Brazil,Brasil, Amazon, amazônia, amazonia, minerals,geologia, geology, geological mapping, regional reconnaissance, geophysical, geophysics, geochem, geochemistry, geoquímica, geoquímico,  geofísico, exploração mineral, ouro,gold nuggets, pepitas, Amazônia, Tapajós, tapajos, consultant, consultants, consultores, geólogo, geóloga, geologo, geologa, geologist, áreas, negociações, metais base, cobre, estanho, ouro, export, caulim, descobertas, mineral discoveries, prospects, consultants, properties to sell, mineral areas, mineral exploration, base metals, copper, tin, porphyry, porphyries, titanium, cobalt, tantalite, rutile, ilmenite, columbite kaolin, garimpo, garimpeiro, garimpeiros, pista de pouso, trincheiras, poços, trenchs, pits, drilling, diamond drill holes, Carajas,Carajás, Pará, Pedro Jacobi, Progeo, evaluation, negotiations, negotiator, negociação, negociações,alunita, alunite, pyrophyllitem pirofilita, diásporo, sericita, sericite, chlorite, clorita, pirita, pyrite, chalcopyrite, calcopirita, galena, esfalerita, sphalerite, hydrothermal alteration, pipes, kimberlites, lamproites, diatremes, volcanoes, vulcão, diatremas, kimberlitos, diamantíferos, quartz, chalcedony, amethyst, ametista, quartzo,  calcedônia,fósseis,mineral specimens, collectors, topaz, topásio, cascalho, river flat, placers, golden, bearing, jazida, jazimentos, jazidas, orebody, ore, orebodies, deposits, mines, minas, céu aberto, open pit, underground, subterrânea, explotação, exploiting, economia mineral, economics, cash flows, volcanics, vulcânicas, granite, diorite, granodiorite, dacite, rhyolite, flows, lava, intrusions, return investment, programme, program, programas, pentlandita, nickel, sulfetos, sulfides, sulphide, oxides, iron laterites, gossan, ironstone, platinum, colecionadores, collectors, advance argillic alteration, phyllic, argílica, fílica, propilitização, propilitos, propylitization, propyllitization, sericitization, faults,  mineralization, terraces, production, evaluation, control, reports, data bank, locations, occurrencesonsultants, quartz, amethyst, diamonds, tapajos, garimpo, garimpeiro

by Pedro Jacobi

Situated in the southwestern portion of the Pará State the Tapajos Region accumulates both beauty and wealth.

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In 1958 a prospector found gold in one tributary of the beautiful Tapajos River. This discovery triggered the largest gold rush in Brazil's history. In a few years the region was flooded with more than 200.000 gold prospectors, called garimpeiros.

These men started a major exploration gold program, panning most of the streams on a huge prospecting area. During the early stages these gold prospectors established themselves in the vicinities of navigable rivers. Consequently the area surrounding the Tapajos River was developed first.gold, copper, molly, mineral exploration, brazil, amazon, geology, consultant, properties, minerals, tantalite, porphyries, consultants, quartz, amethyst, diamonds, tapajos, garimpo, garimpeiro

Eventually they started the construction of small landing strips and the region was finally conquered.

Each producing district (picture above) had at least one landing strip, which was used as the main access to the garimpo as well as the only door to the outer world.

The garimpo became a little fief where the local owner had a tight grip on the landing strips, controlling both men movement and all trading.gold, copper, molly, mineral exploration, brazil, amazon, geology, consultant, properties, minerals, tantalite, porphyries, consultants, quartz, amethyst, diamonds, tapajos, garimpo, garimpeiro

In the mean time gold prices were booming, inflated by the premium paid in the Brazilian black market. In a short time a new generation of "Gold Barons" has developed. Garimpeiros became rich and prosperous.

