Catalao Ouvidor

Plant in Goias, Brazil with commodity Niobium (Columbium)
Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Nearby scientific data
  8. Ore body information
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Mineral rights holdings
  12. Land status
  13. Ownership information
  14. Reserves and resources
  15. Workings at the site
  16. Links to other databases
  17. Bibliographic references
  18. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10182785
MAS/MILS ID 3510170018
Record type Site
Current site name Catalao Ouvidor

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -47.78234, -18.13087 (WGS84)
Elevation 850
Location accuracy 500(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Goias(province)

Brazil(country)

South America(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Brazil Goias

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Niobium (Columbium) Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Apatite Unknown
Ilmenite Unknown
Magnetite Unknown
Monazite Unknown
Pyrochlore Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -47.78234, -18.13087

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SHEAR ZONE
    Shape of Orebody #1 PIPELIKE
    Type of Orebody #2 LATERITE
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin OTHER
    Primary Ore Control OTHER
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Date of Last Modification 910605

Comments on the geologic information

  • THE CATALAO DOME IS APPROXIMATELY 5200M IN DIAMETER AND HAS THICK LAYER OF WEATHERED RESIDUAL MATERIAL ABOVE THE FRESH CARBONATITE. THIS WEATHERING PROCESS WAS RELATIVELY INTENSE, DISOLVING AND REMOVING THE CARBONATES WHICH WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL INTRUSIVE. THE OLDEST LITHOESTRATIGRAPHIC UNIT IN THE CATALAO AREA IS MADE UP OF A GRANITIC-GNEISSIC COMPLEX WITH INTERCALATED AMPHIBOLITES. THE MICA SCHISTS AND QUARTZITES OF THE ARAXA GROUP ARE STRATIGRAPHICALL HIGHER. BOTH UNITS WERE INTRUDED BY AN AKALINE CARBONATE PIPE WHICH FROMS THE CATALAO DOME WHERE THE CATALAO OUVIDOR COLUMBIUM OREBODY IS LOCATED.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Plant
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1894
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Flotation
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Goias

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Minerals Only

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Goias Niobio S. A.
    Interest 100
    Home office Brazil
    Year 1982
  • Type Owner
    Owner Productos Metallurgicos S. A.
    Interest 51
    Home office Brazil
    Year 1982
  • Type Owner
    Owner Metais De Goias
    Interest 24
    Home office Brazil
    Year 1982
  • Type Owner
    Owner Fibase
    Interest 25
    Home office Brazil
    Year 1982

Comments on the ownership information

  • OWNERSHIP RECORDS 02 TO 04 ARE THE OWNERS OF GOIAS NIOBIO S.A.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1981
    Indicated 1400000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1400000mt ore
    Total resources 1400000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Niobium (Columbium) Cb2O5 1.4 wt-pct Niobium (Columbium) Major 1981

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • ESTIMATED INSITU RESOURCES USED IN THE 1983 PROPERTY EVALUATION.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 5
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore SAND, GRAVEL
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 5
    Capacity 918
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 275
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1982

Comments on other economic factors

  • A FERROCOLUMBIUM SMELTER HAS BEEN PROPOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION AT THE CATALAO OUVIDOR MINE SITE. PYROCHLORE CONCENTRATE FROM THE FLOTATION PLANT WILL BE CONVERTED INTO FERROCOLUMBIUM USING THE STANDARD ALUMINOTHERMIC REDUCTION PROCESS. DESING CAPACITY OF THE FERROCOLUMBIUM PLANT IS ESTIMATED AT 11OO MT PER YEAR. THIS IS CONCENTRATOR (K2) RECORD 2.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    E&MJ, MARCH, 1981, P225.

  • Deposit

    "GOIAS NIOBIO S.A. HAS BEEN FORMED," ENGINEERING AND

  • Deposit

    NING JOURNAL, MAY 1981, P. 225.

  • Deposit

    LOBO DE ARAJU, PAULO, PROJETO CATALAO, METAIS DE GOIAS

  • Deposit

    S.A.- METAGO.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 14-JUN-96 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.