Na ilha de Itacupim, localizada na região costeira do nordeste do Pará, foram encontrados veios de fosfatos de alumínio contendo turquesa, além de quartzo e argilominerais. A ilha é sustentada por espesso perfil laterítico maturo desenvolvido sobre complexo alcalino-ultramáfico mineralizado em apatita. Os veios e vênulas são de espessura centimétrica, normalmente constituídos de wavellita fibro-radial, onde pode ser observada turquesa verde-azulada, em massas subesferolíticas, microcristalinas, intercrescidas com caulinita e oxi-hidróxidos de Mn, além de quartzo. A identificação mineral foi realizada por DRX, microscopia óptica, análises químicas de rocha total, MEV/SED. Os teores de CuO são inferiores aos das turquesas em geral, compensados por Fe2O3 e ZnO. Os subesferolitos de turquesa contêm inúmeras inclusões micrométricas de goyazita ou svanbergita. A ocorrência da turquesa, na forma de veios e vênulas, seu aspecto porcelanado e a conhecida relação desse mineral com ambiente hidrotermal sugerem que a turquesa de Itacupim também seja de origem hidrotermal, reforçada pela sua associação com wavellita, goyazita ou svanbergita, quartzo e argilominerais. Ela não foi encontrada no perfil laterítico. Seu aspecto compacto e sua cor esverdeada abrem perspectivas para seu uso como mineral de gema.
Veins and veinlets of aluminum phosphates with turquoise occur at the Itacupim Island in the coastal plain northeast the state of Pará. A thick mature lateritic iron crust rich in aluminum phosphates developed an apatite-bearing alkaline-ultramafic complex which constitutes the Island. The veins and veinlets are cm-thick, usually constituted by wavellite, fibrous to radialfibrous, with bony or porcelaneous aspect, and can turquoise. Pebbles of these phosphates inside of apatite-bearing ultramafic rocks are very common at the base of the hang wall, and locally form expressive agglomerates. Turquoise forms half spheroids and is bluish-green, microcrystalline, and is intergrown with kaolinite and Mn oxy-hydroxides. The mineral identification was carried out by XRD optic microscopy, chemical analyses by wet methods and by SEM/EDS. The lower CuO values, in comparison to turquoise elsewhere, are compensated by the higher Fe2O3 and ZnO. The spheroids display countless inclusions of micrometric goyazite or svanbergite. The turquoise relation to veins and veinlets with wavellite, goyazite or svanbergite, quartz and clay minerals, its porcelaneous aspect and well-known occurrence of turquoise in hydrothermal environment indicate that the Itacupim turquoise was formed by the same mechanism. It doesn't display any clear relationship to laterite profile. The color and compact aspect of this turquoise make it suitable for use as gems

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Thermophosphate consists of the thermal treatment of the rock, with or without addition of other materials, being an excellent source of phosphate fertilizer, presenting other nutrients and beneficial elements such as Mg and Si. In this work were used Al-phosphates from Sapucaia (Bonito, State of Pará) and slag of the blast furnace (Marabá, State of Pará), in the ratio 80/20, being subjected to calcination at 700 ºC and 1100 ºC with the objective of verifying the behavior of crystalline phases in these temperatures. The samples were calcined and then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). These analyzes showed that the phosphate ore consists of phases of the crandallite group and quartz and the slag by amorphous material. After calcination at 700°C, the phases of the thermophosphate and slagthermophosphate are restructured tending to amorphous, except quartz. At this temperature, the solubility of the phosphate material favors the increase in P 2 O 5 content. At 1100° C the identified crystalline phases were: aluminum oxide, aluminum and iron phosphates, calcium and iron phosphates, and silicon oxide. Studies evaluating these materials in agriculture may determine their agronomic efficiency.

Brazil has immense potential in the production of quartz and its gem varieties, consequently generating huge amounts of waste. This research aims to utilize the amethyst quartz tailings from the Alto Bonito mine-Brazil accumulated for decades in waste dumps, through a specific study of cementitious mortar production, considering the mineralogical and chemical characterization; evaluation the use of tailings as a fine aggregate for mortar production; estimate the technical feasibility through mechanical tests and; characterize of specimens by SEM after breakage. The tailings are quartz associated with mica. Quartz is polycrystalline with medium to fine grain, being SiO 2 the main component. The comminuted tailings showed a very fine fineness modulus, affecting the formulations. With cement:tailings (1:3) traces the mechanical tests show 5.65 Mpa and 1.05 Mpa to compressive and flexural strength respectively, slightly below the reference. The fine-sized and metamorphic morphology of the tailings affects the mechanical strength of the mortar. The process adopted in the production of mortars with total replacement of the fine aggregate have a great impact contributing to the reduction of waste in dumps, minimizing the environmental impact of mining, in addition to benefiting the Amethyst Miners Cooperative.

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