Brazilian miner Vale is evaluating the feasibility of extracting rare earth elements, gold and other minerals from its mining waste as part of efforts to enhance resource recovery and advance circular economy initiatives.
The company’s Technical Executive Vice President Rafael Bittar said studies into rare earths and gold are still in early stages, with no projects yet deemed economically viable. Preliminary findings, however, are described as cautiously optimistic. Vale currently recovers more than 20 million tons of iron ore annually from its tailings, a volume expected to remain stable in 2026.
Vale is also advancing a study to produce iron ore from waste at its Salobo copper mine in Pará, though engineering work remains in the initial phase. The broader strategy aims to reduce waste generation while increasing the extraction of co-products and secondary minerals from existing deposits.
The push into rare earths reflects rising global demand for minerals critical to electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics and defense systems. Vale’s initiative aligns with broader industry efforts to improve sustainability and maximize value from mining operations.
