You say that as though the Amazon is the only place on earth rich in rare earth minerals. It isn't - many places have them, a number have more than the Amazon.

Rare earths are not rare - the 'free minerals' are rare (non existent) to find "just laying about" as they bind to other elements and compounds in complex hard to unbind ways.

What the planet is rather short of is good, high quality, original condition rain forests.

Amazon also contains petroleum. Would you oppose Petrobrás if it decided it was worth it to get it out of the ground?