Overview

Mine Type	Open Pit
Stage	Permitting
Commodities	Phosphate rock
Mining Method	Truck & Shovel / Loader
Mine Life	...
Snapshot	In March 2018 Aguia announced the completion of a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) for the Tres Estradas Phosphate Project (TEPP). Phase 1 (Saprolite): Open pit mining of 1.3Mtpy (run-of-mine, or ROM) of saprolitic ore, to the processing plant, to produce an average of 300ktpy of phosphate concentrate (phosrock). Phase 2 (Carbonatite): Mining an average of 3.3Mtpy (ROM) of Carbonatite ore, with expansion of the processing plant to produce 300,000tpy of phosphate concentrate and 2.8 Mtpy of agricultural limestone (aglime). 1 Mtpy of aglime will be sold, the remainder stored in a Tailings Dam. Phase 3 (Aglime): Following mining operations, recovery of 1Mtpy of the remaining aglime from the Tailings Dam. Updated BFS in 2023, is related to Phase 1 of the project, where only saprolite rock will mined, considering the production of Direct Application Natural Fertilizer (DANF).

Deposit type

• Carbonatite hosted
• Intrusion related

Summary:

Três Estradas Phosphate Deposit is located between two hydrographic basins: the Santa Maria River Basin and the Camaquã River Basin. Elevation for the Três Estradas Phosphate Project area ranges from 249m to 367m with a mean elevation of 348m MASL for the deposit area.

The Três Estradas deposit consists of an elongated carbonatite intrusion (metacarbonatite and amphibolite) with a strike of 50° to 60°. The meta-carbonatite and amphibolite form a tightly folded sequence with limbs dipping steeply from 70° to vertical (90°). The surface expression of the intrusion is approximately 2.5 km along strike with a width of approximately 300m. The Late Archean to Early Proterozoic intrusion is intensely recrystallized and metamorphosed to amphibolite assemblages. The carbonatite intrusion is bound mostly by biotite gneiss along with meta-syenite along its northeast and southeast boundaries.

Phosphate mineralization, occurring as the mineral apatite (Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)), is the primary mineralization of economic interest at Três Estradas. Apatite is the only phosphatebearing mineral occurring in the carbonatites. At Três Estradas phosphate mineralization occurs in both fresh and weathered meta-carbonatite and amphibolite. Phosphate also becomes highly enriched in the overlying saprolite.

The targeted area consists of an elongated carbonatite intrusion with a strike of 50° to 60° similar to that of the Cerro dos Cabritos Fault. Shear sense indicators suggest a sinistral sense of motion along this fault. The carbonatite and amphibolite form a tightly folded sequence with limbs dipping steeply from 70° to vertical (90°). The surface expression of the intrusion is approximately 2.5 km along strike with a width of approximately 300m.

With the exception of meta-syenite along its northeast and southeast boundaries, the carbonatite is surrounded by biotite gneiss of the SMCGC. The carbonatite is tightly folded and strongly foliated, resulting in a well-developed gneissic texture. Locally, abundant subparallel quartz veins are present resulting in elevated topographic ridges as the quartz is more resistant to weathering than the surrounding country rock. These veins range from a few centimetres to a couple of meters in width and can be up to 300m long. Also flanking the carbonatite is a minor unit of meta-tonalite with intercalated meta-carbonatite and amphibolite. The unit is characterized by gneissic banding, a grey-green colour on weathered surfaces and a recrystallized granular.
texture.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

Summary:

Production

Operational metrics

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Personnel

Job Title	Name	Profile	Ref. Date
.......................	.......................		Feb 14, 2024