Multicriteria Analysis as a Fundamental Tool for Mineral Research. Case Study: Quadrilátero Ferrífero/Brazil

Abstract

The “Quadrilátero Ferrífero” (Brazil) had a geological influence for the first explorers who entered Brazil, to explore and to search for precious metals. The geological features and their geomorphological consequences led and influenced the beginning of the occupation of the country area in Brazil. Thus, the presence of mineral deposits conditioned the colonization of the region by the Portuguese in the late seventeenth century. Therefore, in this work, the data, treated by Geographic Information System (GIS), were analyzed by multicriteria, in order to obtain the Synthesis Model of the area. Multicriteria Analysis consists of raster-type structure operations in a GIS environment, which produce a new information. It is understood that the Multicriteria Analysis procedure is widely used in the creation of new information. This analysis is done by assigning weights and values, indicated by a specialist in the phenomenon under study, as well as a specialist in the variable in question. The results of this analysis demonstrate the region is suitable for mining and corroborates a better understanding of the territory use for this activity with the synthesis map for a study area based on variables used. For this work, the variables of existing mine pit, lithology and areas with mining requirements, collected directly from the geological survey of Brazil were used as initial data for the study.