Master thesis presented by José Bernardo R. Brilha , 1992, 176 p.

Abstract
This work has as main aims the global characterization of the mechanism responsible for this deposit genesis, namely:

1. study of the mineralogical and geochemistry evolution of the primary minerals in the transition fresh rock-saprolite;
2. kaolinite and other secondary mineralogical phases characterization;
3. characterization of the dominant alteration process (weathering/hydrothermal).

The weathering, responsible for the kaolinization, is peculiar because the following causes:

1. no gibsite was found, nevertheless this mineral is always present in other saprolites of the same area and even in the rest of the country;
2. the very small percentage of mixed-layer minerals present in the studied samples allows the conclude about the dominance and intensity of the kaolinization/weathering phenomena.