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The regional impacts of small‐scale gold mining in Amazonia

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  • Oswaldo Bezerra
  • Adalberto Veríssimo
  • Christopher Uhl

Abstract

Gold mining is the major economic activity in the Upper Tapajós River Basin of the Brazilian Amazon. This article studies the structure, economy and impacts of gold mining operations in this region. Mining has significant environmental impacts in this region resulting in the removal of approximately 67 million m3 of sub‐soil per year and accompanied by an annual release of some 12 tons of mercury to air, ground and rivers. In the early 1990s there were 245 mines in operation, employing some 30000 people and producing around 35t gold per year, valued at approximately $400 million yr‐1, the profits being about $110 million yr‐1. Miners spent most of their earnings on local goods and services, while mine owners and merchants in the gold towns invested in land (mainly for ranching), business ventures and money markets. Wealth gained from mining has served as an engine for development in other regions of the world and could, theoretically, achieve the same for Amazonia. However, before this could happen, the Government of Brazil would need to mark a strong presence in the area by providing technical assistance and developing and enforcing mining/environmental regulations. The likelihood of such a development materializing in the foreseeable future is small. In the meantime, gold mining acts, not as an ‘engine for development’, but as a destabilizing force — provoking environmental damage, social discord and public health hazards in the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Oswaldo Bezerra & Adalberto Veríssimo & Christopher Uhl, 1996. "The regional impacts of small‐scale gold mining in Amazonia," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 20(4), pages 305-317, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:20:y:1996:i:4:p:305-317
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.1996.tb00663.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Roberts, J. Timmons, 1995. "Trickling down and scrambling up: The informal sector, food provisioning and local benefits of the Carajas mining "Growth Pole" in the Brazilian Amazon," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 385-400, March.
    2. Andreas Hoppe, 1992. "The Amazon between economy and ecology," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 16(3), pages 232-234, August.
    3. Anderson, Anthony B., 1990. "Smokestacks in the rainforest: Industrial development and deforestation in the Amazon basin," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 18(9), pages 1191-1205, September.
    4. John Hollaway, 1992. "Options for mining development in Africa," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 16(2), pages 154-157, May.
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    1. Fernando Morante-Carballo & Néstor Montalván-Burbano & Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar & Paúl Carrión-Mero, 2022. "A Bibliometric Analysis of the Scientific Research on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-29, July.

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