A few started small mining companies, but the overwhelming majorities continue with obsolete mining methods.Brazil,Brasil, Amazon, amazônia, amazonia, minerals,geologia, geology, geological mapping, regional reconnaissance, geophysical, geophysics, geochem, geochemistry, geoquímica, geoquímico,  geofísico, exploração mineral, ouro,gold nuggets, pepitas, Amazônia, Tapajós, tapajos, consultant, consultants, consultores, geólogo, geóloga, geologo, geologa, geologist, áreas, negociações, metais base, cobre, estanho, ouro, export, caulim, descobertas, mineral discoveries, prospects, consultants, properties to sell, mineral areas, mineral exploration, base metals, copper, tin, porphyry, porphyries, titanium, cobalt, tantalite, rutile, ilmenite, columbite kaolin, garimpo, garimpeiro, garimpeiros, pista de pouso, trincheiras, poços, trenchs, pits, drilling, diamond drill holes, Carajas,Carajás, Pará, Pedro Jacobi, Progeo, evaluation, negotiations, negotiator, negociação, negociações,alunita, alunite, pyrophyllitem pirofilita, diásporo, sericita, sericite, chlorite, clorita, pirita, pyrite, chalcopyrite, calcopirita, galena, esfalerita, sphalerite, hydrothermal alteration, pipes, kimberlites, lamproites, diatremes, volcanoes, vulcão, diatremas, kimberlitos, diamantíferos, quartz, chalcedony, amethyst, ametista, quartzo,  calcedônia,fósseis,mineral specimens, collectors, topaz, topásio, cascalho, river flat, placers, golden, bearing, jazida, jazimentos, jazidas, orebody, ore, orebodies, deposits, mines, minas, céu aberto, open pit, underground, subterrânea, explotação, exploiting, economia mineral, economics, cash flows, volcanics, vulcânicas, granite, diorite, granodiorite, dacite, rhyolite, flows, lava, intrusions, return investment, programme, program, programas, pentlandita, nickel, sulfetos, sulfides, sulphide, oxides, iron laterites, gossan, ironstone, platinum, colecionadores, collectors, advance argillic alteration, phyllic, argílica, fílica, propilitização, propilitos, propylitization, propyllitization, sericitization, faults,  mineralization, terraces, production, evaluation, control, reports, data bank, locations, occurrences

Gold was, at the beginning, extracted only in the rivers and streambeds. Hydraulics and some dredging were the basic mining methods. Alluvial flats were divided in little areas (10 x 10m), called "barrancos" ( picture). These sites, which have been selected randomly by the owner, were then mined by individuals. Miners had no previous knowledge of grade distribution in these complex sedimentary systems. No planning for mining or waste disposal was ever done. Riverbeds were destroyed and mercury polluted the environment.

Chaos was installed in Tapajos.gBrazil,Brasil, Amazon, amazônia, amazonia, minerals,geologia, geology, geological mapping, regional reconnaissance, geophysical, geophysics, geochem, geochemistry, geoquímica, geoquímico,  geofísico, exploração mineral, ouro,gold nuggets, pepitas, Amazônia, Tapajós, tapajos, consultant, consultants, consultores, geólogo, geóloga, geologo, geologa, geologist, áreas, negociações, metais base, cobre, estanho, ouro, export, caulim, descobertas, mineral discoveries, prospects, consultants, properties to sell, mineral areas, mineral exploration, base metals, copper, tin, porphyry, porphyries, titanium, cobalt, tantalite, rutile, ilmenite, columbite kaolin, garimpo, garimpeiro, garimpeiros, pista de pouso, trincheiras, poços, trenchs, pits, drilling, diamond drill holes, Carajas,Carajás, Pará, Pedro Jacobi, Progeo, evaluation, negotiations, negotiator, negociação, negociações,alunita, alunite, pyrophyllitem pirofilita, diásporo, sericita, sericite, chlorite, clorita, pirita, pyrite, chalcopyrite, calcopirita, galena, esfalerita, sphalerite, hydrothermal alteration, pipes, kimberlites, lamproites, diatremes, volcanoes, vulcão, diatremas, kimberlitos, diamantíferos, quartz, chalcedony, amethyst, ametista, quartzo,  calcedônia,fósseis,mineral specimens, collectors, topaz, topásio, cascalho, river flat, placers, golden, bearing, jazida, jazimentos, jazidas, orebody, ore, orebodies, deposits, mines, minas, céu aberto, open pit, underground, subterrânea, explotação, exploiting, economia mineral, economics, cash flows, volcanics, vulcânicas, granite, diorite, granodiorite, dacite, rhyolite, flows, lava, intrusions, return investment, programme, program, programas, pentlandita, nickel, sulfetos, sulfides, sulphide, oxides, iron laterites, gossan, ironstone, platinum, colecionadores, collectors, advance argillic alteration, phyllic, argílica, fílica, propilitização, propilitos, propylitization, propyllitization, sericitization, faults,  mineralization, terraces, production, evaluation, control, reports, data bank, locations, occurrences

