St George Mining Ltd has appointed Ricardo Maximo Nardi, a leading expert in niobium ore processing, to its in-country management team for the high-grade niobium-rare earth elements (REE) Araxá Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Nardi brings more than 30 years of experience in niobium mineral processing, including by-products such as barite, magnetite, phosphate and rare earths, as well as high-purity niobium oxide production.
From 1982 to 2021, Nardi held several senior leadership roles at Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) at its Araxá operations, overseeing key aspects of mineral processing and mining operations. His notable positions included:
- Head of Mineral Production Process – Managed mineral processing systems, niobium oxide production, metallurgy analysis, product innovation, offtake specifications and new technology development.
- Head of High-Purity Niobium Oxide Production – Led operations at the chemical plant producing niobium oxides used in superalloys, optical lenses and battery technologies.
Nardi's expertise will support St George’s efforts to advance the Araxá Project, which is positioned as a key player in the global niobium and REE market.
“We are delighted to welcome Mr Ricardo Nardi to our Brazilian executive team. Mr Nardi is one of, if not the most knowledgeable and experienced engineers in the world in processing niobium ores,” St George Mining executive chairman John Prineas said.
“His former role at CBMM – the world’s dominant producer of niobium with mining operations located immediately adjacent to the Araxá Project – will ensure that St George is best placed to optimise processing options at Araxá and to fast-track development plans.”
Invaluable experience
Nardi will provide expertise on mineral and metallurgical studies, evaluate mineral processing options and contribute to the design of a flow sheet aimed at producing commercial products, including niobium, rare earths and phosphate.
His focus will be on optimising efficiency while maintaining high environmental standards. Additionally, he will advise on feasibility studies and strategic planning for potential mining operations.
Nardi brings extensive experience from his tenure at CBMM, where he was instrumental in advancing the company’s niobium processing technologies and production capacity.
He also played a key role in the development and optimisation of processes for other minerals, including barite, magnetite and rare earths.
His responsibilities included designing systems to enhance water and mineral recovery efficiency, overseeing the commissioning of new assets and adapting production processes for various ore types.
Nardi's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Mining Engineering from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), a specialisation in Occupational Health and Safety Engineering from Fundação Mineira de Educação e Cultura (FUMEC) and a Master in Business Management Administration from Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU).
About the Araxá Project
St George has signed a binding conditional agreement to acquire 100% of the Araxá Niobium-REE Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The project is adjacent to CBMM’s world-leading niobium mine, which accounts for approximately 80% of global niobium production. Both sites lie within the same carbonatite complex, a well-established host for high-grade mineralisation.
Historical drilling at Araxá has confirmed extensive high-grade niobium, REE and phosphate mineralisation, with:
- More than 500 intercepts exceeding 1% Nb₂O₅;
- Ultra-high grades of up to 8% Nb₂O₅, 33% total rare earth oxides (TREO), and 32% P₂O₅; and
- Mineralisation beginning at surface and remaining open in all directions.
Araxá offers significant development potential, benefiting from its strategic location within a well-established mining district. The project has access to existing infrastructure, including roads and power, as well as a skilled workforce and a proven route to market.