Desenvolvimento de um modelo sustentável para o aproveitamento de caulim por uma pequena empresa de mineração no Equador, RN.

Abstract

The use of mineral substances in the Borborema/Seridó Pegmatite Province was carried out in an inadequate and predatory manner, with significant environmental damage and social and economic impacts far below what was desirable for the local community. This thesis was carried out with the aim of developing and disseminating a model consisting of actions for the sustainable use of kaolin in a mined area, which is located in Sítio Galo Branco, in the rural area of Equador, RN, within the scope of the Local Productive Arrangement - APL in Pegmatites RN/PB. Initially, surveys were carried out of the territory where the kaolin mineralized areas are located, especially around the municipality of Equador, in Rio Grande do Norte, through field visits and an extensive literature review, to also assess the legal situation. Based on these surveys, the Galo Branco mine area was selected and a diagnosis was made of the environmental and socio-economic aspects of this geographical space. In addition, studies were carried out on kaolin mining operations, health and safety conditions at work and the impacts generated by the practices used, from which actions were suggested to improve the technical, environmental and socio-economic performance of this activity. To this end, the sustainable model being implemented consists of a proposal to adapt mineral legislation in order to speed up the formalization of areas for small kaolin mining companies operating in this territory and which are part of the APL in Pegmatites RN/PB. In this context, four mining permits were obtained, along with the respective environmental licenses. At the same time, innovative technologies were recommended for the mining operations at the Galo Branco mine of the Cooperativa dos Trabalhadores de Minério e Agricultura do Equador e Seridó - COOTMAES and for adjustments to the kaolin processing unit of Mineração Nossa Senhora de Lourdes. The implementation of these technologies is leading to significant gains in worker health and safety, a reduction in environmental damage and an increase in the recovery from ore processing. Finally, a seedling nursery has been built to support the recovery of the area degraded by this mineral activity, and a process is in operation to make use of the waste from kaolin processing. In general terms, the actions developed and recommended in this thesis are already contributing to achieving some of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in this area, with the aim of making life healthier for the community that lives in this region.