Amazonas subsoil holds strategic wealth, but the sector faces environmental, geological and legal bottlenecks

What are rare earths and why they could become an issue between Lula and Trump Very rich in strategic inputs for the energy transition and with a turnover that reached R$908 million in 2024, the subsoil of Amazonas is experiencing a paradox: Despite the deposits of international relevance, the state accounts for only 6.1% of the active mining processes in the Legal Amazon and for just 0.5% of the royalties collected in the region. The data, which appears in a recent survey by the National Mining Agency (ANM), sparks debate about the technical, economic and socio-environmental limits for the extraction of minerals in the middle of the tropical forest. To understand what is holding back the progress of this sector and the risks involved, g1 listened to experts in geology and environmental law. The Autazes salt and the riches of the Amazonian subsoil The Amazon Basin concentrates large-scale reserves. The main highlight of the state is the Potássio Autazes Project, located in the municipality of Autazes (112 km from Manaus). ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp Sylvinite (the rock from which potassium is extracted) extends over more than 155 km² in the region, at depths ranging between 685 and 865 meters. In addition to potassium, surveys by the Brazilian Geological Survey (SGB) indicate a high potential for niobium and rare earths in the Rio Negro Basin, while the Pitinga Mine, in Presidente Figueiredo, is consolidated as the largest reserve and producer of tin in Brazil. MPF asks for R$ 1.56 billion in compensation for damages caused by illegal mining in national forest in AM Mining carried out in Amazonas Disclosure 'Potential exists, but environment and logistics require rigor', assesses expert The low representation of Amazonas in the total mining processes in the region (6.1%) does not mean an absence of ores, but reflects the predominance of sedimentary rocks and dense forest cover, which make it difficult to identify deposits. The person explaining it is geologist Tiago Felipe Arruda Maia, professor at the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) and specialist in the genesis of mineral deposits. "Several seizures of minerals in our rivers and in clandestine aircraft, made by the civil and federal police, are proof of this, along with the numerous occurrences of illegal mining in the state. Greater detailed geological and aerogeophysical mapping in the state will reveal the details of the geology, but the potential certainly exists", says professor Tiago Maia. In relation to the underground project in Autazes, the geologist rules out the risks of soil subsidence such as that recorded in Maceió, Alagoas. He explains that the presence of a sealing layer of sedimentary rock and the filling of the pits with the residual salt guarantee the stability of the operation. "There will be very little entry of surface and/or underground water into this layer of salt capable of dissolving it and causing sinking of the soil above it. Therefore, the project has technical feasibility for its execution, but precise and constant monitoring and supervision must be carried out to ensure that everything will be carried out correctly", ponders the geologist. On the other hand, promising deposits face severe territorial limitations. At Morro dos Seis Lagos, in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, there is an estimated reserve of 2.9 billion tons of ore with an average content of 2.8% niobium, but exploration is unfeasible as it is in an area with a triple overlap of protection units and indigenous land. At the Pitinga Mine, where cassiterite occurs associated with tantalum and niobium, the researcher highlights an opportunity in the circular economy: the piles of waste accumulated over decades hold high potential for the future extraction of rare earths. MORE For lawyer Antonio Norte, PhD in Environmental Sciences and Sustainability in the Amazon, the application of ILO Convention 169 should be seen as an instrument of socio-environmental agreement, and not as a mere bureaucratic barrier. "The biggest challenge is not the existence of ILO Convention No. 169, but the way it is implemented, since prior, free and informed consultation should not be treated as an obstacle to development, but as a guarantee of the legitimacy of public decisions", assesses Antonio Norte. ? Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) is an international treaty that guarantees rights to indigenous and tribal peoples, such as the protection of their lands, culture, identity and forms of organization. One of the main points is the right to prior, free and informed consultation before the adoption of administrative or legislative measures that may directly affect them. The jurist also points out a gap between the revenue from mining activity in the state (R$908 million) and the little financial compensation given to the affected municipalities, which receive only 0.5% of the royalties (CFEM) generated in the Legal Amazon. To correct this distortion, Norte defends the reformulation of environmental fiscal justice, so that CFEM resources are directly linked to local infrastructure, health and the recovery of degraded areas. Legal uncertainty caused by disputes between environmental agencies and the Public Ministry is also highlighted as a bottleneck that can be overcome with clear rules from the preliminary phases of the project. Likewise, in historical operations such as Pitinga, the specialist emphasizes that environmental control must cover the entire operating cycle of the enterprise. "Environmental licensing should not be understood only