Discovery of Carajás changed the history of Vale and iron ore in Brazil, placing the country as one of the main producers and exporters of this natural resource in the world!

You've probably heard of the Indiana Jones movies, in which he goes in search of treasures hidden in the most remote corners of the planet. But the story you will read today is equally fascinating, yet true. This is the discovery of the largest mineral province in the world, the Carajás province, located in the state of Pará, which changed the history of Vale and iron ore in Brazil!

This story follows a group of young geologists who ventured in search of the unknown, facing challenges and dangers in the Amazon jungle. The expedition was led by geologist Breno Augusto dos Santos, and the result was a discovery that changed the history of mining in Brazil.

United States Steel (USS), the largest steel company in the world at the time, began a mineral exploration program in Brazil with the aim of finding manganese

In the 60s, the United States Steel (USS), the largest steel company in the world at the time, began a mineral exploration program in Brazil with the aim of finding manganese, a strategic ore due to the Cold War.

The northern region of Brazil caught USS's attention, and the company started the program through its subsidiary, Companhia Meridional de Mineração. Breno Augusto dos Santos, recently fired from another competing manganese company, was hired as one of the expedition's geologists.

During a visit to the city of Marabá, in the southeast of Pará, Breno met a jaguar hunter who had found some dark stones. Geologists identified these stones as manganese. The news spread and soon the USS learned of the existence of manganese in the region. The company decided to explore the area and began the expedition led by Breno and his team.

Challenges in the Amazon rainforest in search of manganese

The expedition faced several challenges when entering the Amazon rainforest in search of manganese. The region was little explored and did not offer adequate infrastructure for mining activities.

Additionally, there was fear of encountering hostile Indians and wild animals. The team had three helicopters that were essential for transporting and carrying out fieldwork in more distant regions.

The discovery of iron in Carajás

During a flight over the area, Breno and his team spotted a clearing in the forest and decided to land to investigate. During the inspection, Breno found iron rocks instead of manganese. It was at that moment, on July 31, 1967, that the presence of iron ore was discovered in Carajás. The discovery of iron was the beginning of an even greater journey.

After the discovery of iron, Breno flew over the region and found that the previously observed clearings also contained iron. The team continued exploring the area and, within a short time, discovered the presence of other ores, such as copper, nickel and gold. Carajás became a region of unparalleled mineral wealth.

Carajás became the largest mineral province in the world

Carajás has become the largest mineral province in the world, with resources estimated at around 18 billion tons of high-grade iron ore. Furthermore, the region is a source of other valuable ores, contributing to the Brazilian and world economy.

Vale do Rio Doce, currently called Vale, acquired part of the Carajás areas and became one of the largest mining companies in the world.

The story of the discovery of Carajás is marked by coincidences, twists and courage

After the discovery, each geologist went his own way. Some continued research and exploration of Carajás, while others dedicated themselves to other projects. The story of the discovery of Carajás is marked by coincidences, twists and turns and courage. Every detail fit together like a puzzle so that this discovery could happen.

The story of the discovery of Carajás is a historic feat that will always be remembered for its importance to the world of mining. Carajás is a unique region, with abundant and high-grade mineral resources. Its discovery changed the history of Vale and iron ore in Brazil, placing the country as one of the main producers and exporters of this natural resource. The journey of this expedition shows us the potential and richness of our planet, which still holds many secrets to be explored.