According to studies by two universities, the sand created by Vale at its Brazilian mines is a solution for sand sustainability and the reduction of tailings. Vale is the world’s largest iron ore producer. Vale International SA, the international holding company of Brazilian company Vale, has headquarters in Saint-Prex in the Swiss canton of Vaud. According to a press release, the University of Queensland in Australia and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have published a report that states that obtaining sand from iron ore production reduces the sand taken from the natural environment and the creation of waste. Vale presented samples of sustainable sand produced at its Brucutu mine in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais for independent analysis.
The report created by the universities entitled: “Ore-sand: A potential new solution to the mining tailings and global sand sustainability crises” examined whether sand from ore processing, which is called ore-sand, could be a sustainable source of sand and at the same time reduce the volume of tailings incurred during mining. The mineral sand proved to be non-toxic and versatile.
According to the press release, Vale’s sustainable sand is a by-product of iron ore production. The sandy material was previously disposed of as waste. Now, it is processed into sand for construction and other purposes. Last year, Vale produced around 1 million metric tons of ore-sand.
After water, sand is the world’s second-most used natural resource. Its applications range from concrete and asphalt to the manufacture of glass and chips for the electronics industry. Demand is expected to reach 50 billion metric tons per year by 2030. gba
