest producer of graphite globally and the second-largest producer of high-quality fl ake graphite utilized in Electric Vehicles. 9 Lithium 1National Mining Agency - ANM (2023). Anuário Mineral Brasileiro - 2022. Data refers to 2021. 2Fundação Gorceix (2022). Estudos para o Plano Nacional de Mineração 2050. Data refers to 2020. 5th world’s largest producer (1.4 kt LCE)2 7th world’s biggest reserve (505 kt LCE)2 US$ 1 million in collected taxes1 Mineral Royalties: 2% US$ 500 thousand invested in exploration programs1 1180 Indirect Employments2890 Full-time Employments2 10 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Highlights • In Brazil, lithium occurs in lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite deposits. • The most important ore mineral is spodumene, followed subordinately by amblygonite, petalite, and lepidolite. • The lithium concentrate production in 2021 reached 112,779 t @5.51% Li2O contained1. • Active mines and advanced exploration projects concentrate in the Minas Gerais state. • The Companhia Brasileira de Lítio – CBL, pioneer in the underground mining of Li-bearing pegmatite and processing of spodumene in Brazil, reported a 4 Mt mineral reserve and capacity to produce 36,000 t/year of spodumene concentrate (@5.5% Li2O) in its operating Cachoeira Mine in the Middle Jequitinhonha region, Minas Gerais. • In the same region, Sigma Lithium reported mineral resource (measured + indicated) estimates of 77 Mt from fi ve deposits (Nezinho do Chicão, Xuxa, Barreiro, Murial, and Lavra do Meio) on its Grota do Cirilo property. • The collected taxes by Li-mining operations in Brazil jumped from US$195,725 in 2020 to US$5,723,786 in 2022, mainly due to mine processes developed in the Nazareno region by AMG Brazil, southern Minas Gerais. However, the forecast is for signifi cant growth soon with the entry of production of Sigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo deposits and the expansion of AMG Brazil’s business in the Nazareno region. • Although Minas Gerais state is the primary player for lithium exploration, there are also potential areas in northeastern Brazil (e.g., Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, and Paraíba states) with more than a hundred Li-bearing pegmatite bodies identifi ed. • Also, greenfi eld areas comprise southern Tocantins-northern Goiás and Itambé (southern Bahia) regions. The Geological Survey of Brazil – CPRM has developed research projects in the main lithium areas in Brazil to promote mineral industry development in the national territory. So far, projects have been concluded in the Middle Jequitinhonha (Minas Gerais) and Borborema Pegmatite Province areas in northeastern Brazil, resulting in new targets identifi ed for lithium mineralization. • The products of the concluded projects include maps, charts, technical reports, and scientifi c papers in the public domain (available at https://rigeo.cprm.gov.br and http://www.sgb.gov.br/litio/index.html). Also, two other projects are currently active in the following areas: Eastern Minas Gerais and Solonópole Province (Ceará). 11 Nickel 1National Mining Agency - ANM (2023). Anuário Mineral Brasileiro - 2022. Data refers to 2021. 2Fundação Gorceix (2022). Estudos para o Plano Nacional de Mineração 2050. Data refers to 2020. 3Deloitte (2022). Nickel – Market Analysis and Competitiveness Report. Technical Assistance on Brazil Mineral Resources. Low carbon footprint compared to the market average3 8th world’s largest producer (77 kt Ni)2 3rd world’s biggest reserve (16 Mt - 17% of global reserves)2 US$ 9.4 million in collected taxes1 Mineral Royalties: 2% US$ 1.5 million invested in exploration programs1 More than 9,328 Indirect Employments2 More than 4,664 Full-time Employments2 12 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Highlights • Brazil has signifi cant nickel reserves and is a major player in the global nickel market. The country has around 17% of declared reserves and 6% of all nickel resources in the world. Nickel deposits in