Actividad minera artesanal en la región Lima - [Boletín E 14]

Abstract

[ENG] The study area is located in the Lima region and has an approximate area of 34 944 km2, covering 35% of the territory, a coastal area and a 65% mountain range. Artisanal mining in this region is one of the most important activities for its economic development. This region according to INEI (2015) indicates that it has a total of 9834 631 inhabitants and also 287 peasant communities. It presents a temperate and desert climate, with very little vegetation in its coastal area, while in the mountains the vegetation increases. The main basins are: Cañete River, Chancay River, Chilca River, Chillón River, Fortaleza River, Huaura River, Lurín River, Mala River, Omas River, Pativilca River, Rímac River and Supe River.Ten zones with greater activity of artisanal mining have been selected and distributed in blocks: 1) North Block: Barranca Zone, Colorado Zone, Oyón Zone and Cajatambo Zone; 2) Central Block: Yangas Zone, Cocachacra Zone and Matucana Zone; and 3) South Block: Bad Zone, Tauripampa Zone and Cañete Zone. In total, 40 sectors and / or mining areas have been recognized (some in exploration). Metallogenetically, artisanal mining is developed under extractive work in two geographical areas in general. The first is the one that is close to the coast, where the mineralization is gold and occurs in the Batolito de la Costa. The second occurs in heights greater than 2000 meters, with polymetallic mineralization and related to the Cenozoic volcanic belt. In terms of their jobs, the problems faced by this activity are also related to their geographical position, since those jobs near the coast are also close to the towns; while the workings of the heights have problems with the zones of culture due to the accumulation of tailings. However, these problems will have to become challenges to transform them into strengths by applying technology and good practices that has been part of the work related to Technical Assistance. Assistance was provided to artisanal miners in matters of geological knowledge, teaching and use of navigation equipment, drawing up plans of work, as well as criteria for locating new structures with mining potential. Due to the ravages of the El Niño Phenomenon in many places, the work is abandoned and / or paralyzed due to the blockade of the access roads and the destruction of their camps.