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Mining company Ero Copper makes an unprecedented discovery of nickel at a plant located in Bahia

Written by Valdemar Medeiros
Published 05/10/2022 às 09:20
Mining company Ero Copper makes an unprecedented discovery of nickel at a plant located in Bahia
Photo: Brazil Minerals

Nickel sulfide in Bahia: Ero Copper provides more details on the discovery.

Mining company Ero Copper made a discovery of a regional copper sulfide system nickel in the Curaçá Valley, which is located approximately 20 km from the current Caraíba processing facilities in Bahia. The discovery called “Umburana System”, made by the mining company, happened due to an in-depth field mapping, during the company's exploration programs in 2021 and 2022, grouped with the aerial electromagnetic survey of Mineradora Ero Copper.

Unprecedented discovery of nickel by Mineradora Ero Copper in Bahia  

The Umburana System, as it is called, is in progress and has already identified large gaps of irradiated and interstitial nickel sulphides in the Curuçá Valley, in Bahia, identifications that have located zones of high content (reaching 30% to 60% of nickel sulfide) and massive sulfides (approximately 60% to 80% of nickel sulfides), the sulfide layer reaches up to 1,5 meters thick, being classified with 6,59% of nickel (7,11% NiEq).

“This is a significant and pivotal moment for Ero and, more broadly, for the region. To think that copper in the Curaçá Valley was first documented in the late 1700's and we are only now discovering the mineralization of nickel sulfide not far from where copper mined over 40 years ago is truly remarkable,” said David Strang, CEO of Ero Copper.

Ero Copper and mineralization in the Curaçá Valley in Bahia  

Mining work within these areas is full of rocks ultramafic pyroxenite and peridotite. Basically, the sulphide minerals are pyrrhotite and pentlandite, with a minor content of pyrite and chalcopyrite.

Textured pentlandite is an important geological indicator, often observed in magmatic nickel sulfide deposits.

The full extent of the Umburana System is still unknown, and sulphide exploration work is ongoing. Samples of selected composites within the system are being collected for detailed mineralogy and analysis, as well as laboratory flotation tests.

in the extension northeast of the system, rocks were identified ultramafic containing nickel using surface mapping technology supported by soil geochemistry.  

Mining in Bahia is one of the fastest growing markets  

Mining in Bahia is in a constant growth, standing out more and more in the national scene. The state of Bahia, until the beginning of the year, recorded a growth of 8% compared to the same period in 2021, according to data pointed out by IBRAM.

According to CFEM, the state ranks third on its list of the country's biggest collectors, standing out positively mainly in the production of iron, nickel, copper and gold.

“When China promotes a change in the conduct of its policies, the Brazilian mineral industry is at the mercy. We need to reflect if this dependence is not at excessive levels”, calculated Raul Jungmann, CEO of IBRAM.

The state of Bahia, according to data from the National Mining Agency (ANM), was one of those that invested the most in mineral research in 2019 and 2020.

“The progress of mining in Bahia is mainly due to the geological diversity of the state. In 2021, for example, 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”, highlighted Antonio Carlos Tramm, President of CBPM.

Valdemar Medeiros

Journalist in training, specialist in creating content with a focus on SEO actions. Writes about the Automotive Industry, Renewable Energy and Science and Technology

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