Mining Intelligence and News
Brazil

Varzea do Lopes Complex

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Iron Ore
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
SnapshotVárzea do Lopes is located at approximately 20 km from Miguel Burnier, in a straight line.

Gerdau has two mines producing iron ore, Várzea do Lopes and Miguel Burnier. The mines produce the following: sinter feed, pellet feed/concentrated, hematite fines and granulated.

During 2023, Gerdau started testing an electric truck for iron ore extraction operations at the Várzea Leste-Norte mine. The objective is to evaluate the feasibility of replacing the existing fleet with electric vehicles in the Gerdau’s mines. The model used in the test operation is the SANY SKT90E truck.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Gerdau S.A. 100 % Indirect
Gerdau owns the Várzea do Lopes mine.

Deposit type

  • Banded iron formation

Summary:

The iron ore Várzea do Lopes is located in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero (QF), a large gold, iron, aluminum and manganese metallogenetic district covering approximately 7,000 km² in the southern portion of the São Francisco Craton.

The Quadrilátero Ferrífero consists of Archaean terrains (Rio das Velhas Supergroup) overlain by Proterozoic platform sediments (Minas and Espinhaço Supergroups). The current setting of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero results from two deformational events. The first represents an extensional event of Paleoproterozoic age (2100-1700 My) forming granitic-gneissic domes with syncline cores overlying the strata of the Rio das Velhas and Minas Supergroups. The second is a compressional event associated with the closure of the Africa/Brazil proto-ocean (650-500 My) located east of the QF. A west-oriented folding belt developed during this event.

The Várzea do Lopes Complex is located in the western portion of the QF, Serra da Moeda. Itabirites and rocks of the Cauê Formation and Gandarela Formation (Minas Supergroup) outcrop therein.

The Varzea do Lopes deposit consists of soft to hard high-grade hematite, enriched itabirite, canga, rolado, and itabirite.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityUnits20232022202120202019201820172016
Iron Ore kt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe6,130**7,317**7,265**8,647**
All production numbers are expressed as conc., lump & fines. ** Combined production for Varzea do Lopes Complex and Miguel Burnier/Dom Bosco Complex

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 24, 2024
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....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 24, 2024
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Aerial view:

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