Brazil are both Laterite and Sulfi de types, with predominance of the fi rst. • Brazil has a strong nickel industry, with fi ve mining operations and several projects in different exploration stages (see table below). Additionally, three mining operations in Brazil operate with costs lower than the global average (Barro Alto, Niquelândia, and Santa Rita mines)3. • Cobalt is commonly an essential by-product in many Ni deposits. Brazil has not produced Cobalt since 2016, but the production registered from 2010 to 2016, which account for 408 tons, originated from Nickel Sulfi de Ores1. However, Cobalt is reported as a secondary commodity in at least 8 Ni deposits in Brazil, distributed among both lateritic and sulfi de operations and projects. • Nickel-Cobalt projects in Brazil have access to low-cost and low-emissions hydroelectricity power supply, which gives producers advantages relative to the global market, considering both the operating costs and low-carbon emissions/footprint. 13 Phosphate 1National Mining Agency - ANM (2023). Anuário Mineral Brasileiro - 2022. Data refers to 2021. 2Fundação Gorceix (2022). Estudos para o Plano Nacional de Mineração 2050. Data refers to 2020. 29th exporter world ranking2 1th importer world ranking2 US$ 10.4 million in collected taxes1 3rd world’s largest producer (3,3 kt P2O5)2 3rd world’s biggest reserve (317 Mt P2O5)2 Mineral Royalties: 2% US$ 1.8 million invested in exploration programs1 19,528 Indirect Employments29,671 Full-time Employments2 14 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Highlights • Brazil has a great potential for the occurrence of phosphate deposits, both of igneous and sedimentary origin. Only 20% of Brazilian reserves are associated with sedimentary rocks, despite having numerous different potential basins. Most deposits are associated with residual enrichment processes of carbonatite-alkaline bodies with the development of thick weathering cover (almost 80%). Brazil also has an unexplored potential for Anorthosite-Mangerite-Charnockite-Granite (AMCG) related deposits. • Only seven igneous deposits (Tapira, Araxá, Catalão I, Catalão II, Salitre, Cajati, and Angico dos Dias) are in production. The main mines are in the Alto Paranaíba Province, comprising world-class igneous deposits. The Santana (State of Pará) and Três Estradas (State of Rio Grande do Sul) projects, which are more recent igneous deposits discoveries, are in the pre-operation phase. • Sedimentary reserves under production are associated with the Neoproterozoic deposits of Patos de Minas (State of Minas Gerais), Arraias (Tocantins and Goiás States), Irecê (State of Bahia), Ressaca (State of Mato Grosso do Sul) and Pratápolis (State of Minas Gerais), some with inconclusive expansion potential. The Neoproterozoic Jauru deposit (State of Minas Gerais) is a sedimentary potential resource revealed by the government and is now under feasibility studies by BEMISA. • The Miriri project (Paraíba and Pernambuco States) is a Cretaceous sedimentary deposit opportunity that the Geological Survey of Brazil offers by auction. It corresponds to a phosphate deposit in an area of 7,752.84 hectares and 114.7 million tons with an average grade of 4.19% P2O5. • The phospate-uranium deposit of Itataia is the second largest uranium reserve in Brazil, associated with a complex geological evolution within metasedimentary rocks, hydrothermal infl uence, and a paleokarst stage. • Brazil also has aluminous phosphates reserves, such as the Sapucaia mine (State of Pará), with a calcination process to favor the solubility of phosphorus and used as a thermophosphate fertilizer. In addition to this mine, fi ve new nearby targets with potential for expansion are indicated: Boa Vista, Serrote, Serrotinho, Caeté, and Tracuá.targets with potential for expansion are indicated: Boa Vista, Serrote, Serrotinho, Caeté, and Tracuá. • 15 Potash 1National Mining Agency - ANM (2023). Anuário Mineral Brasileiro - 2022. Data refers to 2021. 