Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Production Start | ...  |
| Mine Life | 19 years (as of Jan 1, 2022) |
Barro Alto nickel asset is located in Brazil and produce ferronickel, the majority of which is used in the production of high quality stainless and heat resistant steels. Barro Alto facility - world class ferronickel producer. |
Source:
p. 270
Contractors
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Summary:
The Barro Alto mineral resource is primarily saprolite overlain by laterites and extends for 35 km in an arc from southwest to northeast. The deposit is in the Barro Alto mafic-ultramafic complex, which is part of the Pre-Cambrian shield in the state of Goiás. The complex is composed of a sequence of serpentinised dunites and pyroxenites, enveloped by gabbros.
The Barro Alto deposit occurs in a curved strip within the ultramafic zone of the Barro Alto Complex. Valleys and fault zones allow for the division of the deposit into seven separate areas. The relative concentration of iron and nickel occurring at the top of the profile (limonite zone typical of oxidised deposits), is the result of leaching and intense tropical weathering of the ultramafic lithologies. In more developed areas, the nickel is leached downwards, where it concentrates in the lower saprolite zone, forming areas rich in garnierite (silicified deposits).
The nickel deposits of the Barro Alto have the shape of a bow with concavity to NW. Presents approximately 156 km in length, with a width of 8 km (North) up to 25 km (central region).
The mineralisation corresponds to the surficial weathered portions of the serpentinites. There are three types of saprolitic ore. The West type ore tends to have higher nickel grades and silica/magnesia ratios than the East type and Plain type ores.
The Barro Alto complex is bounded by metamorphic volcanic-sedimentary sequences (Ferreirafilho et al., 1992) and is a major m ........
Summary:
The Barro Alto ore is extracted through open pit mining methods and used either to feed Barro Alto plant or to compose the blend for CODEMIN plant, both pyrometallurgical processes.
The mining method utilized in Barro Alto is the selective approach due to the vertical and horizontal distribution of nickel laterite deposits and to the restrictions imposed by the pyro metallurgical process. The Barro Alto deposit is subdivided into six areas, spread over 36 km.
No blasting is required to access the relatively soft laterite/saprolite ore, which is loaded by a backhoe hydraulic excavators with a maximum working bench height of 2.5 m. These load a fleet of trucks, which transport the material to a ROM stockpile.
Source:
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Source:
Summary:
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Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Nickel
|
t
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 33,500 | 34,900 | 35,500 |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in alloy.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|
Ore tonnes mined
| ...... | ...... | 4,197,900 t | 4,075,600 t | 4,667,200 t | 6,272,800 t |
|
Tonnes processed
| ...... | ...... | 2,400,600 t | 2,265,700 t | 2,264,200 t | 2,309,300 t |
|
Annual production capacity
| ...... | ...... | 36,000 t of nickel metal in alloy | 36,000 t of nickel metal in alloy | | |
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Reserves at December 31, 2022:
Mineral Resources are quoted above a 0.90 %Ni cut-off.
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven
|
10.2 Mt
|
Nickel
|
1.39 %
|
142 kt
|
|
Probable
|
32.8 Mt
|
Nickel
|
1.26 %
|
413 kt
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
42.9 Mt
|
Nickel
|
1.29 %
|
554 kt
|
|
Measured
|
2.5 Mt
|
Nickel
|
1.15 %
|
29 kt
|
|
Indicated
|
16.9 Mt
|
Nickel
|
1.15 %
|
195 kt
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
19.4 Mt
|
Nickel
|
1.15 %
|
224 kt
|
|
Inferred
|
13.5 Mt
|
Nickel
|
1.18 %
|
159 kt
|
Financials:
| | Units | 2016 |
|
Revenue
|
M USD
|
344
|
|
Earnings
|
M USD
|
-48
|
|
EBITDA
|
M USD
|
54
|
Source:
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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