14 research outputs found
A new methodological contribution for the geodiversity assessment: applicability to Ceará State (Brazil)
The concept of geodiversity aggregates the abiotic elements of nature and promotes the geoconservation. The main objective of this work is to contribute to the upgrade of the method for the assessment and quantification of geodiversity proposed by Pereira et al. (2013). The method is based on the superposition of a regular grid of 12 × 12 km on different maps (lithology, geomorphology, soil, paleonthology, mineral and geological energy resources) at scales of 1:250,000 to 1:600,000. In addition to other up- grades, the water resources are regarded here as a new com- ponent to consider when quantifying geodiversity. The sum of these maps generated the quantitative Map of Geodiversity Indices and the Map of Geodiversity Assessment, ranging from very low to very high geodiversity. The analysis of the geodiversity map of the State of Ceará (Brazil) shows the applicability and advantage of this method, highlighting two regions with higher levels of geodiversity (Northwest and South) and another region with the lowest levels (Sertões Cearenses). The results also allowed the characterization of the State of Ceará concerning the individual components of the geodiversity, especially the water resources. Geodiversity indices and maps are comprehensive and user-friendly data in the territorial planning, considering the geodiversity either as a whole, or each of its components, especially the more sensi- tive such as fossil conservation, and water, mineral, and non- renewable energy resources management.The authors express their gratitude to the Brazilian
research fostering institution "Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de
Pessoal de NĂvel Superior" (CAPES) for awarding the CiĂŞncia Sem
Fronteiras (CsF) PhD scholarship that enabled this work. This work was
partially co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional
Development Fund, based on COMPETE 2020 (Programa Operacional da
Competitividade e Internacionalização), project ICT (UID/GEO/04683/
2013) with reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007690 and national funds
provided by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
Conservation of geosites as a tool to protect geoheritage: the inventory of Ceará Central Domain, Borborema Province - NE/Brazil
The Ceará Central Domain, in the northern Borborema Province/NE Brazil, encompasses important geological records (geosites) which allow understanding a relevant period of the Earth’s evolution, mainly associated to Neoproterozoic Brazilian/Pan-African Cycle and West Gondwana amalgamation, besides Neoarchean to Ordovician records. The presented geoheritage inventory aims to characterise the geosites with scienti c relevance of Ceará Central Domain. By applying a method for large areas, the nal selection resulted in eight geological frameworks represented by 52 geosites documented in a single database. This is the rst step for a geoconservation strategy based on systematic inventories, statutory protection, geoethical behaviour and awareness about scienti c, educational and/or cultural relevance of geosites.We specially thank all experts that helped us with
this inventory: Afonso Almeida, Carlos E.G. de
AraĂşjo, CĂ©sar VerĂssimo, Christiano Magini, ClĂłvis
Vaz Parente, Felipe G. Costa, Irani C. Mattos,
Neivaldo de Castro, Otaciel de Melo, Sebástian G.
Chiozza, Ticiano Santos and Stefano Zincone. We
are also thankful to Kátia Mansur, Ricardo Fraga
Pereira and anonymous reviewers for their valuable
contributions. PM is grateful to Coordenação de
Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de NĂvel Superior
(CAPES) for PhD mobility scholarship PDSE
Program/Process n 88881.132168/2016-01info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio