A FORGOTTEN VILLAGE: MINING-DEPENDENCY AND THE EFFECTS OF GOLD MINING ON GODOFREDO VIANA ECONOMY

Abstract

In this article, through field research and analysis of secondary data, I investigate the economic effects of gold mining in the municipality of Godofredo Viana (MA), in mining carried out by the Canadian company Equinox Gold. The hypothesis worked in the research is that large-scale mining creates difficulties and damages for other productive activities generating a trend to concentrate the productive structure in mineral extraction, in a situation of mining-dependency (COELHO, 2018). I analyze the bibliography on the socioeconomic effects of mining, the Aurizona project and gold mining in the Maranhão Amazon, the effects of mineral activity on the local economy of Godofredo Viana and the artisanal mining in Godofredo Viana. There is a decrease in agricultural production, as well as in planted area, indicating that gold mining has been generating a context of mining-dependency in Godofredo Viana.