Apropriações da Geodiversidade no município de Rosário, Estado do Maranhão-Brasil

Abstract

The study of physical environment components enables the identification of abiotic elements demanded by human activities. Additionally, it allows us to understand the support of ecosystems, encompassing the environmental settings in the processes of spatial occupation under the economic and cultural contexts. This study was conducted in the municipality of Rosário, Maranhão state, with the goal of understanding the spatial dispersion of geodiversity elements for the local economy and culture, especially through clay exploitation for artisanal and industrial ceramic production, as well as extraction of sand and granite rocks used in the construction industry. Mineral exploration and ceramic processing activities have a high potential to cause immediate and future environmental degradation, despite their records being marked by underreporting, which emphasizes the need for investigations. With this approach, we expect to foster future discussions on the socio-environmental use of elements from the physical environment and geoconservation.