ABSTRACT
The main reserves of magnesite in the world are in China, North Korea, Russia, Brazil, Turkey, India, Slovak Republic, Greece, Spain and Austria. The talc reserves are present in China, USA, Japan, Brazil and Korea Republic. The largest producers of magnesite are represented by China, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Slovak Republic, North Korea, Austria, Greece, Spain, India, Australia and Canada. For talc production the pointed out countries are China, USA, Japan, Korea Republic, India and Brazil. The magnesite deposits of Brazil are formed by sedimetation and orogenic metamorphism and talc by hydrothermal and metamorphic processes. The exploration of magnesite and talc in Brazil considers lithostratigraphic, lithologic, structural and morphologic controls of the deposits. The magnesite and talc deposits in all Brazilian districts are exploited by open pit methods. This exploitation causes environmental impacts mainly on soil and natural ecosystems, but degraded areas have been usually recuperated.
