The mining planning and subsequent investment projects the processing of the raw oreinto higher value-added products. NIOBIUM (Nb)As for niobium, it is considered two main mining sites, one in the SRMT-3 drilling area (with a promising prospect for reserve expansion north of the evaluated target, in the anomalies detected in the Morro do Surucucu area) and another near the SRMT-5 drilling area - the respective areas and information are in the table at the end of this chapter. As this is a dense, ferric lithologic body (Fe-Nb alloy), the ore concentrate is considered as Nb2O5 at a calculated average concentration of 0.002% (or 16 ppm as Nb element), even with the visible absence of typical minerals such as pyrochlore. The mineral that controls the oxide is the same of the titanium (ilmenite), in view of the similar ionic radius of Nb = 145pm and Ti = 140pm, in empirical measures.Assuming now the value of $33,394.32/t(http://www.anm.gov.br/dnpm/publicacoes/serie-estatisticaseeconomia-mineral/sumario-mineral/sumario-mineralbrasileiro2016) for areas of 787,500 m with 90 meters of thickness, and 70,650 m with 150 meters of thickness (areas of influence of the drillings SRMT-3 and SRMT-5, respectively), there would be a reserve of approximately 6,762.22 t in Nb2O5 ore.It is important to note that the occurrence verified in the SRMT3 drilling may be representing a small part of another diatreme possibly located under Morro do Surucucu, north of the target.This area was not investigated by drilling, but characterized by high levels of barium and manganese on the surface, and by high magnetometric and gravimetric values identified in the geophysics, being an interesting target to be more studied in order to increasing TiO2, Nb2O5 and REE reserves. REEFinally, for the rare earth elements (REE), considering the sum of the following elements: La + Nd + Pr, two main mining sites were considered, one in the SRMT-2 drilling area and another near of the SRMT-3 area. Since they are incompatible elements, the occurrences are expected to be different from thoseidentified for Nb and Ti, which are more compatible.In addition, it was used the average value of the neodymium (Nd), that it is the most valued element applied for construction of super magnets, with a minimum price of US$65/kg in 2013(http://www.anm.gov.br/dnpm/publicacoes/series-statisticseeconomics-mineral/summary-mineral/summary-mineralBrazilian2016). The average concentration used in the calculations, in the form of oxide, was of 1% (sum of all REE).The control minerals are considered to be the amphiboles, and mainly the mudstones with carbonaceous matrix of the covering sediments (accompanying calcium for the similarity of the ionicradius). In this context, there would be a reserve estimated at $150,115.88 in REE oxide ore.Economic evaluation of Mineral Deposit of the Fazenda.
