1833 3.4. Utilization of Tailings in Dams: Vargem Grande Tailings Dam In 2019, Vale initiated studies aimed at the removal of tailings deposited in the Vargem Grande Dam, located in Abóboras mine, Minas Gerais state. In parallel, investigations were conducted to assess the quality of the deposited material and its potential for reuse, thereby reducing the remaining volume and enabling the sustainable management of fine particles generated during dam decharacterization. This approach also minimized the land area required for tailings disposal. During the first stage of decharacterization, tailings were temporarily stored in the operational pit of Abóboras (Figure 7). Subsequent testing in existing plants (VGR 2, Abóboras 1 and 2, and ITM-D at Pico) demonstrated positive results for reprocessing. The reuse strategy was supported by several factors, including the readiness of plants to process tailings, recovery of more than 50% of the iron content, reduction of residual tailings and simplified licensing due to anthropized areas. Figure 7 – Location of Abóboras Mine and Vargem Grande Tailings Dam. Sampling campaigns conducted at the Vargem Grande Dam and the Abóboras pit indicated iron grades ranging from 49% to 57%. Based on these results and plant testing, reprocessing began in 2022. Since then, more than 5 million tons have been reused, with projections to reach approximately 10 million tons by 2028, coinciding with the completion of the decharacterization process. In 2024, additional drilling was carried out to improve knowledge of the tailings, and a block model was developed to support reuse activities within the Vargem Grande Complex. Currently, tailings are placed in bays for preliminary drying from the Vargem Grande Dam (Figure 8). Then, these and the Abóboras pit are blended with run-of-mine (ROM) itabirite from the Abóboras, Tamanduá, and Horizontes mines to feed the Vargem Grande 02 and Abóboras plants, achieving mass recovery rates of approximately 55%. At the ITM-D plant in Pico, blending occurs with ROM from the
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