GEODIVERSITY SURVEY OF THE NORTHEAST SECTOR OF PIRIPIRI/PIAUÍ, BRAZIL

Abstract

The research aimed to raise the of knowledge exploratory level of geodiversity and geological /geomorphological heritage of the municipality of Piripiri/Piauí to support the geoconservation and geotourism initiatives, thus promoting research related to these themes, too important, but scarce in the state. For this characterization of the geodiversity of Piripiri held the inventory – according to Oliveira methodology (2015) – considering the stages of identification, evaluation and selection of geomorfossítios the municipality in question, thus contributing to the studies on geo-diversity in the state from Piauí. Geological/geomorphological sites of interest were inventoried, identified/assessed qualitatively, then characterized. Nine geomorfossítios were identified in the Northeast of the municipality, namely: geomorfossítios Cachoeira Bota Fora, Afloramento de Arenito Bota Fora, Açude Caldeirão, Blocos de Arenito do São Bento, Sítio da Gruta, Casa de Pedra, Pedra de Tartaruga, Pedra do Atlas and Sítio dos Bruxos in sequence were evaluated qualitatively considering different standards and ranked for the purpose of analysis of their relevance. The most relevant geomorfossítios identified were Açude Caldeirão, Sítio dos Bruxos, Cachoeira Bota Fora, Casa de Pedra, Pedra do Atlas, Pedra da Tartaruga and Sítio da Gruta on the other hand, the lowest scores were the Blocos de Arenito do São Bento and the Afloramento de Arenito do Bota Fora. It was found in general the need for infrastructure deployment in these geomorfossítios so that they can be open to the public for purposes geotouristic as a way to generate income from that municipality population.