Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In

    Geomechanics.io

    Geomechanics, Streamlined.

    © 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

    Geomechanics.io

    CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

    Industries

    MiningConstructionTunnelling

    Company

    Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects

    US $1B Latin America critical minerals push: project risk lens for mine planners

    March 13, 2026|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    US $1B Latin America critical minerals push: project risk lens for mine planners

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    More than $1 billion in US-backed loans, equity and offtake deals has flowed into Latin American critical minerals since January 2025, including a $100 million Inter-American Development Bank loan for a $2.5 billion lithium project in Argentina and a proposed $465 million US Development Finance Corporation stake in Serra Verde’s rare earths mine in Goiás, Brazil. Argentina’s RIGI regime has already underpinned Rio Tinto’s $2.5 billion Salta lithium project and lifted national lithium capacity from 75,500 t/y in 2023 to about 186,000 t/y in 2025, with 658,000 t/y targeted by 2035. Geopolitically driven capital is accelerating lithium, rare earth and copper developments, but permitting, resource nationalism and EU/US merger scrutiny, such as the Phase II review of MMG’s bid for Anglo’s Brazilian nickel assets, remain critical schedule risks.

    Technical Brief

    • Serra Verde’s proposed $465m DFC funding targets expansion of rare earths output in Goiás, Brazil.
    • Brazil holds about 23.3% of global rare earth reserves yet delivers only ~0.02% of production.
    • Argentina’s RIGI regime applies only to projects exceeding $200m capex, locking in tax and FX stability.
    • Latin America controls roughly 60% of global lithium reserves, anchoring long-term brine and hard‑rock project pipelines.

    Our Take

    The prospective US Development Finance Corporation backing for Serra Verde in Goiás taps into a rare case where Brazil holds an estimated 23.3% of global rare earth reserves but only about 0.02% of production, signalling room for rapid scale-up if permitting and processing capacity can be unlocked.

    The $2.5 billion Rio Tinto lithium project in Salta, already approved under Argentina’s RIGI regime, aligns with our other coverage of Rincon’s early exports, suggesting that US- and multilateral-backed finance is likely to prioritise projects that can move quickly from pilot shipments to full battery-grade output.

    With Latin America holding around 60% of global lithium reserves and copper demand projected to nearly double by 2035, the US push into Argentina, Chile and Brazil positions these jurisdictions as key alternatives to China-centred supply chains, but also increases policy risk exposure given recent institutional changes in Chile’s mining governance highlighted in our database.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    SME MINEXCHANGE 2027 call for speakers: technical abstract tips for mine engineers

    SME MINEXCHANGE organisers have opened the call for 2027 conference speakers, inviting 100-word technical abstracts from mining operators, academics and technology providers worldwide. The annual event’s programme typically spans underground and open-pit operations, tailings and waste management, automation and digitalisation, ventilation, rock mechanics and ESG-focused mine planning. Early abstract submission gives practitioners a route to present detailed case studies, new equipment performance data and novel geotechnical or processing methods directly to a global audience of engineers and mine managers.

    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    Metso filtration LCS contracts: dewatering reliability lens for plant engineers

    Metso has signed two multi-year filtration Life Cycle Services agreements: a 5‑year contract with a major copper producer in South America and a 4‑year deal with a major lead/zinc producer in Asia Pacific. The LCS packages cover parts supply, planned maintenance and digital services for an extensive installed base of Larox® pressure filters used in concentrate dewatering. For plant operators, the deals signal continued OEM support for filter availability, cake moisture control and throughput stability over full asset life, rather than ad‑hoc component replacement.

    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    BHP Olympic Dam LV radiator upgrade: reliability takeaways for mine engineers

    BHP is replacing the radiators across its light vehicle fleet at the Olympic Dam operation in South Australia with Terrain Tamer Heavy Duty pressed aluminium units after an almost 12‑month in‑field trial. The heavy-duty radiators are designed for higher vibration and thermal loads typical of underground and surface mine roads, offering improved cooling performance and resistance to core and tank fatigue compared with standard OEM units. For maintenance teams, the change points to reduced unplanned LV downtime and lower cooling‑system failure risk in high‑dust, high‑ambient conditions.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalMiningInfrastructureMaterialsHazardsEnvironmentalSoftwarePolicy