Aclara Resources Inc (TSX:ARA, OTC:ARAAF) announced that it hosted a delegation of representatives from the State of Goiás, Brazil, at its heavy rare earths pilot plant in Chile.
The company said the visit, which took place on February 15, aimed to demonstrate the features of its patented technology at the plant which will be also used at its Carina Module project located in Goiás.
It comes after the company in October last year met with the governor and several other senior state officials in Goiás to present the Carina Module project for the first time.
Aclara said that the delegation toured the facility and learned about how its Circular Mineral Harvesting Process Works, seeing that 95% of the water used is recycled back into the system and the low carbon footprint of the extraction method, as the ionic clays are processed without the need for grinding or milling.
The visitors were also able to see that a tailings dam is not required and 99% of the reagent used to separate the clays from the rare earths also is recycled back into the process, the company added.
The company said that the delegation also visited one of its social engagement projects in Penco and held a meeting with local authorities.
"We extend our gratitude to the Brazilian authorities for this fruitful visit to our pilot plant in Chile. They had the opportunity to observe firsthand our environmentally responsible operations, witnessing the processing of the ionic clays sourced from our Carina Module project in Brazil,” Aclara CEO Ramon Barua said in a statement.
“Our visitors share our commitment to sustainable mineral extraction and have conveyed their support for expediting the development of the Carina Module.”
Aclara Resources is a development-stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth mineral resources hosted in ion-adsorption clay deposits. It has two projects under development: the Penco Module in the Bio-Bio Region of Chile, and the Carina project in the State of Goiás, Brazil.