UNAM to create the Atlas of Mining in Mexico

To collect in one academic document a comprehensive perspective of mining in our country, that is the objective of the Atlas of Mining in Mexico created by researchers from the Geography Insitute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico .

This document, which is the first of its kind made by the academic institution, will show, from Geography , the group of relationships surrounding the development of the mining activity, as explained by Doctor María Teresa Sánchez Salazar , who leads the project.

So far, they have created over 40 maps that will accompany the text and graphic material. In them, they will show aspects related to the history of mining, its economic relevance at a national scale, its environmental impact, the social conflicts related to it, and even the cultural and gastronomical legacy linked to it.

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Changes in the mining industry

Several of the changes that occurred in the mining industry from the Mining Law of 1992 will be reflected in the maps that will be part of the Atlas. One of them is the validity of the mining franchises that went from 25 to 50 years and that can be renewed for the same amount of time.

Another change that will be reflected in the Atlas is the amount of franchised surface currently, in which stands out the center-north and northeast of the country that corresponds, since colonial times, to the main mining entities, as well as the south and southeastern part of the country which is the current place of expansion of this economic activity.

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The information they will show will stress that Colima has franchised almost 37% of its surface, Morelos 24% , and Sonora nearly 23% . Another map will have information on the percentage of franchised surfaces, such as the case of common land and natural areas .

Dr. Sánchez Salazar explained that, although some natural areas have legislation that protects them, what is safeguarded are the core areas , for mining activity is authorized in the buffer areas .

The Atlas will also have maps about conflicts in mines where it will be exposed it they were for land , environmental , social , of labor , or a combination of them all.

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