ValOre Reports Positive Leaching Results from Ongoing Metallurgical Program for Pedra Branca PGM Project, Brazil; 73% Platinum and 74% Palladium Achieved Extraction from Weathered Material and 66% Platinum and 79% Palladium from Chromitite;
ValOre advances Pedra Branca metallurgy while shedding uranium assets to focus on Brazilian PGM-Gold district potential.
The most recent news (March 26, 2026) reports successful metallurgical leaching results for the Pedra Branca PGM Project in Brazil. Bioleaching followed by cyanidation achieved extractions of 73% Platinum (Pt) and 74% Palladium (Pd) from weathered material. Additionally, caustic pre-treatment on chromitite material yielded 66% Pt and 79% Pd. These results are part of a Phase II program designed to support a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) targeted for completion by the end of 2026. This follows the February 2026 announcement of the sale of Hatchet Uranium Corp. to Future Fuels Inc., signaling a strategic shift to focus exclusively on the Brazilian assets.
The news is Routine - Positive. While the extraction rates (70%+) are encouraging and reproducible, they represent incremental technical de-risking rather than a "game-changing" discovery. - Technical Validation: The results confirm that bioleaching is a viable processing pathway for the near-surface weathered material, which is critical for the project's economics given the refractory nature of the ore. - Strategic Focus: The recent divestment of the Hatchet Uranium assets (announced Feb 2026) removes the distraction of Canadian exploration, though it also removes a "hot" commodity (uranium) from the portfolio. - Timeline: The PEA is still significantly far off (late 2026), meaning the company will likely require further capital injections before reaching a major valuation inflection point. - Comparison to Expectations: The results are in line with Phase I "proof of concept" work mentioned in late 2025/early 2026.
ValOre Metals Corp. is focused on the 100%-owned Pedra Branca PGM Project in Ceara State, Brazil. - Flagship: Pedra Branca hosts an NI 43-101 Inferred Resource of 2.2 million ounces (2PGE+Au) grading 1.08 g/t across 63 million tonnes. - Development Stage: Currently in the metallurgical testing and environmental licensing phase, aiming for a PEA in late 2026. - Secondary Assets: Historically held uranium interests in the Athabasca Basin, currently being divested to Future Fuels Inc.