{"id":60675,"date":"2025-10-27T12:31:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T15:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/critical-minerals-surround-45-isolated-indigenous-peoples-in-the-amazon\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T12:31:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T15:31:21","slug":"critical-minerals-surround-45-isolated-indigenous-peoples-in-the-amazon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/critical-minerals-surround-45-isolated-indigenous-peoples-in-the-amazon\/","title":{"rendered":"Critical minerals \u2018surround\u2019 45 isolated indigenous peoples in the Amazon"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>MINING<\/strong> companies are seeking to explore minerals crucial to the technology sector close to at least 45 isolated Indigenous groups across Brazil\u2019s Legal Amazon.<\/p>\n<p>An exclusive <strong>Rep\u00f3rter Brasil<\/strong> investigation found 1,827 applications to mine copper, lithium, rare earths, and 13 other elements\u2014materials used in products like microchips, wind turbines and electric vehicles\u2014within 40 kilometers of these isolated communities.<\/p>\n<p>Mining at this distance puts Indigenous populations at risk, says the Observatory of Isolated Indigenous Peoples (OPI), an advocacy group. \u201cIsolation is a condition of survival, due to mining, road building and agribusiness,\u201d explained anthropologist Miguel Apar\u00edcio, OPI\u2019s president, who has worked with isolated groups for more than thirty years.<\/p>\n<p>The 40-kilometer rule is based on scientific research and environmental standards adopted by the OPI. For example, Interministerial Ordinance No. 60 of 2015 states projects like highways or dams can harm Indigenous territories if within this range. For mining, the regulation cites a 10-kilometer threshold, but OPI extends this to 40 kilometers due to isolated peoples\u2019 heightened vulnerability.<\/p>\n<figure><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"922\" height=\"1024\"src=\"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MAPA-Isolados-Final-1.jpg\" alt=\"Arte: Rodrigo Bento\/Rep\u00f3rter Brasil\" srcset=\"https:\/\/reporterbrasil.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MAPA-Isolados-Final-922x1024.jpg 922w, https:\/\/reporterbrasil.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MAPA-Isolados-Final-270x300.jpg 270w, https:\/\/reporterbrasil.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MAPA-Isolados-Final-768x853.jpg 768w, https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MAPA-Isolados-Final-1.jpg 1125w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px\"><figcaption>Critical minerals and isolated Indigenous peoples in the Amazon: of the 7,718 active applications for 16 types of elements in the region, 24% are located within 40 km of areas with isolated Indigenous peoples (Artwork: Rodrigo Bento\/Rep\u00f3rter Brasil)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"77670\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n<div data-id=\"17a659f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings='{\"background_background\":\"classic\"}'>\n<div>\n<div data-id=\"386385d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n<div>\n<h2>ASSINE NOSSA NEWSLETTER<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-id=\"6546917\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-id=\"8c2e333\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings='{\"button_width\":\"20\",\"step_next_label\":\"Next\",\"step_previous_label\":\"Previous\",\"button_width_mobile\":\"20\",\"step_type\":\"number_text\",\"step_icon_shape\":\"circle\"}' data-widget_type=\"form.default\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-email\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label><\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"submit\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Submit<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Most mining permits are at the exploration stage<\/h2>\n<p>Researchers identified 7,718 active mineral applications for 16 elements filed from 1953 through September 2025. Of these, 1,827\u201424%\u2014are very close to areas where isolated Indigenous people live. In fact, 1,226 concern tin alone.<\/p>\n<p>The data also show a recent spike in mineral exploration, with 3,392 permit requests\u201444% of the total\u2014filed since 2020.<\/p>\n<p>The survey found most permit applications\u20144,539, or 59%\u2014are in the preliminary research stage, while another 2,369 (31%) are at the concession phase, authorizing extraction. Another 810 requests are classified as \u2018available,\u2019 meaning the land is open for new research or mining.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Rep\u00f3rter Brasil<\/strong> found these 1,827 mining requests affecting isolated peoples\u2019 territories came from 567 entities\u2014companies, cooperatives or individuals\u2014including Anglo American N\u00edquel Ltda, Vale and Bemisa (details below).<\/p>\n<h2>Over 80% of isolated Indigenous peoples in Brazil are surrounded by critical mineral projects<\/h2>\n<p>Brazil has the world\u2019s highest concentration of isolated Indigenous peoples, with 115 officially recognized or believed to exist\u2014all within the Legal Amazon. Of these, 29 groups have been confirmed, 26 are under review based on strong evidence, and another 60 are noted but lack confirmatory research.