Terraced layers of red earth reveal the method of mining. Carajás is an open-pit mine, in which minerals are removed from the surface one layer at a time. In 2007, 296 million metric tons of iron ore were pulled from the mine. The mine is estimated to contain about 18 billion tons of iron ore, plus gold, manganese, copper, and nickel.
This photograph was uploaded May 22nd 2011 by carnkie.Copyright / re-use statement: Public domain. Credit NASA’s Earth Observatory
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