from extreme resource extraction

In the 17th century, Portuguese conquerors came to Minas Gerais in search of gold. The tons they extracted were sent back to Portugal, helping fuel the rise of the Portuguese Empire. Two hundred years later, when there was no more gold, miners turned to iron. The iron was extracted and sent around the world, fueling the Industrial Age.

This iron-rich region, covering 1.7 million acres, has become known as the Iron Quadrangle. The soil is so rich in iron that it has an intense red hue. When walking through the area, one can’t help but kick up loose pieces. Iron extraction continues in the region today. Mined and shipped out on a never-ending procession of trucks and trains, leaving in their wake residential neighborhoods scattered among a creviced lunar-like landscape.

Pedro David in The Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais