Sociological Report in Reference to S

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Sociological Report in Reference to São Chico e
Crepurizinho Mining Sites Armin Mathis
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
The Mining Site History
1963. São Chico site is discovered. The first
areas to be exploited were those close to the
village, built around the landing track. 1986.
Transgarimpeira road. The access to the site is
no longer exclusively via airplane, lowering the
costs of production and maintaining the viability
of the mineral exploitation site. End of the
90s. Some miners had started to exploit primary
deposits of the region. 1999/2000/2001. Top
production, the population of the site reached
about 5.000 people.
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico e
Crepurizinho mining sites
São Chico geral view with Montanha mining site
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
General Description of the Mining Site
Little activity in 2003. Seven work fronts linked
to de village (six in activity). 69 people
directly involved (59 miners / 10 cooks). Gold
production about 1 kg /month. Repassagem, panning
of previously exploited material. Teams of three
workers, 30 participation of the
production. Attempt to benefit rejects from mills
(curimã) through an artisan process of cyaniding.
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico e
Crepurizinho mining sites
São Chico general view of the village
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining sites
The village
63 houses along the old landing track (4 of 64
are of public use, 3/63 only commercial use, 8/63
abandoned). 44 houses were sampled (90 of the
inhabited houses). Population 134
individuals. Health post for malaria
analysis. School without teacher since
Jan/2003. Three diesel retailer and four gold
buyers.
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining sites
São Chico House of the public malaria analysis
service
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
House Profile
Most houses have multiple uses (commerce and
residences). Inhabitants are almost the
owners. Wooden buildings, cemented floor, roofed
with aluminium sheets, four rooms and outdoor
toilet. Electrical power supply by diesel-run
generator. Drinking water come from wells and is
stored in containers without treatment before
consumption. Domestic garbage is deposited on
unoccupied areas.
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico e
Crepurizinho mining sites
Photo 4 São Chico General view of the village.
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
Population Profile
Mostly male, in average 28 years old. Average
length of stay in the village 8.1 years. Most
originate from Maranhão State. Most children and
adolescents (lt18 years) were born in the Pará
State (trend of permanent migration). Low
education level. About 26 of the population does
not have personal identification documents.
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
Population Profile
Education Level ( of population older than 14
years)
Distribution of population in an age pyramid
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
Population Profile
About 26 of the population does not have
personal identification documents (lt18 years
63). Most of the population (81) older than 15
year is economically active. Daily diet rice
(100), beef (80), cassava flour (84) and beans
(61). Consumer goods gas oven (77), freezer
(52), fan (52).
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
São Chico Montanha Mining Site
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
Social Organisation
Initial stage of transition from a corrutela (a
settlement only destined to support the
activities in the mineral prospecting) to a
village with lasting perspectives and diversified
economic base. Social status is achieved through
landownership (generally old mining areas
legalized by the previous owners) and through
commerce. No forms of civil organisation in the
village (only a protestant church).
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
São Chico - Montanha Mining Site Sluice box
with second box that will retain the allowance
for the workers
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
Mining Workers Profile
54 sample. 40 years old, single or
separated. 75 have children (3.3 children per
father). Low level of formal education (55 never
studied). 18 have no personal identification
documents. 70 of the workforce was born in
Maranhão.
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
São Chico - Mining Site São Conrado
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
Mining Workers Profile
Start to work in gold mining 17 years
ago. Average of permanence in São Chico is 9.3
years. 80 have worked in others
sites. Agriculture for subsistence (50) or wage
labourers were the activities before entering
mining (average wage USD 100). In average last
trip to a city was four years ago. Homogenous
work regimen.
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
São Chico - Mining Site Baixão Novo Pan with
mercury for final concentration of the gold.
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
Mining Workers Profile
Homogenous work regimen. Monthly wage about USD
125 (food is for free, cook must be paid by the
workers). 43 of the workers have experience in
working independently (with machinery / manual
work).
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
São Chico - Mining Site Montanha - Stack pills
used for cyanidation
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
Mining Workers Profile
40 affirmed to have been sick in the last two
month (70 had to stop working and 60 looked for
medical assistance) A third reported a work
related accident and 38 have already witnessed a
fatal accident. 80 burn or have burnt
gold. Radio and TV are the main sources of
information. Very low participation in general
elections. Violence is very present in the
individual life history.
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Sociological Report in reference to São Chico
mining site
São Chico - Abandoned artisan 'Laboratory' for
cyanidation
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Mining Site History
1962. Foundation. 1974. Landing track constructed
by Lourival Rodrigues de Lemos, who monopolises
flights and commerce. 1986. Transgarimpeira Road.
1983 1990. Top production (350kg-400kg
Au/month), 10.000 inhabitants. 1990th discovery
of new ore bodies heated the local economy,
albeit not at the same level as in the eighties.
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - General View
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
General Description
The village is used as logistical base to work
fronts situated in a 10 km radius. In July 2003
about 60 pairs of machines and 15 shafts were in
activity, with an estimated population of 350
direct involved in the mining activity (300
miners, 50 cooks). Production 50kg Au / month.
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - Second Street
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
General Description

