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Nickel Sulfide In Bahia: Ero Copper Provides More Details On The Discovery.
The Mining Company Ero Copper made a discovery of a regional nickel sulfide system in the Curaçá Valley, located approximately 20 km from the current processing facilities of Caraíba, in Bahia. The discovery, named “Umburana System,” was made by the mining company due to extensive field mapping during the company’s exploration programs in 2021 and 2022, combined with the airborne electromagnetic survey conducted by Ero Copper.
Unprecedented Nickel Discovery By Ero Copper In Bahia
The Umburana System, as it is called, is ongoing and has already identified large gaps of irradiated and interstitial nickel sulfide in the Curuçá Valley, Bahia, with findings locating high-grade zones (reaching 30% to 60% nickel sulfide) and massive sulfides (approximately 60% to 80% nickel sulfide), with the sulfide layer reaching up to 1.5 meters thick, classified at 6.59% nickel (7.11% NiEq).
“This is a significant and crucial moment for Ero and, more broadly, for the region. To think that copper in the Curaçá Valley was first documented in the late 1700s and only now are we discovering nickel sulfide mineralization not far from where copper has been mined for over 40 years is truly remarkable,” emphasized David Strang, CEO of Ero Copper.
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Ero Copper And The Mineralization In Curaçá Valley In Bahia
The mining work within these areas is filled with ultramafic piroxenitic and peridotitic rocks. Basically, the sulfide minerals are pyrrhotite and pentlandite, with a smaller amount of pyrite and chalcopyrite.
Textured pentlandite is an important geological indicator, frequently observed in magmatic nickel sulfide deposits.
The total extent of the Umburana System is still unknown, and exploration work on the sulfide continues. Composite samples selected within the system are being collected for detailed analysis and mineralogy, as well as laboratory flotation tests.
In the northeastern extent of the system, ultramafic rocks containing nickel have been identified using surface mapping technology supported by soil geochemistry.
Mining In Bahia Is One Of The Fastest Growing Markets
Mining in Bahia is on a constant rise, increasingly standing out in the national scene. The state of Bahia, up until the beginning of the year, recorded an 8% growth compared to the same period in 2021, according to data from IBRAM.
According to CFEM, the state ranks third on its list of the largest revenue generators in the country, particularly excelling in the production of iron, nickel, copper, and gold.
“When China makes any changes in its policies, the Brazilian mineral industry is at the mercy. We need to reflect on whether this dependency is not at excessive levels,” estimated Raul Jungmann, CEO of IBRAM.
The state of Bahia, according to data from the National Mining Agency (ANM), was one of the highest investors in mineral research in 2019 and 2020.
“The advancement of mining in Bahia is primarily due to the geological diversity of the state. In 2021, for instance, Bahia led the production of 19 types of substances. This reinforces the importance of mining for the state’s economy. Mining between 2017 and 2022 is present in more than 200 municipalities in the state,” emphasized Antonio Carlos Tramm, President of CBPM.
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