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Rep\u00f3rter Brasil<\/strong> analyzed only the 55 records already confirmed or under review. Of these, 45\u201481%\u2014are within 40 kilometers of areas targeted by mining projects vital to the technology sector.<\/p>\n<p>Among those affected are the Moxihat\u00ebt\u00eba of Serra da Estrutura, an isolated community inside the Yanomami Indigenous Land. This area, already devastated by illegal gold mining, is surrounded by 228 mining applications for tin, niobium, tantalum and other minerals.<\/p>\n<p>The Yanomami Indigenous Land is the second most affected, after the Aman\u00e3 National Forest in Par\u00e1\u2019s Tapaj\u00f3s basin. The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Indigenous Land in Rond\u00f4nia, home to five isolated groups, is third. Here, ongoing threats from illegal tin mining are compounded by 224 permit applications for minerals key to modern technology.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, 30 conservation areas and Indigenous territories with records of isolated peoples are affected. Some, like the Ituna Itat\u00e1 and Munduruku Indigenous Lands in Par\u00e1, are already among the most deforested in the Amazon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe same territories threatened by deforestation and illegal mining also face pressure from a global rush for strategic minerals,\u201d said anthropologist Lu\u00edsa Girardi, an OPI advisor. \u201cMining projects nearby are undoubtedly a threat to isolated peoples. It\u2019s not just illegal mining\u2014legal operations are a danger, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Major mining companies seek mining rights in isolated areas<\/h2>\n<p>According to Brazil\u2019s National Mining Agency (ANM), Anglo American N\u00edquel Ltda, a subsidiary of British mining giant Anglo American, leads with 83 active proceedings for copper exploration in Mato Grosso and Par\u00e1. None have reached the extraction phase.<\/p>\n<p>In September, the company announced its merger with Teck to form \u201cAnglo Teck,\u201d positioning as \u201ca global critical minerals champion and top five global copper producer,\u201d according to the group.<\/p>\n<p>Anglo American is a member of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), committed to social and environmental responsibility. Under this framework, it announced in 2021 it would withdraw from all mining processes on Indigenous lands in Brazil.<\/p>\n<p>Asked for comment, Anglo American said it holds \u201cno licenses or plans to conduct exploration on Indigenous lands or in primary forests in Brazil.\u201d The company did not address the potential consequences of its activities for isolated Indigenous groups.<\/p>\n<p>Other major mining companies are also on the list. Vale, the largest in Brazil, maintains nine active applications for the exploration of tin, platinum, and nickel in Amazonas, Par\u00e1, and Rond\u00f4nia, all less than 40 kilometers from four Indigenous lands with confirmed or strongly suspected isolated groups. Of these, seven are in the research phase, while the remaining two are available for new applicants.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"633\"src=\"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/garimpo-cassiterita-yanomami-1.jpg\" alt=\"Garimpo ilegal de cassiterita na regi\u00e3o do Homoxi, na Terra Ind\u00edgena Yanomami; al\u00e9m da minera\u00e7\u00e3o ilegal, corrida por elementos essenciais \u00e0 transi\u00e7\u00e3o energ\u00e9tica tamb\u00e9m pode impactar povos ind\u00edgenas (Foto: Bruno Kelly\/Instituto Socioambiental)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/garimpo-cassiterita-yanomami-1.jpg 950w, https:\/\/reporterbrasil.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/garimpo-cassiterita-yanomami-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/reporterbrasil.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/garimpo-cassiterita-yanomami-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\"><figcaption>Illegal cassiterite mining in the Homoxi region, within the Yanomami Indigenous Territory; in addition to illegal mining, the race for elements essential to the energy transition may also affect Indigenous peoples (Photo: Bruno Kelly\/Socioenvironmental Institute)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In a statement to <strong>Rep\u00f3rter Brasil<\/strong>, Vale said it \u201chas no active mining processes in the vicinity\u201d of these Indigenous lands. The company said information on the National Mining Agency\u2019s website \u201cmay be being updated, possibly resulting in inaccurate analysis,\u201d and noted \u201cprocesses renounced by Vale may still appear on the site.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bemisa Holding S.A., a mining group with operations across Brazil, is involved in 26 proceedings that impact isolated communities. The company recently was the winner of a public call for proposals from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) to support strategic mineral business plans.<\/p>\n<p>When contacted, Bemisa said it \u201cdoes not conduct any mining activities on Indigenous lands or in areas that could affect Indigenous peoples, including isolated communities.\u201d See the companies\u2019 full statements.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Rep\u00f3rter Brasil<\/strong>\u2019s analysis, with support from the Pulitzer Center\u2019s Rainforest Investigation Network, cross-referenced OPI data on isolated groups\u2019 locations with mining applications for 16 critical minerals in the Amazon, listed in the National Mining Agency\u2019s database. These include cobalt, copper, tin (cassiterite), graphite, lithium, niobium, nickel, platinum, silicon, thallium, tantalum, rare earths, titanium, tungsten, uranium and vanadium.