Sedimentology and geochronology applied to investigation of the influence of iron ore mining in the silting of tributaries of the paraopeba river, west of quadrilátero ferrífero, MG, Brazil

Abstract

This work presents data about natural and anthropic dispersion of ferrous minerals in the alluvial sediments of the Casa Branca and Piedade basins, important tributaries of the right bank of the Paraopeba river. Through faciological and compositional analyzes of the sediments of older alluvial channels, elevated in relation to the current river, it was possible to make temporal comparisons on the amount of ferrous minerals. The deposition ages obtained by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) confirm that the older alluvial deposits were originated before the installation of the miners. The compositional analyzes showed anomalous amounts of iron in the sediments of the present river channel, which can be attributed to the installation of upstream iron ore miners.