ValOre Approves Phase 2 of Metallurgical Testwork for Pedra Branca PGE project in Brazil: Program Underway in Partnership with the University of Cape Town Department of Chemical Engineering
ValOre Pivots Toward Preliminary Economic Assessment as Metallurgical Hurdles Remain Primary Focus in Brazil
The most recent news (February 09, 2026) announces the commencement of Phase 2 metallurgical testwork for the Pedra Branca PGE project in Brazil. In partnership with the University of Cape Town, this phase focuses on scaling up bioleaching processes and assessing heap leaching feasibility for weathered material. This follows Phase 1 results which confirmed the refractory nature of the weathered material but showed potential for 70-80% Pd/Pt recovery in fresh rock via flotation. The company is targeting the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) by the end of 2026.
The impact of this news is Routine - Positive. While the commencement of Phase 2 is a necessary step for project development, it highlights the technical challenges inherent in the deposit—specifically the refractory nature of the weathered mineralisation which requires more complex bioleaching. - Technical Milestone: This moves the project closer to a PEA, but the timeline (late 2026) suggests a long lead time before any economic valuation is established. - Operational Continuity: The news confirms that management is sticking to the "integrated producer" strategy outlined by CEO Nick Smart in late 2025. - Risk Realization: The confirmation of "refractory" weathered material indicates that processing costs (OPEX) and capital intensity (CAPEX) for the future mine may be higher than conventional PGE operations.
ValOre Metals Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on the Pedra Branca PGE Project in Ceará State, Brazil. - Flagship Project: Pedra Branca. - Resource: Inferred Mineral Resource of 2.2 million ounces 2PGE+Au grading 1.08 g/t in 63.6 million tonnes. - Composition: The project consists of several near-surface deposits (Esbarro, Curiu, Cedro) within a 100,000-hectare land package. - Secondary Assets: A 51.5% interest in Hatchet Uranium Corp., which holds uranium properties in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan.