Name of the Mine
Serra Sul Complex.

Location  
The Serra Sul Complex is a production-stage property, part of multinational mining company Vale’s Northern System, in the municipality of Canaã dos Carajás, state of Pará, Brazil.

Mine Owner/s  
Vale.

Brief Description  
The complex is very important to Vale's production system in terms of volume and quality. The deposit allows for the mining of products with iron content of about 65%, with low variability.

The property consists of orebody S11, subdivided into orebodies A, B, C and D. Current production activities are in the S11D mine. and the mineral reserves and mineral resources are defined for orebodies C and D.

Brief History  
Mining at the Serra Sul Complex started in 2016.

Primary Metals/Minerals  
Iron-ore.

Secondary Metals/Minerals  
None stated.

Geology/Mineralisation  
The main 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. 

The Serra Sul Complex corresponds to the normal flank domain of the Carajás Syncline. Minralisation at Serra Sul is mainly formed from alteration on supergenic enrichment over jaspilites (banded iron formation, or BIF, interlayered with basalts), generating a high-grade ore comprising 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’s thickening of the levels of jaspilite by duplication, and the efficiency of supergenic processes through the tilting and fracturing of these rocks.

Reserves  
As at December 31, 2024, proven and probable reserves totalled 3.4-billion tonnes grading 65.4% iron.

Resources 
Total measured and indicated mineral resources as at December 31, 2024, were estimated at 897.1-million tonnes grading 65.6% iron. Inferred minerals resources were estimated at 115.6-million tonnes grading 64.6% iron. 

Type of Mine
Openpit.

Mining Method  
There are four mobile crushing systems working in conjunction with conveyor belts that move along the benches as the mining face advances in favourable zones. Where belt systems are not feasible, the mine uses traditional truck-and-shovel methods for extraction of ore and waste.

Major Infrastructure/Equipment  
Infrastructure at the complex includes the openpit mine, waste dumps, a processing plant, a complete maintenance workshop facility, an assay and quality control laboratory, offices and an ambulatory. As the plant is a 100% dry processing, a tailings storage facility is not necessary for Serra Sul. Personnel reside mainly in the urban centre of Canaã dos Carajás.

Prospects  
Vale is executing projects to raise Serra Sul’s capacity to 120-million tonnes a year, including new mining areas, duplication of the long-distance conveyor and additional processing lines.

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