<\/p>\n<div data-elementor-type=\"container\" data-elementor-id=\"75228\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n<div data-id=\"5e8db1e6\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n<div>\n<div data-id=\"36eb6c91\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n<div>\n<div data-id=\"6f52f515\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n<div data-id=\"65d9f401\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n<div>\n<div>\n\t\t\t<span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-id=\"134a1245\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n<div>\n<div data-id=\"10fe55fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div>\n<p>Leia tamb\u00e9m<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-id=\"3c9495ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings='{\"template_id\":\"75221\",\"columns\":1,\"row_gap\":{\"unit\":\"px\",\"size\":10,\"sizes\":[]},\"_skin\":\"post\",\"columns_tablet\":\"2\",\"columns_mobile\":\"1\",\"edit_handle_selector\":\"[data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\"]\",\"row_gap_tablet\":{\"unit\":\"px\",\"size\":\"\",\"sizes\":[]},\"row_gap_mobile\":{\"unit\":\"px\",\"size\":\"\",\"sizes\":[]}}' data-widget_type=\"loop-grid.post\">\n<div>\n<div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The post Critical minerals \u2018surround\u2019 45 isolated indigenous peoples in the Amazon appeared first on Rep\u00f3rter Brasil.<\/p>\n<!-- Begin Yuzo --><div class='yuzo_related_post style-1'  data-version='5.12.89'><!-- without result --><div class='yuzo_clearfixed yuzo__title yuzo__title'><h3>Related Post<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"relatedthumb \" style=\"width:125px;float:left;overflow:hidden;\">  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <a  href=\"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/49-sao-a-favor-de-resposta-ao-tarifaco-dos-eua-na-mesma-moeda\/\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"yuzo-img-wrap \" style=\"width: 125px;height:90px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"yuzo-img\" style=\"background:url('https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/lula-e-trump_Fotos-Ricardo-Stuckert-_-PR-e-Gage-Skidmore-Wikileaks-1-150x150.jpg') 50% 50% no-repeat;width: 125px;height:90px;margin-bottom: 5px;background-size: cover; \"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   <span class=\"yuzo__text--title\" style=\"font-size:13px;\">49% s\u00e3o a favor de resposta ao tarifa\u00e7o dos EUA \u201cn...<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"relatedthumb \" style=\"width:125px;float:left;overflow:hidden;\">  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <a  href=\"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/advogado-de-bolsonaro-diz-que-vai-pedir-anulacao-da-delacao-de-mauro-cid\/\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"yuzo-img-wrap \" style=\"width: 125px;height:90px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"yuzo-img\" style=\"background:url('https:\/\/redept.org\/blogosfera\/wp-content\/plugins\/yuzo-related-post\/assets\/images\/default.png') 50% 50% no-repeat;width: 125px;height:90px;margin-bottom: 5px;background-size: cover; \"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   <span class=\"yuzo__text--title\" style=\"font-size:13px;\">Advogado de Bolsonaro diz que vai pedir anula\u00e7\u00e3o d...<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"relatedthumb \" style=\"width:125px;float:left;overflow:hidden;\">  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <a  href=\"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/ainda-estou-aqui-ode-a-memoria-coletiva-brasileira\/\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"yuzo-img-wrap \" style=\"width: 125px;height:90px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"yuzo-img\" style=\"background:url('https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cena-de-ainda-estou-aqui-com-fernanda-torres-no-papel-de-eunice-paiva-1731436901287_v2_900x506-150x150.jpg') 50% 50% no-repeat;width: 125px;height:90px;margin-bottom: 5px;background-size: cover; 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Anglo American N\u00edquel Brasil holds the highest number of active mining applications that have potential impact on these communities, according to a Rep\u00f3rter Brasil investigation<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/reporterbrasil.org.br\/2025\/10\/critical-minerals-surround-45-isolated-indigenous-peoples-in-the-amazon\/\">Critical minerals \u2018surround\u2019 45 isolated indigenous peoples in the Amazon<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/reporterbrasil.org.br\/\">Rep\u00f3rter Brasil<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":60676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9157,5879,26916,4696,6166,26917,5799],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amazon","category-conteudo-original-em-portugues","category-critical-minerals","category-english","category-english-original-content","category-indigenous-people","category-reportagens"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60675\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redept.com.br\/blogosfera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}