Vale recently announced that work on the foundation plates of the future S11D plant’s secondary iron ore screening unit has already concluded. Similar to a reinforced concrete slab laid directly on the subsoil, this type of structure is used to ensure uniform distribution of the weight of the buildings it supports. The construction work, which involved laying the foundations of the three buildings responsible for the final iron ore screening process, was concluded in late July. In all, the project used more than 22,000 m3 of concrete. The next stage, which has already begun, involves construction of the pillars that will support the modules. The site is expected to be ready to receive the initial structures by December.

From a mining standpoint, the four fully mobile crushing stations for overburden removal from Sandvik have been assembled and are in place awaiting completion of other elements of the project infrastructure. These PF200 rigs, first mentioned by IM back in 2012, incorporate 11,500 t/h CR810 hybrid double roll crushers measuring 1.8 m by 4 m. Each PF200 forms the basis of one overburden line; with four P&H 4100 rope shovels loading them. Sandvik is supplying in addition the belt wagons, face conveyors, out of pit conveyors, conveyors to spreaders and the spreaders themselves.

In its second quarter 2014 report, Vale stated that S11D (including mine, plant and associated logistics referred to as CLN S11D), had “reached 32% of combined physical progress in 2Q14 and is progressing according to plan. During the quarter, Vale initiated the installation of precast foundations for the long distance conveyor belt, realised the first detonation on the mine site and concluded the grinding and secondary screening foundations for the plant.”