Sovereign Metals has successfully extracted heavy rare earth monazite concentrate from tailings at its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi.
The discovery adds significant strategic value to the Kasiya project that already holds the world’s largest titanium rutile deposit.
Preliminary analysis confirms exceptionally high levels of critical heavy rare earth elements, with the monazite concentrate averaging 2.9% combined Dysprosium-Terbium (DyTb) and 11.9% Yttrium. Peak concentrations reached 3.9% DyTb and 17.3% Yttrium.
These figures materially exceed those of the world’s five largest rare earth producers, which collectively account for 70% of global output but produce predominantly light rare earths.
“This is an exceptional development that has the potential to fundamentally enhance Kasiya’s strategic significance,” said Managing Director and CEO Frank Eagar.
“With simple processing, our upgraded laboratory has recovered a valuable monazite concentrate product from the rutile tailings stream, with heavy rare earth content that the world’s major producers simply cannot match.”
Sovereign Metals shares surged over 30% on the news but failed to break through to 52-week highs.
Strategic importance
DyTb represents crucial, heavy-magnet rare-earth elements essential for high-temperature permanent magnets used in advanced technologies, defence systems, and precision weapons.
Sovereign said current European prices stand at US$850,000 per tonne for Dysprosium and $3.6 million per tonne for Terbium. We have no indication of the quantity of the rare earths Kasiya holds.
Yttrium has proven critical for aerospace applications, thermal barrier coatings, radar and laser systems, alloy strengthening and semiconductor manufacturing. Highlighting the strategic importance of Yttrium, the US imports 100% of its Yttrium requirements from China.
“These are precisely the elements that matter most to nations seeking to protect and grow their critical mineral supply chains,” Eagar said.
“Dysprosium and terbium enable permanent magnets to function in advanced technologies, including robotics, fighter jets, guided missiles, and naval propulsion systems. Yttrium protects jet engines and hypersonic vehicles from extreme temperatures.”
The timing of this discovery carries geopolitical significance and makes Sovereign Metals all the more attractive.
With China restricting heavy rare-earth exports to Japan and generally weaponising its control over some critical minerals, the US State Department’s visit to Sovereign’s Malawi operations underscores just how important Sovereign Metals could be for the global rare-earth ecosystem.