• Trends in the gold extraction process
• Rise in processing capacity without modifying
  processing
• Cyanidation
• Repassagem of semi-unexploited areas
• Reduction of the number of working team members
• Reduction in the supply of workforce

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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - Second Street
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
The Village
264 houses (56/264 unoccupied, 4/264 public
unoccupied, 8/264 commercial, 12/264 deposits,
22/264 no inhabitants present, 01/264 refused to
be interviewed). Sample 87,5 of inhabited
houses. 553 inhabitants (indicated population 600
individuals). Public school (1st to 6th grade)
with 146 students enrolled. Public health post
for malaria tests. Health agent paid by the
municipality.
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - Travessa D'Gold
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
The Village
Police station (3 employees). Three churches (1
catholic and 2 protestant). Four gold
buyers. Five resellers of oil for fuel (about
100.000 l month), mostly for mining (90).
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
The Village
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Houses Profile
Most houses (62.1) are owned by the
inhabitants. Most of the inhabited houses (75)
are exclusively residents. Made of wood, roofed
with brasilit or aluminium sheets and cement
floored with five rooms and outdoor toilet. One
third of the houses have no electric
power. Drinking water come from shallow wells,
great concerns with water treatment, only 15
drink water without treatment. Garbage is
individually burnt or deposited in unoccupied
areas.
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - Evangelic church
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Population Profile
25.5 years old, mostly female. Live at the
village for 8 years. Half of the population was
born in Pará, 34 in Maranhão (trend of permanent
migration). 65.7 of the population (gt14 years)
are economically active, 73 of the workforce is
male. Income USD 167 (male USD179, female
USD123).
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Population Profile
Level of education( of population older than
14)
Age Distribution of the population (in from
the total)
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Population Profile
Diversified diet rice, milk, beans and manioc
flour almost daily, lower beef consumption. Fish
consumption 1.5 times a week. Consumer goods gas
oven (96.2) and TV (60.2). 63.4 of the
households without properties. 23 owns houses
outside the village (mostly Itaituba). A small
portion of people (about 7) has different
economic conditions from the others.
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Creporizinho - Catholic curch
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Population Profile

• Identified demands
• medical care (health post or hospital).
• public school with complete junior high school
  levels (6th to 8th grade).
• Improvement and maintenance of road acess.
• Public water and electric power supply.
• Close ties to urban centers (Itaituba).

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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - Mining Site Zé Baiano - Slope
deactivated
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Social Organization
Community inside a municipality structure. 1991
movement toward emancipation (plebiscite was not
successful). Opposition against the local
presidency of the community (spontaneous
movement). Mothers club as the only formal
organization in the community (82 women). Further
activities have to involve all the formal and
informal leaders.
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - Mining Site Torrentino Slope
(Rampa)
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Mining Workers ProfileAge and origin
In the project main target area 38 miners and 7
cooks are working. Sample 81 of the miners and
2/7 of the cooks. Worker is about 39.75 years
old, single. Half of them has children (2.81
child per father). Less than 20 of the workforce
was born in Pará State. Level of formal education
is low (20 never studied).
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - Mining Site Torrentino Slope
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Mining Workers ProfileLength of stay at the
mining site
They stay 6.5 years in Crepurizinho. Most of them
live at the mining site (baixão). They stay in
average three years at the mining site before
going to an urban center (mostly Itaituba). One
third have sent money to someone outside (in
2003).
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - Mining Site Torrentino
Excavation of the material for the slope.
Crepurizinho - Mining Site Zé BaianoOpen Pit
(abandoned)
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Mining Workers ProfileWork experience in mining
Experience with gold mining 18.5 years. All know
other sites. Wage before entering the mining
activity was about USD114 / month.
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho Mining Site Torrentino Houses of
artisan gold miners
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Mining Workers ProfileWork regimen and earnings
Earnings are percentage of the production (10
pair of machines, 2.25 for each in an 8 men team
working in a shaft). Individual earnings are
difficult to calculate (estimation 5g Au/week).
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - Mining Site Luis Preto / Sta.
Terezinha - general view.
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Mining Workers ProfileHealth
39 were sick in the last two months. Almost all
of them interrupted work, and 75 went looking
for health care. 20 have had a work accident
and 35 have witnessed fatal accidents. Only one
declared never to have melted gold.
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho - Mining Site Luis Preto / Sta.
Terezinha - Housing of mining workers
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Mining Workers ProfileCitizenship
61.3 have personal identification
documents. 58.1 never had contact with a
government representative. Participation in
political elections is very low (only 25.8 voted
in the last elections).
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Crepurizinho -Mining Site Luis Preto / Zé do
BaixãoKitchen of the mining workers
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Mining Workers ProfilePoints of view and
perceptions
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Sociological Report in reference to Crepurizinho
mining site
Mining Workers ProfilePoints of view and
perceptions
Three fourths of the workers said mercury is
prejudicial. No one, however, could explain in
detail how it is dangerous (smoke from gold
burning). Source of information was TV or
radio. A little more than half of the workers
(51.6) think that mining is harmful to the
environment. The most mentioned damage was
deforestation.