2Fundação Gorceix (2022). Estudos para o Plano Nacional de Mineração 2050. Data refers to 2020. US$ 2.4 million in collected taxes1 12th world’s largest producer (255 kt K2O5)2 Mineral Royalties: 2% US$ 1.3 million invested in exploration programs1 860 Indirect Employments2640 Full-time Employments2 12th world’s biggest reserve (2 Mt K2O)2 1th importer world ranking2 16 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Highlights • Brazil’s main potential is associated with evaporite-hosted potash deposits of the Lower Cretaceous and Permo-Carboniferous period. Currently, the only national productive plant is concentrated in the Taquari/ Vassouras mine (Sergipe State), producing around 250,000 t of K2O, operated by Mosaic. • The main reserves and resources are in the Sergipe (Northeastern Brazil) and Amazonas Basins (Northern Brazil). • In the Sergipe Basin, it is located in the regions of Taquari/Vassouras, Santa Rosa de Lima (both silvinite, with a remaining reserve of 2.3 Mt of K2O) and Rosário do Catete (carnalite, 12 Bt of ore with 2.5 Bt of KCl, 8.3% content, and 1.5 Bt of K2O “in situ”), all in the Sergipe State and owned by Mosaic. • In the Amazonas Basin, the delineated reserves are located in the regions of Itacoatiara, Nova Olinda do Norte, and Autazes (silvinite), Amazonas State, owned by Potássio do Brasil. The reserves of the three deposits located in the State of Amazonas add up to 1.71 B t of KCl (average content 30.43%), that is, approximately 1.1 Bt of K2O. Studies prove the technical, economic, legal, environmental and social feasibility of the project. Currently, it is in a stage of consultation with the indigenous people. • Three other targets with potential resources evaluated by Potássio do Brasil, indicates more 1.2 Bt of KCl (30% content), that is, approximately 739.8 Mt of K2O. • PETROBRAS has started to sell its mining assets that include Fazendinha-Arari and Maués-Boa Vista dos Ramos, englobing the cities of Nova Olinda, Autazes, Itacoatiara, Silves, Itapiranga, Maués e Boa Vista dos Ramos. • The Geological Survey Brazil-CPRM carried out a reassessment of resources and reserves based on ANP data. It outlined four areas that may contain more than 1.5 Bt of KCl (inferred content of 30%) or 900 Mt of K2O. • Other potential basins with similar evaporite-aged sections are still unexplored for this commodity. Twenty-four basins have evaporite units cited in their sedimentary sequences. Among the emerged basins, 11 were mentioned in a promising way for presenting evaporites, such as Acre, Solimões, Amazonas, Tacutu, Parnaíba, Paraná, Recôncavo, Araripe, Potiguar, Sergipe-Alagoas, and Parecis. Among the offshore basins, 13 stand out: Santos, Pelotas, Campos, Espírito Santo, Mucuri, Cumuruxatiba, Jacuípe, Jequitinhonha, Almada, Camamu, Pernambuco/Paraíba, Ceará and Bragança Viseu, São Luís and Ilha Nova. • Other sources of potash are being developed in Brazil, like glauconite-hosted potash as an alternative source of potash for the production of a slow-release fertilizer appropriated to Brazil’s tropical climate. Promises to be a booming business source, where grades vary from 6 to 10% K2O. Kalium Mineração, Harvest Minerals, Verde Agritech, and Terra Brasil are mining companies focused on this market share in Brazil. • Other sources of potash are being developed in Brazil, like glauconite-hosted potash as an alternative source of potash for the production of a slow-release fertilizer appropriated to Brazil’s tropical climate. Promises to be a booming business source, where grades vary from 6 to 10% K2O. Kalium Mineração, Harvest Minerals, Verde Agritech, and Terra Brasil are mining companies focused on this market share in Brazil. 17 Rare Earth Elements 1 National Mining Agency - ANM (2023). Anuário Mineral Brasileiro - 2022. Data refers to 2021. 