Learn More - Mineral Resources
Mineral Resources activities are planned in accordance with the following core guidelines:
- Geochemistry
The geochemical surveys aim to help the development of projects of the Geology of Brazil Program (PGB), through exploration techniques by collecting active stream sediments (drainage) and analysing them by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry – ICP-MS to about 70 chemical elements. This analytical method is highly sensitive and capable of simultaneous analysis of a range of metals at below the parts per a million level. In the same way, the sampling of pan concentrate allows the direct detection of heavy minerals, specially metallic, by mineralogical studies of the grains.
The processing of analytical data of the collected samples is presented as geochemical distribution maps that assist the geochemists in the interpretation, to define the geochemical anomalies from several analyzed chemical elements. The check and field assessment of the anomalies with the information from heavy minerals and the additional support of the geological and geophysical maps will allow to identify the source of the anomalies thus leading to the location of minerals occurrences.
- To promote the discovery and use of mineral resources. To prioritize the mineral resources that have: significant economic importance; strategic significance; significance in social-geological terms and relevance to environmental controls.
- A nationwide performance, particularly in strategic regions (the Amazon and the Northeastern Regions). A sound management of CPRM’s mineral asset with, the mineral prospection work in final phase in some areas, and with specific areas available for negotiating their respective mining rights.
- Institutional programs in economic geology and prospection in selected areas, independent of who owns the mining rights.
- To supplement the private sector (mining companies) activities by providing information capable of reducing the risks inherent to any mining enterprise.
- The activities underway focus mainly on Mineral Resources in Brazil, a nationwide program with activities carried out in the regional units of the Geological Survey of Brazil.
- Since 1995, the results of the economic geology, mineral economics, prospecting and mineral research activities performed by the Department of Mineral Resources have been released in seven series of publications called Mineral Resource Technical Reports.
