Patrimônio geológico e geodiversidade das minas históricas da Chapada Diamantina, no contexto da proposta do geoparque Morro do Chapéu, Bahia

Abstract

Unlike what can be inferred from a number of journal articles and other works about the topic published in the last ten years, geoparks are not protected areas, and they are not composed solely of the geological formations in a given area, however exceptional they are. They are rather projects for the appreciation of geoheritage and "the memories of the Earth" as drivers of territorial policy for sustainable development. Just for the State of Bahia, the Brazilian Geological Survey (CPRM) have proposed the creation of five geoparks — São Desidério, Cânion do Rio São Francisco, Alto Rio de Contas, Serra do Sincorá and Morro do Chapéu, the last three being in the central region known as the Chapada Diamantina. Located in the northeastern part of the Chapada Highlands, at altitudes reaching 1290 meters, Morro do Chapéu boasts a history and geological formations that make the region one of the most promising for the creation of a geopark along the lines of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network concept. The Tombador Formation (consisting of sedimentary rocks that once formed the dunes of a Mesoproterozoic desert successively invaded by the sea), the Caboclo Formation (with its silicified limestones and stromatolites), and records on its rocks of geological processes and events dating back to pre-Cambrian. For nearly 30 years and until recently, the region served the CPRM as a depositional systems school area for training generations of geoscience professionals and students from all over the country. In addition, the uniqueness of its landscapes, the presence of cave paintings and other archaeological sites, historic villages and architecture linked to the history of diamond and carbonado mining, and their intersection with the Second Industrial Revolution in Europe and the United States. Since geoconservation is an applied science, this work aimed to address the concepts of geological heritage and geodiversity elements in the context of the geosites proposed by the CPRM for the composition of the Morro do Chapéu geopark, in the form of integrated tracks or itineraries. Special emphasis is given to the characterization and geoconservation of abandoned historic mines, following the principles of the Spanish El Bierzo Charter. Accordingly, the Diamond Track received a complete characterization and treatment in the form of the article Recovering the Ventura Village. If well explored, this is the track that can serve as the nucleus of the geotouristic activities in the area, and which, after being structured and well consolidated, can serve as a starting point for the implementation of the other tracks and its integration into a geopark. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of geotourism in areas far from large centers becomes even more relevant for the economic recovery of these areas, as they represent destinations with a lower concentration of people, and because they offer outdoors experiences and activities. The pandemic represents, therefore, the opportunity to rethink the CPRM proposal for the implementation of the Morro do Chapéu Geopark, as it promotes the objectives of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.