Geography and Mining in Carajás/Pará (Northern Region of Brazil)

Abstract

This essay examines the actions of Major Mining Projects in the region of Carajás, the state of Pará, Northern Brazil, which concentrates the projects of one of the largest mining companies of the Planet, the Vale Group, and the relations of power and authority in land use in the corresponding area to the former city of Marabá. The territories exploited by major mining projects, also increase land use that has not been translated into socio-economic development, and add little value to labor and the product. Another issue is lack of a National Mining Policy that truly establishes the regional supply chains, and conducts the multiplier effects to produce new territorial jurisdictions. Mining contributes to socio-economic development of the Amazon region, especially in the Carajás region and promotes the economic organization of the territories for the consolidation of municipalities in which society in its favor uses natural resources. The main objective of this paper is to present the main impacts caused by mining activities in Pará municipalities. Textual elaboration was necessary documentary and bibliographical analysis, in addition to field research in the study area. We can observe, that mining is an important productive activity, but has caused significant changes in Pará territory, both in economy and in the environment, and the way of life of local populations.