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A globalização e a política econômica nacional pautada na produção de commodities, tem intensificado a condição histórica brasileira de fornecedor de matérias-primas (principalmente minério de ferro, soja e óleos brutos de petróleo) e neste cenário Minas Gerais destaca-se como maior produtor nacional de minério de ferro. Diante da perspectiva de explorar novas jazidas deste minério, em 2006 foi dado início ao processo de licenciamento ambiental do Projeto Minas-Rio que abrange o maior mineroduto do mundo, com 525 km de extensão. O recorte temporal deste estudo abrange o período de 2006 a 2014, ou seja, desde o licenciamento até o início da operação do empreendimento. Apesar de sua importância econômica, empreendimentos de mineração causam grandes impactos socioambientais, consequentemente o Projeto Minas-Rio tem gerado diversos conflitos nos territórios impactados. Desta forma, este estudo se propôs a analisar as diferentes racionalidades de uso da natureza entre os principais atores envolvidos, as principais controvérsias sociotécnicas presentes em relatórios técnicos elaborados por demanda da empresa e das comunidades atingidas, assim como as implicações dessas diferentes racionalidades e controvérsias. Foi observado nas controvérsias sociotécnicas analisadas, que a racionalidade econômica de grandes empresas interessadas em lucrar através da exploração do meio natural, fundamenta-se no modelo mecanicista-tecnicista para legitimar sua racionalidade que associada à ideia de “desenvolvimento” e “progresso” tem caráter hegemônico. Assim sendo, é necessário questionar a legitimidade desta racionalidade, pois a mesma deslegitima os modos de organização social de atores movidos por outros valores e teve graves consequências para as comunidades atingidas, tais como: a ruptura de laços socias e de parentesco, alteração drástica no modo de vida, nas tradições culturais e religiosas, intensificando as desigualdades sociais.

The concept of life quality is very relative since every individual conceives what is necessary to have a good quality of life. Based on this principle, the research aimed to analyze the implications of the process of implementation of Mining Pipeline Ferrous on the quality of life of the affected families, considering the perceptions. Therefore, semi-structured interviews were applied with residents of Viçosa and Paula Cândido / MG and with representatives of Ferrous Resources of Brazil, which data were transcribed and submitted to content analysis. The results showed that the affected families consider as quality of life "to live well in a calm environment". The arrival of the project takes this quiet, of families, causing other problems, from environmental issues, such as deficit of water supply, to other more pertinent, such as the circulation of unknown people around the property and the increasingly of insecurity, whit reduction of quality of life. It concludes that the affected people life`s quality should be one of the elements considered in the process of negotiation of the project, based on the logic of the movement for environmental justice, considering that environment and society are inseparable realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to highlight the socio-environmental conflict in the city of Viçosa, in Minas Gerais state, generated from the installation of the pipeline company Ferrous Resources Brazil. Thus, we intend to identify and understand the social and environmental impacts, consequently identifying the conflict subsequent to these impacts. We performed a literature review on the topic as well as documentary research around materials like newspapers, flyers, among others that formed the basis of analysis and research support. In addition, we conducted field work in Viçosa in the first half of 2012, with the objective of verifying the possible environmental impacts mainly around the headwaters of the river São Bartholomeu. From the survey of likely environmental impacts following the construction of the pipeline, we come to the consideration that water is the element of greatest impact in the city, both from a physical standpoint, from the impacts in the watershed of the São Bartolomeu, the main river city, as the social point of view affecting therefore the water supply in the city. Another point refers to the way of life of the population that will be changed from land use restrictions in the path of development. Finally, we also pointed some of the violation of rights of the people involved in the company's arrival in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two great concerns related to long distance slurry pumping systems are plug formation and sediment compaction. These problems are avoided in the Samarco Pipeline by adding lime. However, the presence of calcium ions in the process represents production losses, so alternative reagents were tested. Two organic coagulants and two flocculants were evaluated at dosages of 5, 100 and 300 ppm by performing rheology, settling, penetration and angle of repose tests, before and after 24 hours under agitation. It was verified that a dosage of 300 ppm of the organic coagulants affected the slurry properties likewise lime, so that they can replace it under this condition. Lower dosages do not result in coagulation or do not maintain the slurry coagulated with agitation, therefore they are considered insufficient. The changes generated by the flocculants in the slurry characteristics are not satisfactory since they do not minimize the high probability of plug formation. It is concluded that the aggregation state of the iron ore slurry must be changed by the coagulation mechanism in order to operate the system efficiently and safely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ore particle settling and consolidation due a stop of slurry pumping may cause troubles in the restarting process. So, the cohesion of the sediment is an important issue, which is related to the mineral composition and the size's distribution of the particles in the slurry. The objective of this study is to evaluate by rheological measurements the changes in the cohesion of bauxite settled particles in function of time. The ore sample is comprised mainly of gibbsite, hematite and kaolinite, whose amount of fi ne grounded material is very high - about 45% of the particles are smaller than 38 μm. The settling practically finished before four hours and an increment of the tension in the rupture of the sediment was observed after 24 hours of rest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]