ALTERAÇÕES GEOMORFOLÓGICAS DE FUNDO DE VALE NA BACIA DO RIO DO CARMO (MG) DECORRENTES DO ROMPIMENTO DA BARRAGEM DE FUNDÃO

Abstract

On November 5th, 2015, the Fundão mining tailings dam (belonging to Samarco Mineração S. A. and located in Mariana-MG) collapsed. This event released a large volume of tailings that caused human deaths and countless damages to the environment in the affected fluvial system.  Therefore, it’s necessary to evaluate the transformations in the geomorphology of the valley bottom over the most affected water courses, caused by the deposition of tailings from the dam. The fluvial features (channel and lowlands) gain prominence in this paper. The study area ranges from the Fundão dam to the confluence of Carmo and Piranga rivers. For the evaluation of geomorfological changes, we used Google Earth Pro images and ESRI ArcGIS software to make photo interpretations and mappings. Fieldwork was also done to recognize the studied area and validate the results. The temporal image analysis of the dam break allowed the identification and discussion of the modifications on the fluvial system, such as the fluvial segments with larger accumulation of tailings, the degradation of fluvial features, the spreading of tailings at confluences and the reflux of sediment in the tributaries.