On the richer districts the airports became the embryos of small villages which rapidly developed into towns. In forthcoming decades more than 600 landing strips were built in the jungle.

It was the golden age of Tapajos. From the 60's to the 80's all Tapajos region was controlled and ruled by garimpeiros. Gold production figures are difficult to be estimated since it was impossible to control hundreds of airplanes flying in and out of garimpos. Figures vary from 13 Moz to 30 Moz of gold from 1982 to 1995. The higher number fits the local rule of thumb, which states that a man needs at least 2g of gold per day to survive in the tough garimpo environment. Therefore a population of 120.000 men will have to produce at least 2.3Moz of gold in one year.

Close to the 90's the Tapajos gold production plunged, and the garimpeiro society cracked. gold, copper, molly, mineral exploration, brazil, amazon, geology, consultant, properties, minerals, tantalite, porphyries, consultants, quartz, amethyst, diamonds, tapajos, garimpo, garimpeiro

Several factors contributed to the fall of Tapajos Garimpo. The main ones were:

Lack of know-how

No or little technical support

Poor understanding of geological aspects of their deposits

Bad management

Alluvial exhaustion

Grade dilution due to poor waste disposal

Higher operating costs

Lower gold prices

No or little government support

At the beginning of the 90's, two major changes marked the region: Garimpeiros were willing to negotiate their areas with mining companies and, forced by the problems discussed earlier, started to switch from alluvial to primary mining. ouro, cobre, molibdenita, pórfiros, exploração mineral, amazônia, brasil, geologia, consultor, áreas, garimpos, minerais, quartzo, tantalita, ametista, citrino, diamantes, tapajós,

The overall scenario was, again, changed. ouro, cobre, molibdenita, pórfiros, exploração mineral, amazônia, brasil, geologia, consultor, áreas, garimpos, minerais, quartzo, tantalita, ametista, citrino, diamantes, tapajós,

Advised by Amazon Mineral Explorers staff, Rio Tinto Zinc was the first major company to start a serious exploration program in Tapajos and to deal with garimpeiros. In less than one year RTZ have discovered 2 small to medium sized gold deposits, drawing attention from several other mining companies. ouro, cobre, molibdenita, pórfiros, exploração mineral, amazônia, brasil, geologia, consultor, áreas, garimpos, minerais, quartzo, tantalita, ametista, citrino, diamantes, tapajós,

At this point in time hundreds of new primary gold mineralization were discovered and a new era started for Tapajos.

Following Rio Tinto's example several Brazilian and foreign companies have made their mineral agreements. This fact demonstrated that a peaceful and productive relationship could be established with garimpeiros who started to organize themselves in Cooperatives (AMOT). ouro, cobre, molibdenita, pórfiros, exploração mineral, amazônia, brasil, geologia, consultor, áreas, garimpos, minerais, quartzo, tantalita, ametista, citrino, diamantes, tapajós,

Immediately mining companies realized that: ouro, cobre, molibdenita, pórfiros, exploração mineral, amazônia, brasil, geologia, consultor, áreas, garimpos, minerais, quartzo, tantalita, ametista, citrino, diamantes, tapajós,

1- Tapajos wasn't as remote as they thought: Almost all targets are within 40km from a major road or navigable river. The local economic center, Itaituba, was served by major air companies everyday of the week, banks and services. ouro, cobre, molibdenita, pórfiros, exploração mineral, amazônia, brasil, geologia, consultor, áreas, garimpos, minerais, quartzo, tantalita, ametista, cit

2- The work done by garimpeiros, panning and excavating all possible primary sources, had an immense value if assessed by experienced explorationists.

