Origen Resources Dominates NE Brazil’s Rare Earth Footprint
CEO.CA Sep 30, 2026 6:31
Summary
Origen Resources hired former Serra Verde director Marc Riccio, a move CEO Gary Schellenberg calls a major endorsement of its Brazil rare earth plans.
The Campo de Cima acquisition followed extensive field due diligence, with resampling replicating and expanding the vendor's original ionic clay results.
A planned 168-hole auger campaign (shallow drilling to sample near surface) is expected to define the ionic clay property within months.
Fieldwork at the Picos project has finished first-pass sampling, with an airborne radiometric survey nearly complete and target areas expanded.
The CEO claims first-mover landholding makes Origen the largest rare earth landholder in northeastern Brazil, giving early access to district data.
Gary Schellenberg's takeaways
- Top takeaway He argues that being the largest rare earth landholder in northeastern Brazil gives Origen a first-mover information advantage and says the company will turn its story into reality.
- He frames Marc Riccio's arrival as a major vote of confidence, citing Riccio's eight-plus years as a Serra Verde director and asset manager before its $2.8 billion buyout by US Rare Earths.
- He says extensive field due diligence at Campo de Cima replicated and even expanded earlier sampling results, which drove the decision to proceed with the acquisition.
- He expects a steady news flow in the weeks after the interview: the Picos airborne survey finishing, a second phase being designed, and Campo de Cima auger drilling starting mid-to-late October 2026.
- He claims rising credibility in Brazil, saying the company draws local press as one of the few explorers reporting success north of the main ionic clay area.