There appear to be two classes of copper–gold deposits in the Carajás region. The first roup includes Cu–Au–(W–Bi–Sn) deposits which contain quartz veins, and may or may not have associated iron oxides and are genetically related to the cooling of Palaeoproterozoic (ca. 1.88 Ga) granites. The second group includes iron oxide Cu–Au (±U–rare earth elements) deposits (e.g., Salobo, Sossego, Cristalino, 118 and Igarapé Bahia) that may be related to more alkaline rocks, including the ca. 2.57 Ga alkaline complexes of the Carajás belt (e.g., Estrela Complex, Old Salobo Granite) and the base metal mineralization-associated 1.88 Ga intrusives. The second group of deposits are commonly referred to as iron oxide copper gold deposits (IOCG). Global examples of IOCG deposits include Olympic Dam in Australia, Candelaria–Punta del Cobre in Chile, and Sossego in Brazil.

Mineralization at the Salobo deposit is hosted by upper greenschist to lower amphibolite metamorphosed rocks of the Igarapé Salobo Group. The group thickness varies from 300–600 m in the Project area, and may be weathered to depths of 30–100 m. The rocks strike approximately N70°W and have a subvertical dip.

The major host units are biotite (BDX) and magnetite schists (XMT). Granitic intrusions (GR) occur adjacent to the north and southern sides of the BDX and XMT, and a series of much younger diorite dykes (DB) cross-cut the mineralization forming barren zones.

The Salobo deposit extends ove ........

Salobo mine utilizes standard open pit methods, developed in 15 m benches, with trucks and shovels. After drilling and blasting the material, cable shovels, large front-end loaders and hydraulic excavators are used to load this material. A fleet of 240 t and 360 t trucks are used to haul the waste material to waste dumps proximal to the pit or ore material to the primary crusher. Lower grade ore is stockpiled for later processing.

The mine planning objective is to mine the ore sequentially in mining phases, considering the largest possible vertical spacing between phases. The plan is to provide an approximately steady annual production of 36.0 million tonnes to the mill. Initial production from the expansion is expected in January 2022.

The Salobo bulk mining operations primarily utilize large electric (rope) shovels for ore and waste production. Hydraulic shovels are used for the oxide saprolite and transition material where a lower ground pressure is required. Wheel loaders are used for miscellaneous clean up jobs and for backup of the shovels when needed.

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