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  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Carajas-Serra Norte

Producer in Para, Brazil with commodity Iron
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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. Ownership information
  11. Reserves and resources
  12. Workings at the site
  13. Links to other databases
  14. Bibliographic references
  15. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10304192
MAS/MILS ID 3510250001
Record type Site
Current site name Carajas-Serra Norte
Alternate or previous names Carajas

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -50.16583, -5.9314 (WGS84)
Elevation 750
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Para(province)

Brazil(country)

South America(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Brazil Para

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Iron Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Augite Unknown
Feldspar Unknown
Hematite Unknown
Hypersthene Unknown
Magnetite Unknown
Mica Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Sericite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -50.16583, -5.9314
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 250M
    Length 4500M
    Width 200M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 LATERITE
    Shape of Orebody #1 LENTICULAR
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Secondary mode of Origin RESIDUAL CONCENT
    Primary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Secondary Ore Control FOLDING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Date of Last Modification 860527

Comments on the geologic information

  • THE MAIN IRON-BEARING ROCK UNIT OF THE CARAJAS AREA IS NAMED THE CARAJAS FORMATION AND IS PRECAMBRIAN IN AGE. IT IS FOUND IN A SERIES OF PLATEAUS IN THIS REGION. THE TWO MAJOR GROUPS OF PLATEAUS IN THIS AREA ARE THE SERRA NORTE AND SERRA SUL. THEY OCCUR ALONG THE NORTH AND SOUTH LIMBS OF A BROAD SYNCLINORIUM, WHOSE AXIS STRIKES NORTHWEST- SOUTHEAST AND PLUNGES TO THE NORTHWEST. MUCH OF THE CARAJAS FORMATION HAS BEEN LEACHED OF ITS SILICA CONTENT FROM THE SURFACE DOWNWARDS TO DEPTHS OF OVER 400 METERS. AS A RESULT OF THE LEACHING PROCESS, EXTENSIVE RESIDUAL IRON-ORE BODIES WERE FORMED. THE ORE IS VERY UNIFORM IN GRADE AND FOR THE MOST PART IS SOFT, FRIABLE AND PLATY.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1967
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1985
Milling method Washing

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Cia Vale Do Rio Doce (Cvrd)
    Interest 100
    Year 1982

Comments on the production information

  • ALL FINAL ORE PRODUCTS ARE EXPORTED. THE DISTRIBUTION OF SINTER FINES IS 60 PERCENT EXPORTED TO JAPAN WITH THE REMAINING 40 PERCENT BEING EXPORTED TO WESTERN EUROPE. THE FIRST PRODUCTION YEAR FOR THIS MINE AND MILL WAS 1985. COST AND CAPACITY DATA USED IN THIS FILE ARE ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR 1994 WHEN THE MINE AND MILL ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN FULL PRODUCTION.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1981
    Indicated 1341000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1341000000mt ore
    Total resources 1341000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe 66.13 wt-pct Iron Major 1981
    Iron Fe 66.13 wt-pct Iron Major 1981
    Iron Fe 66.13 wt-pct Iron Major 1981
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Demonstrated 1100000000mt ore
    Total resources 1100000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe 66 wt-pct Iron Major 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Indicated 14000000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 14000000000mt ore
    Total resources 14000000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe 66 wt-pct Iron Major 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Indicated 5255000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 5255000000mt ore
    Total resources 5255000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe 66 wt-pct Iron Major 1988
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Indicated 916000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 916000000mt ore
    Total resources 916000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe 61 wt-pct Iron Major 1988

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • RESERVE EST.AT 18 BILLION TONS OF ORE AVERAGING 66.1 PCT IRON. MINE PROD. BY 1985 UP TO 45 MILLION TPY. FORMERLY SERRA DOS CARAJAS. BEGAN PRODUCTION IN FALL OF 1985
  • THE ESTIMATED RESERVE OF THE CARAJAS AREA IS ABOUT 16 BILLION METRIC TONS OF MEASURED, INDICATED AND INFERRED IRON ORE WHICH CONTAINS 64 PERCENT IRON OR MORE. A SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL TONNAGE OF ORE WHICH CONTAINS 55-64 PERCENT IRON ORE IS ALSO PRESENT. THE IMMENSE RESERVES OF ITABIRITE HAVE NOT BEEN ESTIMATED. MINING WILL START IN THE N4E OREBODY, WHERE THE OREBODY HAS A HIGH IRON CONTENT, CONTAINS LITTLE MAFIC ROCK, HAS ESSENTIALLY NO OVERBURDEN AND WILL PERMIT LONG MINING BENCHES.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 900HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock 20
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Capacity 165000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost .95
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 303
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1982

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    AME MINERAL ECONOMICS QUARTERLY MINE ANALYSIS, JUN 93,P. 36.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ROSKILL, IRON ORE, 1988, PP. 305-306.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, U.S. STEEL SUBSIDIARY FINDS RICH IRON ORE IN

  • Deposit

    AMAZON BASIN, DECEMBER, 1968, P. 17.

