Small-scale gold mining in the Guianas. Mobility and policy across national borders

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

If there is one thing that the Three Guianas have in common, it is their natural magnificence. The gigantic abundance and variety of the vast forests, swamps and savannahs, and the innumerable rivers and creeks criss-crossing the land, dominate their natural landscape. The Guiana Shield, one of three cratons of the South American plate from contemporary Venezuela to Amapá State in Brazil, also harbours mineral wealth, notably gold, diamonds and bauxite. Since colonial times the discovery of gold has inspired the imagination and motivated many actions. Gold may not have brought the expected paradise, but for many inhabitants of the Guianas it provides a livelihood. Today in and across the three countries gold mining is the cork that keeps the economy floating.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPost-Colonial Trajectories in the Caribbean The Three Guianas
EditorsR. Hoefte, M L Bishop, P. Clegg
Place of PublicationLondon and New York
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter6
Pages92-106
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)9781315552248
ISBN (Print)9781472480453, 9781032097350
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Publication series

NameThe International Political Economy of New Regionalisms Series
PublisherRoutledge

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