Name of the Mine
Capanema mine.

Location
Vale's Mariana integrated operation in the Southeastern System, in the Iron Quadrangle, between the municipalities of Santa Bárbara, Ouro Preto and Itabirito, in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Mine Owner/s
Multinational mining group Vale.

Brief Description
Capanema is one of four mines in Vale's Mariana integrated operation, alongside Alegria, Fábrica Nova and Fazendão. The reactivated operation forms part of the Capanema Maximization project.

Brief History
Capanema had been inactive for 22 years. 

Vale obtained the licences required to start construction in December 2020 and started commissioning the project in December 2024. Vale reactivated the mine in September 2025.

Primary Metals/Minerals
Iron-ore.

Secondary Metals/Minerals
None disclosed.

Geology/Mineralisation
Capanema is located in the Iron Quadrangle. Vale characterises the Southeastern System's openpit deposits as containing a high proportion of itabirite relative to hematite. Itabirite ore in the system generally grades between 35% and 60% iron. Part of the ore is concentrated to shipping grade, while part is shipped for blending with higher-grade ore from Vale's Northern System.

Reserves
Vale does not disclose a standalone reserve estimate for Capanema. It reports Capanema, together with Alegria, Fábrica Nova and Fazendão, as the Mariana integrated operation.

As at December 31, 2025, Mariana had proven reserves of 419.4-million tonnes grading 52.7% iron and probable reserves of 308.2-million tonnes grading 53.3% iron, for total reserves of 727.6-million tonnes grading 53% iron. The reserve tonnages are reported inclusive of moisture, with grades stated on a dry iron basis, and include 141.2-million tonnes of stockpiled material in the Mariana complex.

Resources
Vale does not disclose a standalone mineral resource estimate for Capanema. As at December 31, 2025, the Mariana integrated operation had measured resources of 2.96-billion tonnes grading 41.2% iron and indicated resources of 2 69-billion tonnes grading 39.8% iron, for combined measured and indicated resources of 5.65-billion tonnes grading 40.5% iron. Inferred resources totalled 2.65-billion tonnes grading 39.6% iron.

Type of Mine
Openpit.

Mining Method
Openpit mining. 

Major Infrastructure/Equipment
The operation uses natural-moisture processing, with no water added to the mineral processing circuit and no generation of tailings, thereby eliminating the need for a tailings dam. 

The reactivation of the mine included the modernisation of mine facilities, new equipment, a long-distance conveyor linking Capanema with Timbopeba, and adjustments to the Timbopeba stockyards. The conveyor reduces truck traffic in the region.
Capanema's operating fleet includes five autonomous off-highway trucks.

Prospects
At full capacity, Capanema is expected to add about 15-million tonnes a year of iron-ore production and improve Vale's operational and product-portfolio flexibility. 

Contact Details
Vale 
Tel +55 21 3485 5000
Email imprensa@vale.com 
Website https://www.vale.com/