Name of the Mine
Serra Sul mining complex.

Location  
Part of Vale’s Northern System, located in the municipality of Canaã dos Carajás, in  Pará, Brazil.

Mine Owner/s 
Vale.

Brief Description  
The Serra Sul mining complex is a production-stage property, part of Vale’s Northern System. The property comprises the S11 orebody, subdivided on A, B, C and D. Current production activities are in the S11D mine and the mineral reserves and mineral resources are defined for only the C and D orebodies.

Brief History  
The S11 mine has been operating since 2016.

Primary Metals/Minerals  
Iron-ore.

Secondary Metals/Minerals  
None stated.

Geology/Mineralisation  
The key Carajás iron-ore deposits are associated with flat-topped elevated plateaus, defined along two main morphological alignments corresponding to Serra Norte and Serra Sul. These alignments form the flanks of the Carajás Syncline structure.

Vale explains that Serra Sul complex matches the normal flank domain of the Carajás Syncline. Mineralisation at Serra Sul is predominantly formed from alteration on supergenic enrichment over jaspilites (banded iron formation, or BIF – interlayered with basalts), generating a high-grade ore consisting of friable hematite, compact hematite, and manganiferous hematite that occur in a subhorizontal tabular layer. The main structural controls are folds and faults that are responsible for the BIF thickening of the levels of jaspilite, by duplication and the efficiency of supergenic processes through the tilting and fracturing of these rocks.

Reserves  
Total proven and probable reserves as at December 31, 2021, were estimated at 4.27-billion tons grading 65.8% iron.

Resources  
Total measured and indicated resources as at December 31, 2021, were estimated at 867.8-million tons grading 65.4% iron. Inferred resources were estimated at 123.5-million and 64.3% iron.

Mining Method  
Openpit, primarily using a trackless in-pit crusher conveyor. Where an in-pit crusher conveyor is not feasible, the mine uses traditional truck-shovel methods for extraction of ore and waste.

Major Infrastructure/Equipment  
The complex comprises an openpit mine, waste dumps, a 90-million-ton-a-year processing plant, a maintenance workshop facility, an assay and quality control laboratory, offices and a clinic. As the plant is a 100% natural moisture process, a tailings storage facility is not necessary for Serra Sul.

The operation further includes power provided through Brazil’s national electricity production and transmission system, water from permitted dewatering wells and water catchments across the site.

Prospects  
Additional mining areas are being evaluated at Serra Sul to maintain and expand the complex’s production capacity.

Contact Details
Vale
Email vale.ri@vale.com

Sources
Vale. http://www.vale.com (2022).
Vale Form 20-F, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 14, 2022.