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Multi-scale approach using remote sensing images to characterize the iron deposit N1 influence areas in Carajás Mineral Province (Brazilian Amazon)

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Abstract

Mining activities cause a wide range of changes to the environment, substantially affecting both the physical and biological environmental sectors. In the Carajás Mineral Province, located in the Amazon rainforest, environmental regulations tend to be more rigorous, due to the fragility of the environment in which large iron deposits are found. The characterization of the impact of mining on environment considers: the type and extent of the impact, the physical chemistry differences and similarities of the mineral deposits, the deposit size, the adopted mining process, and the environment (both natural and economic) in which the mining process was developed. Remote sensing technology is utilized in this study, in particular, the use of ortho-aerial photograph, and optical and radar images with distinct spatial resolution. These permit the elaboration in synoptic maps, multi-scale and dynamic, of the changes wrought upon the environment: deforestation, removal of vegetation cover, topographic surface and landscape alteration, and slope instabilities among others. In this aspect, determining the extent of influence of the mining activity is directly tied to the characterization of its impact on various natural systems at the observed scale, and not by simply defining a predetermined Euclidean distance. The results showed that remote sensing technology, optical and radar images, proved to be efficient in the study of environmental information and the areas of influence on the semi-regional and local scales in the Amazon forest.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Mrs. Harriet Reis for the English review. Special thanks to INPE for field support, Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA), and to VALE (GAJAN) mining company, particularly to senior-geologist Lambertus C. Schardt, for the access to the infrastructure in Carajás.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mining School, Geology Department (DEGEO), Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Av. José Cândido da Silveira, 2000, Horto, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31170-000, Brazil

    Maria Carolina de Morais & Paulo Pereira Martins Junior

  2. Water Resources Sector (SAA), Tecnology Centre of Minas Gerais (CETEC), Av. José Cândido Da Silveira, 2000, Horto, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31170-000, Brazil

    Paulo Pereira Martins Junior

  3. Remote Sensing Division (DSR), National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Av. dos Astronautas, 1758, São José dos Campos, SP, 12227-010, Brazil

    Waldir Renato Paradella

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  1. Maria Carolina de Morais
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  2. Paulo Pereira Martins Junior
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  3. Waldir Renato Paradella
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Correspondence to Maria Carolina de Morais.

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de Morais, M.C., Martins Junior, P.P. & Paradella, W.R. Multi-scale approach using remote sensing images to characterize the iron deposit N1 influence areas in Carajás Mineral Province (Brazilian Amazon). Environ Earth Sci 66, 2085–2096 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1434-9

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