A viabilidade do método GPR para o mapeamento de camadas de bauxitas laterítica em Paragominas-PA e de goethita em Xambioá-TO

Abstract

In this work we applied the GPR electromagnetic method mapping of layered deposits of minerals in two different environments. Measurements were made with the aim of mapping layers that form deposits of supergene origin of lateritic bauxite, and Goethite. The surveys for the mapping of layers of bauxites were conducted within the mine company Vale and also along the highway PA 256, in the municipality of Paragominas-PA. Resistivity tests were performed within the mine bauxite on a thick capping of clay in an attempt to correlate the variations of resistivity with the lithologic of the studied area, because the GPR measurements were not successful on this capping due the attenuation of the radar wave. The measures for mapping layers Goethite were carried inside a private property, located on the stretch between the towns of Xambioá and Vanderlândia, Tocantins state, near the Araguaia Belt. The study had as main objective to identify parameters such as depth and thickness of mineralized zones, which may aid in the work of exploitation of ores. The results of GPR measurements were very satisfactory, because the method presented a good response for both types of ores investigated, making it possible to characterize the layers and to verification its depths and thicknesses.