St George deepens US ties for Araxá critical minerals
MiningJan 28, 2026
United States | South America
St George Mining has engaged Washington advisory firm Ervin Graves Strategy Group to strengthen relationships with US government agencies as Washington accelerates efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains across the Western Hemisphere.
The adviser will support outreach for St George’s 100%-owned Araxá rare earths–niobium project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Araxá hosts a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate of 40.6Mt at 4.13% TREO (2% TREO cut-off) and a niobium resource of 41.2Mt at 0.68% Nb2O5 (0.2% cut-off), with mineralisation from surface and potential for open-pit extraction.
The appointment follows heightened US policy and financing actions aimed at diversifying supply beyond China, including a reported US$1.6 billion financing package linked to USA Rare Earth and up to US$465 million of DFC support for another Brazilian project. Ervin Graves, with senior-level US government and defence policy experience, will help position Araxá within emerging mine-to-magnet priorities and pursue potential US funding and downstream partnerships.
St George cites Araxá’s favourable Minas Gerais location, established infrastructure, significant carbonatite-hosted grades comparable to major global deposits, selection under Brazil’s MagBras initiative, a state cooperation agreement to expedite permitting, and a strategic downstream alliance with US-based REalloys as enablers for rapid development.
"Araxá aligns closely with US policy to support critical minerals in the Western world," said executive chairman John Prineas.
St George Mining Limited (ASX:SGQ) is a West Perth-based exploration company targeting critical minerals like niobium, rare earths, lithium, nickel, and copper. Key assets include the Araxá Project in Brazil—acquired in 2025 with a maiden resource of 41.2 Mt at 0.68% Nb2O5 and 40.6 Mt at 4.13% TREO—and Western Australia's Mt Alexander project.