3- It was very easy to visit several occurrences that never have been visited by a geologist before.

4- Negotiating agreements were not as expensive as in other mining places in the world.

5- Tapajos was an "elephant land" and several world class deposits may arise from the ongoing exploration effort.

During these years exploration investments increased sharply in the region and a number of very important discoveries made. Most of the large mineralized provinces have been covered by airborne geophysics.

Gold deposits like Jutaí (100,000oz), Ouro Roxo (500.000oz) and São Jorge (1.5Moz) were found.

In 1997 the mineral exploration boom was over. Exploration money vanished as a result of the stock exchange turmoil caused by Bre-X.

Most junior and major companies, with little results to report, closed their infant exploration programs and abandoned Tapajos.

In 1998, when in the middle of a significant discovery of a new epithermal-porphyry gold province of Proterozoic age, containing several deposits, Rio Tinto's top management stop all exploration in Tapajos. This unfortunate move sealed the fate of region, mostly because Rio Tinto kept all these new discoveries in secrecy until today.

A number of economic gold-copper-molly-silver deposits certainly will be discovered in the near future in Tapajos. Brazil,Brasil, Amazon, amazônia, amazonia, minerals,geologia, geology, geological mapping, regional reconnaissance, geophysical, geophysics, geochem, geochemistry, geoquímica, geoquímico,  geofísico, exploração mineral, ouro,gold nuggets, pepitas, Amazônia, Tapajós, tapajos, consultant, consultants, consultores, geólogo, geóloga, geologo, geologa, geologist, áreas, negociações, metais base, cobre, estanho, ouro, export, caulim, descobertas, mineral discoveries, prospects, consultants, properties to sell, mineral areas, mineral exploration, base metals, copper, tin, porphyry, porphyries, titanium, cobalt, tantalite, rutile, ilmenite, columbite kaolin, garimpo, garimpeiro, garimpeiros, pista de pouso, trincheiras, poços, trenchs, pits, drilling, diamond drill holes, Carajas,Carajás, Pará, Pedro Jacobi, Progeo, evaluation, negotiations, negotiator, negociação, negociações,alunita, alunite, pyrophyllitem pirofilita, diásporo, sericita, sericite, chlorite, clorita, pirita, pyrite, chalcopyrite, calcopirita, galena, esfalerita, sphalerite, hydrothermal alteration, pipes, kimberlites, lamproites, diatremes, volcanoes, vulcão, diatremas, kimberlitos, diamantíferos, quartz, chalcedony, amethyst, ametista, quartzo,  calcedônia,fósseis,mineral specimens, collectors, topaz, topásio, cascalho, river flat, placers, golden, bearing, jazida, jazimentos, jazidas, orebody, ore, orebodies, deposits, mines, minas, céu aberto, open pit, underground, subterrânea, explotação, exploiting, economia mineral, economics, cash flows, volcanics, vulcânicas, granite, diorite, granodiorite, dacite, rhyolite, flows, lava, intrusions, return investment, programme, program, programas, pentlandita, nickel, sulfetos, sulfides, sulphide, oxides, iron laterites, gossan, ironstone, platinum, colecionadores, collectors, advance argillic alteration, phyllic, argílica, fílica, propilitização, propilitos, propylitization, propyllitization, sericitization, faults,  mineralization, terraces, production, evaluation, control, reports, data bank, locations, occurrences

Who will be the winner of this new race?

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ouro, cobre, molibdenita, pórfiros, exploração mineral, amazônia, brasil, geologia, consultor, áreas, garimpos, minerais, quartzo, tantalita, ametista, citrino, diamantes, tapajós,

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