Mining and production process

Mining, processing and distribution of chrysotile

1 - Production and mine plan: define the locations of activities in the mine and analyze market demand, production scale, equipment fleet and the region’s geological and weather conditions.

2 - Drilling and blasting: holes 15-meters-deep are drilled by machines, into which is released an ammonium nitrate-based emulsion prepared on site. Boosters activate the explosives.

3 - Loading and transportation: the ore and overburden are loaded by excavators and/or mechanical diggers onto trucks with individual capacities from 25 to 32 tons. From there, they are sent to the primary crusher, tailings piles or the circulating load.

4 - Treatment and classification: the ore and overburden are loaded by excavators and/or mechanical diggers onto trucks with individual capacities from 25 to 32 tons. From there, they are sent to the primary crusher, tailings piles or the circulating load.

5 - Dry ore silo: here the concentrated dry ore is stored safely until it is sent to the treatment plant.

6 - Crushing, concentration and drying: all the material is fragmented, sieved and separated. At this stage, the mineral is separated from the overburden. The former is enriched, becoming mineral in a concentrate form that is dried in furnaces to reach humidity of less than 5%. Meanwhile the overburden is separated and transported by truck to the tailing piles for subsequent recovery.

7 - Packaging: the compacted fiber is packed into 50-kg bags made of polypropylene and polyethylene. Completely waterproof, the bags are sealed to prevent the escape of fibers and the humidification of the mineral. After identification, the bags are stacked onto pallets and covered with shrink film. The entire process is automated to ensure the safety of employees.

8 - Distribution logistics: every day, trucks with individual capacity of 38 metric tons drive out of the mine. Shipments to customers in Latin America are made mainly by highway. Exports to other continents are shipped from the ports of Santos, SP and of Rio de Janeiro, RJ.

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