2 Fundação Gorceix (2022). Estudos para o Plano Nacional de Mineração 2050. Data refers to 2020. US$ 1 million invested in exploration programs1 3rd world’s biggest reserve (21 Mt OxTR)2 Mineral Royalties: 2% Total Produced REE 903t2 18 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Highlights • Brazil is the third country with the largest REE reserve of 21 Mt. However, Brazil is less relevant in REE production on a world scale. The REE production in Brazil comes mainly from monazite concentrated in sands from paleo beach. In 2020, 708 t of monazite were produced and sold on the international market (Brazil Nuclear Industry, 2020). • Most of the REE reserves in Brazil are located in alkaline-carbonatitic rocks such as Araxá (Minas Gerais State), Poços de Caldas (Minas Gerais State), Catalão (Goiás State), Tapira (Minas Gerais State), Jacupiranga (São Paulo State), and Itapirapuã (São Paulo State); in the granites like Pitinga (Amazonas State), Minaçu and Montividio do Norte (Goiás State) and, to a lesser extent, in sedimentary deposits in the region of São Gonçalo do Sapucai (Minas Gerais State) and São Francisco do Itabapoana (Rio de Janeiro State). Studies in the region of Seis Lagos (Amazonas State) and Serra do Repartimento (Roraima State) are paralyzed due to legal barriers in areas of environmental preservation. • In 2015, measured reserves were approved in the Minaçu region, totaling approximately 300 Mt contained in ionic clays, with a content of 0.15% REEO+Y. The operation will be carried out by the mining company Serra Grande. Construction of the mine infrastructure is well advanced, and all necessary licenses have been received. • The largest REE deposit in Brazil in carbonatites is Araxá, with measured reserves of approximately 20 Mt, with 3.02% and 2.30% LREE and HREE contents. Araxá is the main Nb producer in the world and is currently developing projects for the recovery and improvement of REE as a by-product. The mines of Catalão, Poços de Caldas, Tapira, Pitinga, and Mata da Corda are also conducting recovery research of REE as a by-product of the main ore. • REE concentrations in paleoplaceres (monazite and ilmenite association) form smaller deposits, with predominance for LREE. Continental placers (cassiterite associated) such as in Rondônia or in southern Pará are potential deposits of HREE-minerals. At the Bom Futuro (Rondônia State) deposit, for example, the waste from the cassiterite mining is being sold to a Canadian company in the rare earth sector (Canada Rare Earth Corporation, 2021). • In the coming years, a possible verticalization of the REE production lines in Brazil is expected, with the start of operations in Serra Verde (Goiás State) and Morro do Ferro/Poços de Caldas (Minas Gerais State), in addition to the implementation of a REE extraction plant from xenotimes, in Pitinga mine. 19 Uranium 1National Mining Agency - ANM (2023). Anuário Mineral Brasileiro - 2022. Data refers to 2021. 2Fundação Gorceix (2022). Estudos para o Plano Nacional de Mineração 2050. Data refers to 2020. US$ 100 thousand in collected taxes1 14th world’s largest producer (17 t)2 Mineral Royalties: 2% 1,800 Indirect Employments2 600 Full-time Employments2 7th world’s biggest reserve (276 kt)2 20 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Highlights • Brazil currently has one of the most extensive uranium reserves in the world, with about 280 kt of contained uranium (U3O8). However, the country has the potential to be among the three largest reserves globally. • The Itataia and Lagoa Real deposits were discovered in the late 1970s and were responsible for placing Brazil in seventh place among the countries with the most signifi cant uranium resources. In 2020, Brazil had the seventh-largest uranium resource in the world, despite having made no discoveries since the late 1980s. At the end of 1982, it amounted to around 160kt. • Brazil has already identifi ed several Uranium deposits styles in its territory, as Metassomatic deposits (Lagoa Real), Archean Paleoplacer (Serra das Gaivotas), Paleoproterozoic Unconformity (Rio Cristalino), Associated with Phosphate (Itataia) and Sedimentary/Sandstones (Figueiras). • The only uranium mine currently in operation in Brazil is located in Caetité, in the state of Bahia, where mineral resources are estimated at 99.1 thousand tons of uranium. Over 38 anomalies (areas of high uranium concentration) have been identifi ed in this area, which is why it is referred to as a uranium province. This hub can produce around 400 tons of U3O8/year, with the potential to reach 800 tons of U3O8/year.2 • In the only operation in the country, the uranium is concentrated by leaching process based on Sulphur acid, resulting in a concentred liquor that, after enriched, generates the yellow cake. • The only state in Brazil that requires uranium for electricity production is Rio de Janeiro, where the Angra 1 and Angra 2 nuclear power plants are located. The nominal requirement is 440 tons per year. However, it remains between 310 and 340 tons of enriched uranium per year, depending on the operating history of the nuclear power plants. The INB – Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil nuclear fuel factory is also located in the state of Rio de Janeiro and provides fuel for the Brazilian nuclear power plants.2 21 SBG Mining Assets for 2023 Bidding The Decree-Law No. 764, of August 15, 1969, authorized the formation of the MineralResources Research Company - CPRM, in the form of a mixed economy company, withthe objective, among others, of conducting mineral research with a view to stimulating thediscovery of new deposits and the intensification of the use of the country’s mineral andwater resources. However, CPRM’s activities in mineral exploration activities were practically ended in the1990s. The edition of Constitutional Amendment No. 6/1995 allowed the opening of themining sector to foreign capital, there was a substantial increase in private investments inmineral research, eliminating the performance of this function by CPRM. In addition, LawNo. 8,970, of December 28, 1994, transformed CPRM into a public company and changedits corporate objects, so that CPRM started to perform mainly the function of GeologicalService in Brazil and stopped acting in the execution of mineral research itself. Until its transformation into a public company in 1994, CPRM developed several mineralresearch projects in order to identify and quantify new deposits in the Brazilian territory.Considering the potential economic use of these mineral resources, the FederalGovernment decided to negotiate some of these assets of CPRM by entering into a contractwith private partners, which will enable the continuation of these mining projects, with theconsequent generation of new jobs, increased income and in the collection of publicrevenues. Mineral projects to be auctioned during 2023: 22 SGB - An overview of Critical Minerals Potential of Brazil Mining Assets Kaolin Rio Capim • 10 Mining permits (10.000 ha) – 270 km southeast of Belem city (Para state); • Resources: 792 Mt @ 79,7% of in situ whiteness, • Preliminary processing tests indicated feasibility for paper, ceramics and coating application; possibility to develop a High Purity Alumina project; • Preliminary Feasibility Study done by independent mining consulting. Phosphate Miriri • 7 mineral rights (7.572,84 ha) on Paraiba and Pernambuco state; • 247 drill holes for 10,763.97 meters; • Total Inferred Resource: 114,73Mt @ 4,19% P2O5; • Cut-off 4%: 38Mt @ 8,14 P2O5. Limestone/ Gypsum Aveiro • Nearby Tapajós river with excellent navigability conditions, on west of Pará state; • Limestone: 1 Mining permit (998 ha); • Resources: Limestone - Preliminary estimate of 500 Mt. • Gypsum: 3 Mining permits (3,000 ha); • Resources: Gypsum - Preliminary estimate of 550 Mt with high purity degree Diamond Santo Inácio • 5 Mining permits (2.400 ha) – on north Bahia state; • 9 bulk samples with diamond collected; • Resources: 245 kt of diamond gravel @0,58cph/t Gold Natividade • 1 Mining permit (4.000 ha) – on south Tocantins state; • Resources: Preliminary estimate of 725 kt @ 1,02g/t; • Potential to increase gold resources after complementary geological research (only 3 drillholes). Summary of mining assets for 2023 bidding 23