The Minister for Mines and Energy, Cesar Cals, authorizes two mining companies to search for titania in the Yanomami area. A group of miners are found on Yanomami land in the Amazon. 1981 - Almost 2000 miners invade the area, this time in search of gold. The governor, Ottomar Pinto, insists that the indian lands be liberated for mining. 1982 - Five Yanomami indians are murdered by miners in the region of the rivers Catrami and Apiau.
Several diseases are already widespread among the indians.
1984 - Federal Deputy Mozarildo Cavalcanti from Roraima, presents a bill in Congress to open up part of the indigenous area for the mining of cassiterite. A Yanomami indian is shot in the back by a miner on the Catrami river. 1985 - 44 miners, led by a businessman, Jose Altino Machado, invade Surucucus and hold up a sergeant and 4 soldiers from the army, who are protecting the area. The miners are expelled by the Army and the Federal and Military Police. Arrested, Altino Machado says he will try again.