Overview
Status | Temporary Suspension |
Mine Type | Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
|
Mine Life | 2027 |
Urucum mine operations have been suspended since October 2021 due to strategic review.
In April 2022, Vale entered into a binding agreement with J&F Mineração Ltda. (“J&F”) for the sale of of all the shares issued by Mineração Corumbaense Reunida S.A., Mineração Mato Grosso S.A., International Iron Company, Inc. and Transbarge Navegación Sociedad Anónima, which hold Vale's iron ore, manganese ore and logistics assets in the Midwestern System. The agreed enterprise value of the transaction is approximately US$1.2 billion for the assets. At closing, Vale expects to receive approximately US$150 million, in addition to transferring to J&F the obligations related to the take-or-pay logistics contracts, subject to the consent of the applicable counterparties, and other liabilities existing in the transferred assets. |
Source:
Company | Interest | Ownership |
J&F Mineração Ltda.
|
100 %
|
Indirect
|
On April 6, 2022, Vale S.A. signed a binding agreement for the sale, to J&F Mineração Ltda., controlled by J&F Investimentos S.A., of all the shares issued by Mineração Corumbaense Reunida S.A., Mineração Mato Grosso S.A., International Iron Company, Inc. and Transbarge Navegación Sociedad Anónima, which hold Iron Ore, Manganese Ore and Logistics assets in the Midwestern System, including the full assumption by the buyer of the take-or-pay logistics contracts, subject to the consent of the applicable counterparties. Under the terms agreed, the enterprise value of the transaction is approximately US$ 1.2 billion for a set of assets.
Summary:
The Urucum deposits are associated with banded iron formations (BIF), locally known as jaspelites. The iron and manganese deposits are found in the plateaus which rise from the plains of the Paraguay River and near Mutum Mountain.
The sediments of the Urucúm Basin constitute an epicontinental marine sequence beginning with the basal Jacadigo Group that comprises clastic sediments with carbonatic matrix, overlain by iron-rich arkoses and Jaspilites with manganese layers (Band'Alta Formation), followed by the Corumba Group with limestones, dolomites slates and siltites (Cerradinho Formation) overlain by dark dolomites and limestone breccia of the Araras Formation. This sequence developed in a slow sinking basin with upward gradation from clastic to chemical sedimentation without volcanic contribution. Deposition of widespread iron and manganese rich sediments is due to sharp variation in the Eh conditions most probably under the influence of marine currents in a restricted basin partially protected from atmosphere by large ice caps.
The jaspilites of the Band'Alta Formation present a primary banding defined by planar layers and lenses of quartz and hematite, with variable thickness, from mm to cm. (Fig. 4d). Quartz is usually cryptocrystalline (chert) and hematite appears, similar to the Carajás jaspilites, as microcrystalline aggregates or as very fine platy crystals. Recrystallization of both hematite and quartz results in xenoblastic aggregates that occur discontinuously. Near to the contact with manganese layers hematite may also appear intergrown with cryptomelane (Schneider 1984). Martite is also present in form of hypidiomorphic to idiomorphic crystals as individuals and aggregates. Fine clastic components are common at the base of the sequence but are also present as layers and lenses in the upper levels. Erratic blocks of glacial origin are quite frequent. The most puzzling feature is the presence of small hematitechert ellipsoidal concretions with variable diameter (few mm to several cm), displaying a concentric structure similar to oolites. They are always aligned on the banding and own their shape to differential compaction. Thicker levels of primary high-grade ores occur in the whole sequence. In these layers, banding is less conspicuous, defined by slight variation in the proportions of quartz (chert) and hematite. Superficial leaching of the quartz leads to the development of a very high grade ore especially suitable to direct reduction plants.
Summary:
Urucum is an underground mine with on-site beneficiation plant which located at State of Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil.
Urucum underground mine is employed Room and pillar mining method to extract high and medium grade oxide ores with an average content of 46% manganese grade.
The broken ore is flushed down to simple loading chutes for rail haulage to the mouth of the mine. The ore is crushed to 6 inch size over a grizzly and transported by trucks for dispatch. There is no beneficiation carried out except crushing and screening at the mine site.
Urucum mine operations have been suspended since October 2021 due to strategic review.
Source:
Summary:
Crushing, screening and dense heavy medium separation DMS / HMS process producing lumps to the Barbacena and Ouro Preto ferroalloy plants.
Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Manganese
|
Recovery Rate, %
| ......  | ......  | ......  | 79 | 82.7 | 82 | 83 |
Iron Ore
|
Recovery Rate, %
| ......  | ......  | ......  | | | 65.8 | 82.6 |
Production:
Commodity | Units | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Manganese
|
Mt
| ......  | ......  | ......  | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
Iron Ore
|
Mt
| | | | | | ......  | ......  |
All production numbers are expressed as lump & fines.
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Reserves at December 31, 2017:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
Proven
|
7.9 Mt
|
Manganese
|
46.4 %
|
Probable
|
1.3 Mt
|
Manganese
|
47 %
|
Proven & Probable
|
9.3 Mt
|
Manganese
|
46.5 %
|
Mine Management:
Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
.......................
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.......................
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|
Jun 10, 2022
|
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