It will be a historic moment. Only 36.8 million tons until our first billion,” reads the electronic screen at the processing plant at Carajas, the world’s largest iron ore mine. And in her khaki overalls and red helmet, Leudiani Vasconcellos is as determined as anyone to make it happen.

The 25-year-old former shop worker patrols the machines that separate rough lump ore from the slightly finer stuff, known as sinter, with an eagle eye, radiophone at the ready to report any stoppage in the belts that convey the ore to a seemingly endless line of railway trucks.