Located in the center-south portion of the state of Minas Gerais and with a territorial extension of approximately 7 thousand square kilometers, the Quadrilátero Ferrífero is an area neighbor to Belo Horizonte formed by the cities of Sabará, Rio Piracicaba, Congonhas, Casa Branca, Itaúna, Itabira, Nova Lima, Santa Bárbara, Mariana, Ouro Preto, among others.
The discovery of gold in this area took place at the end of the 17th century, a fact that led to the creation of important mining cities, such as Ouro Preto and Mariana. It also attracted large migratory flows of miners, contributing to the occupation of the interior of Brazil, since in that period the population was concentrated in coastal areas.
The Iron Quadrangle continues to be the region with the greatest urban concentration in Minas Gerais, in addition to being an area of fundamental importance for state economic development, even boosting the industrial sector, especially the steel mill.
It stands out on the national scene for its great mineral wealth. Among the various ores extracted from the Iron Quadrangle are gold, manganese and iron. It is the largest national producer of iron ore (60% of Brazilian production), which is transported by rail to the port of Tubarão, in Vitória, capital of Espírito Santo.
The intense exploration of these resources without due environmental concern has triggered a series of impacts on nature. Among the problems detected are water table and soil pollution, loss of biodiversity, inadequate disposal of hazardous waste and erosion.
However, currently, the site is supervised by environmental agencies, requiring compliance with laws rigidities for the exploration of ores, thus ensuring the reduction of inconvenience caused by the mining.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team
Curiosities - geography - Brazil School
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/quadrilatero-ferrifero.htm
