DE GEOLOGIA RICA À DESIGUALDADE SOCIAL

garimpagem em Centro Novo do Maranhão e seus reflexos em Maracaçumé, Amazônia Maranhense

Abstract

Gold mining in the Amazon region of Maranhão shapes the territories and economies of municipalities in the western part of the state, such as Maracaçumé and Centro Novo do Maranhão. This practice also incites significant social inequalities. The abundance of mineral resources does not translate into development for the local populations, who remain marginalized from the economic benefits. It is necessary to understand why the subsoil offers potential wealth while the surface reproduces precarious living conditions. This work is organized using the dialectical method, developed through an integrative bibliographic review and field research involving questionnaires administered to gold miners in Chega Tudo and Cipoeiro, localities in Centro Novo do Maranhão, as well as interviews with former gold miners residing in the town of Maracaçumé. The aim is to understand the relationship between gold mining and quality of life, also using the Human Development Index (HDI) of the two municipalities as a guiding parameter. It can be understood that both miners currently working in the Centro Novo do Maranhão region and former miners living in the municipality of Maracaçumé seek to improve the economic conditions of their families, even if in unhealthy conditions, due to a lack of opportunities in other economic activities and low levels of education. It can also be observed that the majority of workers in the mining areas are male. This study is relevant not only for presenting the dynamics of these areas, but also for fulfilling the need for literature specifically related to this region.