Interesting this comment and then there is also an article in...

Interesting this comment and then there is also an article in the AFR about Aussie Rare Earth plays in Brazil.

Non-Executive Chairman, Paul Dickson, said:
“The latest Gallium assay results from Caladão continue to demonstrate both high
grades and remarkable lateral and vertical continuity across both Area A and now Area
B. This consistently mineralised profile supports our strategy to rapidly define a
significant maiden gallium and REE resource in area B in addition to the Mineral
Resource Estimation for gallium and REE in area A, which is in the MRE calculation phase
with SRK. These results highlight both the continuity and scalability of gallium
mineralisation, supporting our strategy for rapid resource development for REE and
gallium in the Caladão Project.”


From the AFR article:

Today’s plunging price for rare earths is why so few Australian projects have progressed beyond political rhetoric and vague expressions of future potential. That’s despite initial optimism about Australia’s new critical minerals boom, including rare earths, backed by government urging, financial assistance and the lure of US and European demand.

Instead, some small miners are turning to Brazil on the basis that cheaper development along with quicker approval processes should make their prospects more viable.

Apart from leveraging the far lower cost of doing business there, many (though not Hancock’s prospective mine) are banking on Brazil’s different geology in obtaining rare earths from ionic clay, rather than the hard rock more typical in Australia. Brazil is one of few countries with such deposits, alongside southern China, Myanmar and Vietnam.