Mining: essential for you and the world — today and tomorrow
Photo: Carol Novaes
Photo: Valdirene Resende
Mining at Vale
Minerals produced by Vale
Our portfolio includes strategic minerals for the global economy, essential to accelerate the energy transition and the decarbonization of industry and the world.
Iron ore and pellets
Iron ore and pellets: the foundation of global infrastructure
Iron ore is essential for:
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Civil construction
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Urban infrastructure
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Automotive industry
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Wind and solar energy
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Rail transportation
In other words, iron ore is part of your daily routine: it's in the subway that takes you to work, in the construction of your home, in bridges, staircases, and much of the infrastructure that supports people's everyday lives.
What sets us apart?
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Carajás ore has an average iron content of 67%, considered high quality.
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Due to its high quality, the ore contributes to more efficient steelmaking processes with lower CO₂ emissions.
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We help protect a forested area equivalent to approximately one million soccer fields worldwide, of which 800,000 hectares are in the Carajás region, responsible for approximately 60% of our production.
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We transport iron ore to China on ships powered by rotating sails, which use the force of the winds to reduce carbon emissions.
Nickel
Essential for batteries and electric vehicles
Nickel: Essential for Batteries and Electric Vehicles
We are one of the world’s leading nickel producers. Nickel is a critical metal for the energy transition and the electrification of the global economy. In addition to its resistance to extreme temperatures and corrosion, nickel is used in:
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Electric vehicle batteries
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Energy storage systems
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Stainless steel alloy production
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Industrial infrastructure
What sets us apart?
Our Canadian operations are rich sources of critical and strategic minerals. During nickel processing, we also produce cobalt, copper, and precious metals.
Briquettes
Briquettes: a new way to reduce emissions from steel production
Vale developed, over approximately 20 years of research, a new solution for the steel industry, focused on more efficient and sustainable processes for steel production.
What sets us apart?
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The use of briquettes can reduce CO₂ emissions in steel production by up to 10%.
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The product is produced without the use of water.
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The solution contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of the steel industry and to global decarbonization efforts.
Cobalt
Cobalt: A Key Component in Energy Storage Technologies
Produced as a by-product of nickel operations, cobalt is essential for:
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Electric vehicle batteries
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Energy storage systems
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Electronic devices
In other words, cobalt is present in technologies that are part of everyday life—from the smartphones used daily to batteries that support energy storage across a range of applications.
What sets us apart?
At Vale Base Metals, cobalt is produced as a by-product of nickel operations, enabling more efficient use of mineral resources and improving overall production efficiency.
Copper
Copper: electrification, renewable energy, and new technologies
Copper plays a critical role in modern industry and is one of the most versatile metals used across industrial applications. As an essential material for energy transmission, copper is present in:
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Electrical transmission networks
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Solar panels and wind turbines
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Urban infrastructure
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Electric mobility solutions
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Digital devices
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Artificial Intelligence technologies
In addition to being 100% recyclable, copper’s high thermal and electrical conductivity makes it a key material for the energy transition, global decarbonization efforts, and the development of emerging technologies.
What sets us apart?
Our copper production is powered by a 100% renewable energy matrix and incorporates advanced technologies supported by Artificial Intelligence, as well as autonomous devices and equipment that enhance operational safety and efficiency.
Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), Gold, and Silver
Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), Gold, and Silver: Strategic Minerals for Diverse Industries
Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), along with gold and silver, play important roles across multiple sectors of the economy, including:
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Automotive catalysts
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Electronic components
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Medical and industrial applications
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Jewelry
These minerals are present in technologies and products used every day—from electronic devices to medical applications and industrial solutions.
What sets us apart?
In Canada, we produce Platinum Group Metals as by-products of our nickel operations, maximizing resource efficiency and supporting global supply chains with critical materials for diverse industries.
Fotógrafo: Ricardo Teles
Circular mining: transforming resources, reducing impacts
Circular mining plays an important role in reducing environmental impacts. The concept involves the more efficient use of resources throughout the entire production process, through initiatives such as:
- Reuse of tailings and waste rock
- Transformation of waste into new products
- Reduction of natural resource consumption
- Reduction of dependence on tailings dams
By expanding the use of materials and reducing waste, circular mining contributes to more efficient operations, with lower environmental impact and aligned with global sustainability challenges.
Photo: Ricardo Teles
S11D: the future of mining
A world reference in technology and sustainability, the S11D Eliezer Batista is currently Vale's largest iron mine in operation. In the project, we use innovative systems, such as the truckless system, which reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
These are initiatives that, not long ago, were still seen as something of the future — and that today are already part of reality and contribute to making mining increasingly efficient and responsible.
Visit our Espaço Memória and dive into the history and behind the scenes of this operation.
Frequently asked questions
S11D is the largest iron ore mining complex in Vale's history and one of the largest in the world, located in Canaã dos Carajás, in the state of Pará. The project stands out for combining technologies that reduce environmental impacts and increase operational efficiency.
The project uses the Truckless system, which replaces trucks with long-distance conveyor belts to transport ore. It also operates with natural moisture, a process in which ore beneficiation occurs without the use of water. These innovations reduce diesel consumption and CO₂ emissions, eliminate the need for conventional tailings dams, and allow for a reduction in water consumption compared to traditional methods.
Photographer: Ricardo Teles
Emergency Action Plan for Mining Dams (PAEBM):
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