Modelagem da geodiversidade da área de proteção ambiental sul da região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

The term geodiversity is being used in a manner analogous to the use of the term biodiversity to describe the natural diversity of abiotic component of nature, composed of the soil, the rocks, the landforms, among other elements. The - Área de Proteção Ambiental Sul - APA Sul, located in the Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, has an area of 1625.32 km² and has a rich natural heritage, particularly in relation to geological elements that are characterized by three major sets of rocks main: ortognaissis complex of Archean age; following the Archean greenstone belt represented by the Rio das Velhas Supergroup; Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary sequence represented by Minas Supergroup and the Groups Sabará and Itacolomi. This work presents and discusses concepts related to geodiversity and geological heritage and geoconservation modeling geodiversity of APA Sul from the indexes quantification of adapting methods already applied to other studies. A quantitative assessment of geodiversity, whose methods are still evolving, confirmed the richness of the area in terms of abiotic diversity. From the analysis of geodiversity map were selected and inventoried geosites in areas classified as higher geodiversity, thus contributing to indicate priority areas for geoconservation.