De geologia rica à desigualdade social: garimpagem em Centro Novo do Maranhão e seus reflexos em Maracaçumé, Amazônia Maranhense

Abstract

Mining activity in the Amazon region of Maranhão is intrinsically linked to the territorial and economic formation of municipalities in the western part of the state, such as Maracaçumé and Centro Novo do Maranhão, where mineral exploration has shaped local dynamics. This practice creates major social inequalities when, paradoxically, the abundance of mineral attributes does not translate into development for local populations that remain on the margins of economic benefits. Thus, it is necessary to understand the reasons why there are possibilities of wealth underground while the surface reproduces precarious living conditions, which is the objective of this dissertation. To this end, the dialectical method was adopted, which guided the stages of bibliographic review, analysis of secondary data and field research with the application of questionnaires to miners in Chega Tudo and Cipoeiro, villages in the municipality of Centro Novo do Maranhão, as well as interviews with former miners living in the municipal headquarters of Maracaçumé, with the aim of understanding the relationship between mining and the quality of life of the populations living in these territories. The research allowed us to understand that both gold prospectors working in the Centro Novo region of Maranhão, as well as former gold prospectors living in the municipality of Maracaçumé, share the desire to improve their families' economic conditions and venture into this unhealthy activity, due to a lack of opportunities in other economic activities. The majority of workers in the gold prospecting areas are male and have low levels of education, which forces them to continue mining, even though they do not have advantageous financial returns. It was found that, although gold prospecting represents a source of income for gold prospectors, much of the income is concentrated in the hands of the gold prospectors, owners of the banks and machinery, which does not result in significant improvements in economic indicators for the municipalities or in the quality of life of the families of those involved in the activity.