The project, called Skid - NR 34, was initially carried out at the Morro do Gama mine, located in Nova Lima (MG). Today, mining materials that would previously have been directly classified as tailings go through the process, allowing mineral reserves to be exploited rationally and economically, with environmental and social responsibility, in line with the Group's values, vision and business model.
CLASSIFICATION AND SEPARATION
The process developed by Cedro starts with the classification and separation of iron ore from other unwanted materials, using industrial electric sieves.
On a first level, the equipment allows the removal of upper layers of blocks of rock or soil that may contain iron. On a second level, it separates materials poor in iron ore from materials with a higher, commercially usable content (less than 50mm).
Materials between 50mm and 200mm are used as mine lining or sent to the tailings pile, while materials over 200mm go straight to the tailings pile.
MAGNETIC CONCENTRATION
Material smaller than 50mm is then subjected to a magnetic concentration plant, which makes the most of the natural resource.
Without the process developed by Cedro, the magnetic concentration plant clogs more often and requires more maintenance, which makes it economically unfeasible to make better use of the tailings.
In the case of NR-34, around 60% of the material submitted to screening ended the process with less than 50mm and could be submitted to the magnetic concentration plant. This material, which would previously have been discarded, resulted in iron ore with an average content of over 40.1%.
NEW FRONTS FOR USE
Today, the process is also used to make use of materials from mining fronts under development, which would otherwise possibly be discarded. It also makes it possible to develop depleted and compact mining fronts, defined in the planning, using part of the material that would otherwise be discarded as iron formation waste.
RECOGNITION
With the results, the project was one of the winners of the 26th Mining Industry Excellence Awards 2024, promoted by Minério & Minerales magazine, the most important publication in the sector in the country.