  • Deposit

    RUFF, A.W. ETAL., EXPLORATION OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST

  • Deposit

    IRON-ORE DISTRICTS; BRAZIL'S SERRA DOS CARAJAS, MINING

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING, JANUARY 1974, VOL. 26, NO. 1, PP 30-32.

  • Deposit

    MINING ENGINEERING, VOL. 25, NO. 11, PP 42.

  • Deposit

    TOLBERT, G.E., ETAL, GEOLOGY AND IRON ORE DEPOSITS OF SERRA

  • Deposit

    DOS CARAJAS, PARA, BRAZIL, UNESCO, 1973, PROC. KIEV SYMP.

  • Deposit

    1970, EARTH SCIENCES, 9, PP 271-280.

  • Deposit

    TOLBERT, G.E., ETAL, THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED SERRA DOS

  • Deposit

    CARAJAS IRON DEPOSITS, NORTHERN BRAZIL, ECONOMIC GEOLOGY,

  • Deposit

    VOL. 66, NO. 7, NOVEMBER, 1971, PP 985-994.

  • Deposit

    TODD, JOAN C., BRAZIL'S DEBTS WILL NOT DELAY CARAJAS IRON

  • Deposit

    ORE PROJECT, E&MJ, DECEMBER, 1983, PP 11-13.

  • Deposit

    TODD, JOAN C., BRAZIL CHARTS DEVELOPMENT OF CARAJAS, AN

  • Deposit

    AMAZON RESOURCE CORNUCOPIA, E&MJ, OCTOBER, 1982, PP 35-39.

  • Deposit

    E/MJ, CARAJAS: STAGGERING IRON ORE RESERVES IN ISOLATED

  • Deposit

    SPLENDOR, NOVEMBER, 1975, PP 145-152.

  • Deposit

    GOMES, CELSO B., ETAL, RADIOMETRIC AGES FROM THE SERRA DOS

  • Deposit

    CARAJAS AREA, NORTHERN BRAZIL, GSA BULLETIN, V. 86,

  • Deposit

    PP 939-942.

  • Deposit

    SKILLINGS, DAVID N., JR., C.V.R.D. CARAJAS IRON ORE PROJECT

  • Deposit

    IN AMAZON REGION, SKILLINGS' MINING REVIEW, JUNE 13, 1981,

  • Deposit

    PP 12-24.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, AFTER THOUGHTS, JUNE, 1981, PP 172.

  • Deposit

    MINING ENGINEERING, BRAZIL TO DEVELOP $60 BILLION MINERALS

  • Deposit

    PROJECT, OCTOBER, 1982, PP 1418.

  • Deposit

    SKILLINGS, DAVID N., JR., INTERVIEW WITH CVRD PRESIDENT DR.

  • Deposit

    ELIEZER BATISTA IN RIO, SKILLINGS' MINING REVIEW, APRIL 12

  • Deposit

    1980, PP 14.

  • Deposit

    E&MJ, VALE DO RIO DOCE WITH MAJOR MINES AT MINAS GERAIS AND

  • Deposit

    CARAJAS, CVRD CLEARLY DOMINATES WORLD IRON ORE, NOVEMBER,

  • Deposit

    1985, VOL. 186, NO. 11, PP 52-58.

  • Deposit

    E&MJ, CARRAJAS IRON ORE, NOVEMBER, 1985, VOL 186, NO. 11,

  • Deposit

    PP 34-42.

  • Deposit

    DAYTON, STANLEY H., CARAJAS NEW DISTRICT, NEW MINES, E&MJ,

  • Deposit

    NOVEMBER, 1985, VOL. 186, NO. 11, PP 24-31.

  • Deposit

    MARANHAO, ALUIZIO, AMAZONIA TRIES AGAIN, WORLD PRESS REVIEW,

  • Deposit

    MAY, 1985, VOL. 32, ISSUE 5, PP 32-34.

  • Deposit

    CHADWICK, JOHN, BRAZILIAN MINERAL OPPORTUNITIES, INTER-

  • Deposit

    NATIONAL MINING, OCTOBER, 1985, VOL. 2, NO. 10, PP 29-35.

  • Deposit

    RUFF, ARTHUR W., BRAZIL'S SERRA DOS CARAJAS, THE MINES

  • Deposit

    MAGAZINE, DECEMBER, 1973, PP 10-11.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, VARIOUS MISCELLANEOUS SMALL ARTICLES.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, VARIOUS MISCELLANEOUS SMALL ARTICLES.

  • Deposit

    EMJ, VARIOUS MISCELLANEOUS SMALL ARTICLES.

  • Deposit

    MINING MONTHLY, VARIOUS MISCELLANEOUS SMALL ARTICLES.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 09-JAN-1995 Bolis U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

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