Abstract
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Amazonian countries has undergone important technological improvements in recent decades. Nevertheless, this type of mining is largely associated with the use of rudimentary, low-tech and often manual methods, with inefficient gold recovery. This article aims at investigating how innovations and improvements in the technology used in small-scale gold mines are connected to a broader perception of the miners about the integration of more modern and effective techniques. A technographical approach enabled the understanding of mining practices as embodied cultural knowledge and to fill the information gap between the study of materials and techniques with the study of people and communities. We discuss how the technology of small-scale gold mining in the region of Peixoto de Azevedo (Mato Grosso, Brazil) has changed since the early 1980s, giving particular attention to the recent introduction of two main innovations: the mechanized exploration drill and the cyanidation process. In this region, miners are successfully organized in cooperatives efforts to mutually reinforce the integration of innovative and effective techniques. Finally, we introduce the three notions of foresight (visão), agility (agilidade) and development (desenvolvimento) that emerged during fieldwork and conceptually frame the likeliness of acceptance and promulgation of innovations in this context. Sustainable mining may only succeed if a wider vision of the future of the sector (foresight) joins public policies that facilitate the practical process of innovation during each phase of its realization (agility) in order to achieve an advanced social status of the local community (development).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 618-635 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Journal of Cleaner Production |
| Volume | 204 |
| Early online date | 17 Aug 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 10 Dec 2018 |
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Bibliographical note
https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1Xk6c3QCo9R4kk50 day free access link
Keywords
- Anthropology
- Brazil
- Development
- Innovation
- Small-scale gold mining
- Technology
VU Research Profile
- Science for Sustainability
Cite this
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Understanding small-scale gold mining practices : An anthropological study on technological innovation in the Vale do Rio Peixoto (Mato Grosso, Brazil). / Massaro, Luciana; de Theije, Marjo.
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 204, 10.12.2018, p. 618-635.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding small-scale gold mining practices
T2 - An anthropological study on technological innovation in the Vale do Rio Peixoto (Mato Grosso, Brazil)
AU - Massaro, Luciana
AU - de Theije, Marjo
N1 - https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1Xk6c3QCo9R4kk 50 day free access link
PY - 2018/12/10
Y1 - 2018/12/10
N2 - Artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Amazonian countries has undergone important technological improvements in recent decades. Nevertheless, this type of mining is largely associated with the use of rudimentary, low-tech and often manual methods, with inefficient gold recovery. This article aims at investigating how innovations and improvements in the technology used in small-scale gold mines are connected to a broader perception of the miners about the integration of more modern and effective techniques. A technographical approach enabled the understanding of mining practices as embodied cultural knowledge and to fill the information gap between the study of materials and techniques with the study of people and communities. We discuss how the technology of small-scale gold mining in the region of Peixoto de Azevedo (Mato Grosso, Brazil) has changed since the early 1980s, giving particular attention to the recent introduction of two main innovations: the mechanized exploration drill and the cyanidation process. In this region, miners are successfully organized in cooperatives efforts to mutually reinforce the integration of innovative and effective techniques. Finally, we introduce the three notions of foresight (visão), agility (agilidade) and development (desenvolvimento) that emerged during fieldwork and conceptually frame the likeliness of acceptance and promulgation of innovations in this context. Sustainable mining may only succeed if a wider vision of the future of the sector (foresight) joins public policies that facilitate the practical process of innovation during each phase of its realization (agility) in order to achieve an advanced social status of the local community (development).
AB - Artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Amazonian countries has undergone important technological improvements in recent decades. Nevertheless, this type of mining is largely associated with the use of rudimentary, low-tech and often manual methods, with inefficient gold recovery. This article aims at investigating how innovations and improvements in the technology used in small-scale gold mines are connected to a broader perception of the miners about the integration of more modern and effective techniques. A technographical approach enabled the understanding of mining practices as embodied cultural knowledge and to fill the information gap between the study of materials and techniques with the study of people and communities. We discuss how the technology of small-scale gold mining in the region of Peixoto de Azevedo (Mato Grosso, Brazil) has changed since the early 1980s, giving particular attention to the recent introduction of two main innovations: the mechanized exploration drill and the cyanidation process. In this region, miners are successfully organized in cooperatives efforts to mutually reinforce the integration of innovative and effective techniques. Finally, we introduce the three notions of foresight (visão), agility (agilidade) and development (desenvolvimento) that emerged during fieldwork and conceptually frame the likeliness of acceptance and promulgation of innovations in this context. Sustainable mining may only succeed if a wider vision of the future of the sector (foresight) joins public policies that facilitate the practical process of innovation during each phase of its realization (agility) in order to achieve an advanced social status of the local community (development).
KW - Anthropology
KW - Brazil
KW - Development
KW - Innovation
KW - Small-scale gold mining
KW - Technology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85054612924&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85054612924&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.153
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.153
M3 - Article
VL - 204
SP - 618
EP - 635
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
SN - 0959-6526
ER -