The Pilar and Roça Grande deposits are examples of the Algoma BIF-hosted type. The main geological characteristics of this group are summarized as follows:

- Main host/fertile “Algoma-type” BIF Units: These units host the mineralization and are stratigraphically located at the waning stages of major volcanic cycles of the Rio da Velhas greenstone belt.

- Mineralization style: The mineralization consists of mainly “lateral” replacements/sulphidations of the iron carbonate-rich bands of the host Algoma-type BIF units. However, the BIF-hosted gold mineralization is not syngenetic in nature (in relation to the deposition of the host rock packages), rather it is clearly an epigenetic event that has occurred after the formation of the host rock units.

- Dimensions of the economic orebodies: Economic strike-lengths of only 50 m to 350 m for individual mined zones. Average thicknesses of the BIF-hosted orebodies may range from 2 m to 20 m.

The Pilar deposit is hosted by the basal units of the Nova Lima Group, and by sequences of the Quebra-Ossos Group. The rock packages in the immediate area of the mine are comprised of tholeiitic meta-basalts, mica-quartz schists, chlorite-quartz schists, quartzchlorite-sericite schists, and volcano-chemical and clastic meta-sedimentary rocks of the Santa Quitéria Unit (Nova Lima Group), and further to the east, of meta-komatiite flows (along with their intrusive equivalents) of the Quebra-Ossos Group. ........

There are two mining methods in use. The current LOMP forecasts longhole mining with delayed backfill for the majority of the Mineral Reserves. Mechanical cut and fill mining is used when ore geometry does not favour longhole mining.

Ventilation for the Pilar Mine is a pull system. Air is drawn down through the ramp and up an exhaust rise near the ramp. Ventilation on the levels uses auxiliary fans and vent ducting. Water is pumped to the surface using submersible pumps, pumped from level to level, then to the surface.

The Pilar Mine is accessed from a five metre by five metre primary decline located in the footwall of the deposit. The portal is located at an elevation of 760 MASL. The Pilar Mine is divided into levels with Level 01 established at elevation 690 MASL. All ore is hauled to the surface via the ramp using both contractors and company personnel. From this point, the level spacing is 75 m vertical, i.e., Level 02 is at elevation 615 MASL, Level 03 at elevation 540 MASL, etc. A three- metre-thick sill pillar is left between levels. Sublevels are excavated from the main ramp at 20 m vertical intervals to provide intermediate access to the mining panels. At each level and sublevel, drifts are developed near the centre of the mineralized zone to expose the footwall and to hang wall contacts. The drift is extended in both directions along strike, under geological control for alignment, continuing to expose the contacts until the limits of the depos ........

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The Caeté processing plant has a design capacity of 720,000 tpa of ROM ore. The process flowsheet consists primarily of the following unit operations:
- Crushing;
- Grinding;
- Gravity Gold Recovery;
- Flotation;
- Leaching and CIP;
- Gold Recovery;
- Detoxification;
- Tailings Disposal.

GRAVITY GOLD RECOVERY
Gravity concentration uses a Knelson centrifugal gravity concentrator to recover fine particles of free gold. The gravity concentrate proceeds to an Acacia intensive cyanidation reactor (Acacia), from which the gold bearing solution is pumped directly to a dedicated set of electrolytic cells. The precipitate from the cells is processed into doré bars in the refinery

FLOTATION
The flotation circuit consists of a series of twelve 14.1 m3 (500 ft3) flotation cells, the first three operating as roughers, three operating as primary scavengers, three operating as secondary scavengers, and the last three operating as ........