Abstract

MEDINA-BUENO, Freddy; SIMBANA-TASIGUANO, Marco; AGUINAGA-BARRAGAN, Alba  and  SALGADO-REVELO, Andrea. Analysis of the impact of small mining in an Ecuadorian Amazon Community, within the geological, environmental and socioeconomic context. Bol. cienc. tierra [online]. 2023, n.54, pp.48-63.  Epub Mar 28, 2024. ISSN 0120-3630.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rbct.n54.109598.

Geological processes have been the precursors to the formation and accumulation of minerals of economic interest in the Ecuadorian Amazon region. Historically, mining extractivism has been considered a productive activity for economic and commercial purposes, however, the alluvial gold mining impact significantly affects local communities and the environment. The objective of this research is to analyze the small-scale mining impact on the water and soil of a section of the Yutzupino River and its relationship with the socioeconomic activities of the population of the El Ceibo community. The study was carried out by selecting the study location (analyzing an intervened and reclaimed area and a non-intervened area), the sampling points, and the collection of geological information. Also, water and soil quality analyses were carried out, and socioeconomic surveys were conducted with the community's inhabitants. The physicochemical parameters of the water indicate that it is not of low quality but that there is turbidity and heavy metals in the soils, especially arsenic. It was found that the community members practice artisanal mining as their main economic activity to cover their basic needs. It is expected that if mining activities continue in the area, the alteration of the physical environment will be favored, as well as the decrease in the quality of water and soil degradation, making agricultural activities impossible if environmental remediation is not carried out.

Keywords : community; environment; geology; mining; socioeconomics.

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