SÃO PAULO – November 05, 2026 -- IMC Rare Earths (NYSE American: IMC) will begin diamond drilling at 29 Block D plateau locations in mid-November at its Itarantim project in Brazil. The program is meant to test mineralization below the 30-meter limit of its mechanical auger rigs and to extend roughly 5-10 meters into bedrock, subject to geology. In parallel, engineering consultancy WSP is running an in-situ recovery (ISR) field trial, with injection testing targeted for Q1 2027.
Diamond drilling targets thickest weathered layer on Block D plateau
The 29 holes are widely spaced and sited where the weathered rock and soil layer is interpreted to be thickest. Access work and drill pad construction are underway, and further drilling is planned.
The program follows hole AD-00403, announced October 29, 2026, which returned 13 meters at 1,287 ppm Y2O3 from 14 meters depth and ended in mineralization at 27 meters. Diamond drilling will test the deeper continuation of that interval, along with the thickness, continuity and grade distribution beneath the plateau. It will also supply material for density testing.
IMC says positive results could materially affect the scale and grade profile of a resource assessment targeted for 2027. The company cautions that deeper drilling may improve geological understanding but does not establish an increase in resource size or grade.
WSP leads Block A ISR trial and 37-well groundwater monitoring program
WSP is planning and operating the small-scale ISR program at Block A. Well installation is progressing. The trial will measure how effectively rare earths can be recovered from mineralized material by injecting a solution underground and pumping the dissolved minerals to the surface for processing.
Separately, 37 groundwater monitoring wells are being installed across the project, combining new holes with converted auger holes, to build baseline hydrogeological data.
IMC says ISR could offer lower-cost development with a smaller environmental footprint than conventional mining. Suitability depends on permeability, hydraulic control, solution recovery and groundwater protection. CEO Frank Scolaro named dysprosium, terbium and yttrium as the strategically important elements the trial targets.
University of Brighton tests 16 Block D samples for leaching performance
Under Professor Martin Smith, the University of Brighton is examining the mineral composition of the clay and measuring how well rare earths can be recovered over time using magnesium sulfate. The 16 samples will also be assessed for particle size.
IMC previously reported laboratory extraction of 73% of tested rare earth elements, excluding cerium, in a September 22, 2026 release. That included 71.4% of terbium and 70.5% of dysprosium using acidified magnesium sulfate. The company stresses these are earlier laboratory results, not new Block D data or demonstrated field-scale recoveries.
Nine auger teams and four leased warehouses support expanded operations
More than 100 Brazilian workers are engaged across nine auger teams. IMC has leased four warehouses in Itarantim for vehicles, equipment, administration, sample preparation and storage, core logging and laboratory work.
The company is also funding improvements to local schools and nurseries, and is using its equipment on local roads and drainage in coordination with authorities. It plans to donate toys to three municipal childcare centers serving 483 children and to distribute food parcels through a local evangelical church.