SERROTE MINE

Mineração Vale Verde is the operator of the Serrote mine, which is an open-pit copper gold producing asset and is focused on mine expansion potentials.

As of 2024, ongoing mineral studies and surveys will extend the life of mine to ~18 years. Onsite processing plant handles crushing, grinding, flotation, and filtration with annual capacity of 4.3Mtpa.

Copper is one of the most widely used metals in the world, only behind iron and aluminum. Malleable, recyclable, corrosion and high temperature resistant, it is mainly used in the electrical industry, as it is an excellent heat and energy conductor. Some of its applications are in power generation and transmission, wiring and electronics such as televisions and cell phones, as well as electric cars.

In addition to that, copper is a biostatic material: copper surfaces and doorknobs are used in hospitals to prevent the spread of germs, and copper sulfate is used as a fungicide.

COPPER CHARACTERISTICS

  • Excellent heat and electrical conductor, as construction material, kitchen utensils, decorative objects, and as several metal alloys component.
  • Copper played an important role in History: there is evidence of copper being used by ancient civilizations. During the Roman Empire, copper was extracted from the Cyprus Islands. This is the origin of the metal name Cyprium, “metal of Cyprus”, later it changed to Cuprum.
  • Nowadays, one of the main uses of copper is in the making of electrical cars, consuming about 75kg (average weight of a human being), three times more than a common car.