OTHER PRODUCTS

MANGANESE

With an important application in the steel metallurgical industry, aluminum alloys, battery manufacturing, catalysts and other products, manganese ore is used to improve the qualities of other metals.

Area of operation: Region of Congonhal, Ouro Fino and Borda da Mata-MG.

LIMESTONE

Used as raw material in the cement, hydrated lime and PCC (Precipitated Calcium Carbonate) industries, Limestone is subdivided into dolomitic, magnesium and calcitic, and its classification is defined by the MgO (magnesium oxide) content in the ore.

Area of ​​operation: Region of Mossoró, Governador Dix-Sept Rosado and Upanema-RN, Region of Planaltina, Guarani de Goiás and Divinópolis de Goiás-GO, Region of Alto Garças-MT and Region of Arcos, Pains and Poté-MG.

RARE EARTH ELEMENTS – REE

With several applications, mainly in the Technology Sector, Rare Earths make up a group of chemical elements from the Lanthanide series. The main minerals that have these elements in their composition are: bastnaesite, monazite and ionic clays that contain rare earths and xenothymium. The largest bastnaesite reserves, in carbonatites, are in China and the United States. In Brazil, Australia, India, South Africa, Thailand and Sri Lanka, REEs occur on monazite usually in coastal areas, along with other heavy minerals such as ilmenite, zirconite and rutile. The Planalto de Poços de Caldas stands out as one of the Brazilian locations with a high occurrence of these elements.

Area of ​​operation: Plateau of Poços de Caldas.

FELDSPAR (CAULIM)

Rock formed by a group of hydrated aluminum silicates, especially kaolinite and haloisite. It has several applications in industry due to its special characteristics such as a wide pH range, soft, little abrasive, low conductivity and being chemically inert. The main applications of kaolin currently are: filling agents (filler) in the preparation of paper; as a covering agent (coating) for coated paper and in the composition of ceramic pastes. On a smaller scale, kaolin is used in the manufacture of refractory materials, plastics, rubbers, paints, adhesives, cements, insecticides, pesticides, food and pharmaceutical products, catalysts, absorbents, dentifrices, clarifiers, fertilizers, gypsum, filtration aids, cosmetics , chemicals, detergents and abrasives, as well as loads and fillers for various purposes.

Area of ​​operation: Bueno Brandão-MG.

POTASSIUM

Potassium rocks have been gaining prominence, mainly due to the great need to meet the domestic demand of the agricultural market, aiming at reducing the import of potassium. Rocks or industrial minerals that have high levels of potassium can be used as alternative sources for the production of potassium salts or direct application in the soil as slow-release fertilizers.

In the São Francisco Basin Region (São Gotardo, Cedro do Abaeté, Abaeté and Tiros-MG), the glauconitic siltstone stands out as an agromineral, being processed by the stonegem method for application as a soil remineralizer.

In the region of Planalto de Poços de Caldas and Andradas-MG, occurrences of potassic rocks with K2O contents that serve the fertilizer market are also found.