Bahia investing in aero-geophysics to identify potential deposits

Northeast Brazil's Bahia state, the country's third largest in terms of mining production, is investing in aero-geophysics to identify potential deposits.

“This mechanism with high resolution surveys, combined with current geological knowledge, represents one of the best investments for the mining sector’s development in Bahia state. These surveys will result in a significant increase in the number of exploration permits," Antonio Carlos Tramm, president of state mineral research company CBPM, said in a release.

The latest aero-geophysical surveys are a joint effort of the state government and companies based in Bahia. Between 2010 and 2020, the state and mining companies invested a combined 1.8bn reais (currently US$352mn) in mineral exploration.

Mining has expanded rapidly in the state partly thanks to new rail projects, which have reduced logistics costs for mining firms.

Bahia is also considered key in the federal government’s plan to diversify the country's mining sector, which is heavily concentrated on iron ore production.

The state is Brazil's largest producer of barite, bentonite, chrome, diamonds, magnesite, quartz, salt and talc. It ranks second and third in terms of nickel and copper and is the country’s only producer of vanadium and uranium.