Abstract
This article shows the interesting results of a pioneer effort by IAG/USP researchers to use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for humanitarian purposes, guiding the rescue of victims in the tragedy of Brumadinho. The tailings Dam I at the Córrego do Feijão iron ore mine, located in the Brumadinho complex, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, collapsed on 25 January 2019. About 11.7 million m3 of mining mud was spilled from the dam, burying bodies, equipment, structural buildings, buses, and cars along a length of 8.5 km up to the Paraopeba River. Additionally, the contaminated mud traveled more than 300 km along the bed of the Paraopeba River toward the São Francisco River. This work shows the results of a geophysical investigation using the GPR method 17 days after the event. To carry out the geophysical survey, an excavator was used for soil compaction. The data acquisition was performed on the tracks left by the excavator chain using SIR-4000 equipment and antennas of 200 and 270 MHz (GSSI). The GPR studies aimed to map bodies, structural buildings, and equipment buried in the mud. The location of the profiles followed preferably the edge of the slope due to the higher probability of finding buried bodies and objects. The GPR results allowed the detection of subsoil structures, such as concentrations of iron ore and accumulations of sand from the dam filter. The GPR was effective because the iron ore sludge in the mixing process became porous and the pores were filled with air, which provided penetration and reflection of the GPR electromagnetic waves up to a depth of 3.5 m. The results were surprising. Although no bodies or underground equipment were found, the results of this research served to eliminate the studied areas from future excavations, thus redirecting the rescue teams and optimizing the search process. These important results can serve as an additional motivation for the use of GPR in future humanitarian work in areas of tragedies.
Highlights
Vale, one of the world’s largest iron ore mining companies, owns the Córrego do Feijão mine complex
53 ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles were acquired in study areas 1 and 2 (Figure 3), this paper presents only the most significant results according to the objectives of this research
GPR Data Processing 53 GPR profiles were acquired in study areas 1 and 2 (Figure 3), this paper presents only TthheemGoPsRt sdiagtnaifwicearnetprreoscuelstseadccuosrindginRgAtoDtAhNe o7b.0je(cGtiSvSeIs)otof tihmispreosveeatrhceh.vFisourailnizstaatinocne,otfhteheanotbejnecntas oafnd20s0trMucHtuzre(tsimbueriwedinidnotwhe1t0a0ilinnsg)sa-mllouwdemd iixntvueres.tiTghateiomnasinupstteopsa udseepdthinotfh3e.5prmoc, easnsdintghreoauntitneennwaeroef: 2ti7m0eM-zHerzo fialtleorwinegd, tiinmve-svtiagraytiinognslinuepartogaaind,emptohvionfg2a.5vemra.gTehfielrtefro, brea,ckognrlyoutnhde GrePmRopvraol ffiiletesro, fanthdet2im00e-–MdeHpzthancotennvnearsairoenp. resented
Summary
One of the world’s largest iron ore mining companies, owns the Córrego do Feijão mine complex. In 2018, this complex produced 8.5 million tons of iron ore, which is equivalent to 2% of the mining company’s iron production [1]. Located in Brumadinho, about 65 km from Belo Horizonte city, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, the complex included dams, an administrative center with a dining hall and maintenance office, a cargo terminal, and a small railway network for the transport of iron ore (Figure 1). The structure of the Córrego do Feijão mine complex was built on thick soil with high iron oxide contenTthferosmtruthcteuarelteorfattihoenCoófrgrengeoissdoroFckeij[ã2o]. [T2h].eTQheuamdrinileátiesroloFcearterdífeoron itsheansleocpoensoomficthalely acQtiuvaedarrileáaterreolaFteedrrtífoertoheaenxdtrpaactritoonfotfhieroPnaroaroep, leobcaatReidveornVthaellesyo.uTthheernQbuoadrdrielrátoefrothFeeSrrãíofeFrorainsciasnco Creactoonno,mchicaarlalyctearcitziveed aarseaanreAlarctehdaetaonthgeraenxittrea-cgtrieoennostfoinroenteorrrea,inloccoavteedreodnbtyhevosolcuatnhoe-rsnedbiomrdeenrtaorfytahned PrSoãtoeroFzroainccsisecdoimCernattaorny, rocchkasra[c3t]e.rized as an Archaean granite-greenstone terrain covered by volcDaanmo-sIewdiamseanmtaerygaasntdruPcrtoutreeroozfothicesCedóirmreegnotadryo rFoecikjãso[3m].ine complex, measuring 720 m in length and 86DmaminI hweaigs hatm. AIGccAoMrdianngdtoAINGMAM, Daanmd I wAasNcMla,ssDifiamedIinwtahseclcaastseigfioerdyinofthheigchatdeagmoraygoefphoitgehndtiaaml, wagheicphotmenetaianls, wa hhiigchh mpoetaennstiaalhfigohr spigotneinfitciaalnt lofsosressiogfnhifuicmaannt lliovsessesasowf ehlul masasniglnivifiescaanst ewceolnl oams isci,gsnoicfiicaal,natnedcoennovmiroicn,msoecnitaall, iamnpdacetn.vAircocnomrdeinntgalto Vaimlep, Dacat.mAIccaotrtdhiengCtóorrVeagloe,dDoamFeiIjãaot tmheinCeórsrteogpopdedo Freecijeãiovimnignierostnopopreedtarielicnegivsining 2ir0o1n5oarnedtarielimngasinined in2a0c1ti5vaensdinrceemthaienne[d4]in. aInctaivdedsitiinocne,tthheens[a4m].eIndaamddrieticoeniv, ethdeisna2m0e18ddameclraercaetiivoends ionf 2st0a1b8ilditeycltahraattiaotntessotefd tostitasbpilhityystihcaatl aatntdeshteyddtroauitlsicpshayfseitcya.l and hydraulic safety
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
