Um novo ciclo para o BPG

Boletim Paulista de Geografia - nº 113, ano 2025

Abstract

The article analyzes the proliferation of iron ore tailings dams in Minas Gerais, highlighting the geological, economic and administrative factors that have driven the implementation and expansion of these structures. The objective is to present a historical and geographical panorama of dams from 1970 to 2020.The research uses data from the Integrated Mining Dam Safety Management System (SIGBM) and the Brazilian Mineral Yearbook, as well as a bibliographical survey and field activities. The results indicate that the installation of the dams is related to the beginning of the exploitation of itabirito, which mobilized the implementation of processing plants and generated a large number of tailings. The intensification of inter-regional competition, with the entry of Australia into the market and the discovery of Carajás, pushed mining companies to look for low-cost solutions to expand production and reduce costs, consolidating less costly methods such as wet processing and the allocation of waste in dams. The research also identifies the first records of socio-environmental problems with these structures, moreover signaling a recurrence of problems with dams since 2014, such as the disasters in Mariana and Brumadinho, as well as other episodes.