>>211643133It was never about soy.
The Amazon region holds one of the most vast and underexplored mineral reserves on Earth. Beneath its dense forests lie significant deposits of gold, bauxite (aluminum ore), iron ore, manganese, copper, tin, niobium, rare earth elements, and even oil and natural gas. Brazilโs northern states โ particularly Parรก, Amazonas, Roraima, and Amapรก โ are rich in geological formations that remain largely untouched due to environmental restrictions, lack of infrastructure, and concerns over indigenous land rights.
In recent years, both legal and illegal mining activities have expanded dramatically, especially for gold, often leading to deforestation, river contamination, and social conflict. Yet, from a purely geological and economic perspective, the Amazon is considered a frontier of strategic resources โ with global importance for sectors like electronics, aerospace, construction, and green energy technologies (e.g., lithium, rare earths).
If responsibly managed, the Amazon could play a crucial role in Brazilโs future as a global supplier of critical minerals. However, this potential raises serious ethical and environmental questions, as it must be balanced against biodiversity preservation, indigenous rights, and the fight against climate change.