Abstract
The Carajás National Forest in the Amazon is an outstanding area of conservation. The occurrence of mafic and felsic volcanic (Neoarchean) rocks is associated with banded iron formation (BIF) lenses, including jaspilites. Particularly on the BIF, there is the occurrence of ferruginous breccia which supports the tops of several mountain plateaus , generally referred to as the Carajás Ridge. Hills, drainage channels, and a number of closed depressions are commonly found on the surface, in addition to savannah surrounded by a luxuriant tropical forest. Subsurface rainwater drainage (throughflow) occurs via a network of small conduits on the tops of the mountain ranges, in addition to rainwater draining superficially in channels that are directed to closed depressions or to drainage headwaters. Several rocky scarps exist on the edges of the mountain ranges, in addition to talus deposits. Over 1,000 caves have been recorded in the area, and shallow, short-length (about 30 m) caves are predominant in this region. Longer caves, which may reach over 300 m, are normally present as single semicircular, funnelled, or straight chambers and are comprised of very irregular interconnecting passages in various sizes. Within the caves, clastic deposits are predominantly autogenic and originate from collapsed parts of the ceilings and walls. Chemical deposits are generally made up of small-sized features with a diverse mineralogy. Crusts and coralloids predominate in addition to draperies and micro-rimstone dams, and irregular pendulous forms known as pingentes hang from the ceilings, and are similar to stalactites. Speleothems are composed mostly of iron oxide–hydroxide and phosphates. The Carajás National Forest is a protected federal area that is used for different purposes, including the operation of the world’s largest iron ore mines. The savannah environment which is embedded amidst the tropical forest must be protected as conservation areas to represent the most expressive remnants of the original context. In addition, environmental compensation areas contiguous to the National Forest are being purchased, and these will become part of the Carajás protected area.
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Piló, L.B., Auler, A.S., Martins, F. (2015). Carajás National Forest: Iron Ore Plateaus and Caves in Southeastern Amazon. In: Vieira, B., Salgado, A., Santos, L. (eds) Landscapes and Landforms of Brazil. World Geomorphological Landscapes. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8023-0_25
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