geossítio monólito bico do papagaio, município de Itajaí, SC, Brasil

The geosite Monolith Bico do Papagaio (MBP) is a geomonument of great scenic beauty, whose outcrop, of approximately 65 m2 area, resembles the “head or beak of a parrot”. The rare and prominent geological “piece” stimulates tourist activity at the Itajaí municipality. This paper describes the petrology and analyses the vulnerability to human depredation. The monolith is composed by gray to silvery schist, belonging to the Neoproterozoic Brusque Metamorphic Complex. The main rock minerals are muscovite, chlorite, quartz, andalusite and zircon, with lepidoblastic, granoblastic and subordinate porphyroblastic textures. For studying the vulnerability and valuation of the geosite, it was used the methodology proposed by Dr. José Brilha in 2005 which is based on three important aspects, namely: (A) intrinsic value; (B) potential use; (C) need of geosite protection. The focus is to quantify intrinsic values, to guarantee sustainability and promote geoconservation of the geosite, which has high geotouristic potential.