Discover the cities where a foreign mining company found a concentration of rare earths in TO

Discover the cities where a foreign mining company found a concentration of rare earths in TO

Palmeirópolis and Jaú do Tocantins are located in the southern region of Tocantins and border the state of Goiás. The presence of rare earths was confirmed by an Australian mining company, which continues to carry out studies in the region.

By Shelen Assakawa, g1 Tocantins

Australian mining company Alvo Minerals has identified heavy rare earth elements in Palmeirópolis and Jaú do Tocantins. The two cities are in the southern region of Tocantins.

Jaú do Tocantins has 3,389 inhabitants and an economy focused on cattle farming, soybeans and corn. The municipality has attractions such as hot springs and beaches.

Palmeirópolis has 7,090 residents and operates in the agricultural sector and fishing tourism. The city is also home to a rubber production project.

Palmeirópolis and Jaú do Tocantins gained prominence after a foreign mining company identified heavy rare earth elements in both regions. With northern traditions and a musical rhythm that mixes forró and country music, the cities are known for their strong agricultural culture.

The municipalities are located in the southern region of Tocantins and border the state of Goiás. The presence of rare earths was confirmed by the Australian mining company Alvo Minerals, which published the results of a survey that collected data from drillings carried out underground.

The populations of both cities live and celebrate similar regional cultures, but they have different attractions and histories. See below.

Jaú do Tocantins

With an estimated population of 3,389 people, the city of Jaú do Tocantins covers an area of 2,167.201 square kilometers. The municipality was founded in 1991, and anyone born in Jaú is considered Jauense.

Families living in the region maintain a community and cultural life marked by traditional celebrations and events that drive the economy throughout the year, in addition to religious events.

Agricultural exhibitions promote rural culture with rodeos and vaquejadas. Every year the city hosts the Cavalgada de Nossa Senhora Aparecida, which mixes religious devotion, horseback riding and popular celebrations with typical cuisine.

The municipality is 378 km from Palmas, and preserves leisure and rest options for residents and tourists. According to the city hall, Jaú has a cave, Caldeirão beach and the Magdal hot spring, with a rustic and ecological structure with waters that spring naturally from wells and can reach a temperature of 37°C. The thermal waters are located on the perimeter of the Poço de Caldas farm, 12 kilometers from the city center.

According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), cattle breeding for both beef and milk production predominates in the municipality's economy. In agriculture, the biggest highlights in terms of production volume and value go to soybeans, cassava and corn.

Palmeiropolis

Palmeirópolis was founded on June 10, 1980, but its formation began much earlier, in 1960, with the town of Palmeiras, a name chosen due to the babassu coconut trees that exist in abundance in the region.

Residents born in this city are called Palmeiropolitans, according to the city hall.

The city has a strong connection with country music and is the birthplace of the country duo Henrique & Juliano. Among the cultural traditions, horseback riding and knight meetings are strong expressions of the location's identity.

Fishing tourism is very present in the region, and Ilha Verde, around the São Salvador lake, is one of the main points of leisure and contact with nature. An alternative for adventurers is Pilão de Pedra, a type of circular-shaped natural pool with crystal clear, greenish waters from the Capivara River.

The municipality became one of the largest grain producers in the state of Goiás, before being separated and becoming part of the state of Tocantins in 1988. The estimated population in the municipality, in 2026, is 7,090 people.

The city has a heritage linked to the extraction of the babassu fruit. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the economy of Palmeirópolis is heavily based on the agricultural sector. Beef cattle raising and grain cultivation drive the rural area.