Brazil’s Regional Superintendence of Labor of Minas Gerais (SRTE/MG) has ordered the suspension of operations at Jaguar Mining’s Turmalina gold mine due to safety concerns arising from a recent tailings pile collapse.
Incident Overview:
- Date and Location: The incident occurred on December 7, 2024, at the Satinoco tailings pile, part of the Turmalina mine located in Conceição do Pará, approximately 130 kilometers northwest of Belo Horizonte.
- Evacuations: Prior to the collapse, visual inspections identified areas of concern, leading to the evacuation of mine personnel and approximately 255 residents from the nearby community of Casquilho de Cima. No injuries were reported.
- Structural Damage: The collapse affected multiple structures within the mine site, including maintenance areas, piping systems, outdoor storage areas, and an emergency escape exit from the mine.
Regulatory Actions:
- Work Environment Assessment: Labor auditors from SRTE/MG deemed the mine an “unfeasible work environment” following inspections, citing significant risks of further collapses within the tailings structure.
- Operational Suspension: In compliance with directives from the National Mining Agency (ANM) and SRTE/MG, all operations at the Turmalina mine have been temporarily halted to ensure the safety of workers and surrounding communities.
Company Response:
- Stabilization Efforts: Jaguar Mining has initiated stabilization work on the affected tailinhat efforts are “being carried out with the best practices to ensure the health and safety of its workers.”
- Financial Impact: Following the suspension announcement, Jaguar Mining’s stock declined by 3.6%, with the apitalization standing at approximately C$191.9 million ($134 million).
Operational Context:
- Turmalina Mine: Part of Jaguar’s MTL mining complex, the Turmalina underground mine produced 33,117 ounces of gold in 2022, aly half of the company’s total output. The complex includes a 2,000-tonne-per-day processing plant and three satellite deposits—Faina, Pontal, and Zona Basal.
Safety and EnvironmentTailings Management:** The incident underscores the critical importance of effective tailings management in mining operations. Tailings piles, composed of mining waste materials, require stringent monitoring and maintenance to prevent structural failures that can lead to environmental contamination and pose risks to human safety.
Next Steps:
- Investigations and Compliance: Jaguar Mining is expected to collaborate with Brazilian authorities to investigate the cause of the collapse, implement necessary remedial measures, and ensure compliance with all safety and environmental regulations before operations can resume.
Note: This summary is based on information available as of December 17, 2024. For the latest updates, please refer to official communications from Jaguar Mining and Brazilian regulatory agencies.
