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Transcript of Mining in Mexico
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This paper has been published by the International Council on Metals and theEnvironment ( I C M E ) a s part of a se ries of publications discussing issuesrelevant to environmental andior health-related policies and mining andmetals production. It is believed t hal the topics examined a re of concern, not
only to the non-ferrous metal mining and producing sector, but also to the restof Society, including policy makers, educators and th e public at large.
I t is I C M E ' s hope tha t these publications provide insight into what a re oftendifficult and complex issues. 'i'herefore, the views in these paper s ar e those ofthe authors. ICME welcomes questions and comments on their perspectivesand the information provided by them, in order to facilitate a sharing ofinformation and to provide for grea ter understanding of the topics addressed.Th e Council also apprecia tes suggestions regarding other issues of publicimportance for future publications.
Founded in 1991, C M E is a non-governmental organization that promotes th edevelopment and implementation of sound environmental and health policiesand practices in the production, use, recycling and disposal of non-ferrousand precious metals. For further information about I C M E. or to obtainadditional copies of this publication or other I C M E publications, pleasecontact:
T he International Council on Metals and t he Environment29 4 Albert Street, Suite 506Ottawa, OntarioCANADA K1 P BE6Tel: (613) 235-4263Fax: (613) 235-2865
"Mining, Metallurgy and Environmont in Mexico during the nYentieth Century,"by Inés Herrera Canales and Eloy Gonzalez Marin. First Printing, May 1995.
ISBN 1-895720-04-4
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O ur aim in this essa y is to summarize the
history of Mexican mining during the twentiethcentury, to describe the growth. modernization
and diversification of the mining and meta ls
industry, and ta report on environmental
conditions and progress made in protecting the
environment.
This essay is divided into six sections. The f irst
provides a brieî overview of the state of
research on mining histoiy. and mining and
environment in contemporary Mexico: the
second is a synthesis of t he historicaldevelopment of Mexican mining and metal lurgy
during the twentieth century. The next t hree
secti ons provide an overview of environmenta l
programs and policies related t o mining in
Mexico. We consider three main aspects of the
issue: the historical development of poiicies for
controlling pollution in the mining industry in
Mexico; the actions of mining firms n support
of environmental protection: and, some case
studies showing how pollution arising from
mining and metallurgical activities is being
addressed. The îinal section provides
conclusions.
The anaiysis of the relationship between mining
and the environment covers a major segment of
the Mexican mining industry (both private and
government-owned) accounting for 90 percent of
Mtal production in the early 1990s.
The impact of mining on the environment is an
old probiem which miners have had to face
throughout the centuries. It is well known that
mining and metallurgical activities can generate
pollution problems if they ar e conducted in an
irresponsible manner. This can be as a resuit of
accumulation of solid wastes and liquid
effluents in the areas surrounding mining
operations and as a result oî gaseous emissionsfrom metallurgical operations. These pollutants
can affect the natural environment: rivers, soi1
and vegetation. They have the potential to cause
dramatic changes in the landscape, and their
effects can have repercussions on hiiman
health.
In the history of Mexican mining before the
twentieth century, there a re refere nces to the
damaging impact of the exploitation an d
extraction of metals. mainly of gold and silver,
upon the population and the natural
environment. Even in colonial times, the vice-
regal government and private individuals voiced
their concern about the negative impacts on the
population and the landscape caused by gases
emitted from foundry chimneys and by toxic
wast es (specificaliy mercury) produced by the
mining and production of precious metals.
There are also accounts of the damage suffered
by miners as a result of unhealthy conditions
inside the shaf ts and galleries, and by those
who were in contact with mercury vapour
during the amalgamation process.
Those Who lived in.regions which produced
precious metals frequently complained that
mining caused deforestation of the surrounding
area s. particularly since trees wer e used as
fuel and as supports in mines. This practice,
which lasted more than four centuries, ended
when coal replaced wood as fuel early in the
twentieth century.
During the nineteenth century, techniques for
exploiting and processing precious metals
remained little changed. I t was only during the
last quarter of the century that dynamite,
I
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electricity, cyanid e processing. railway
systerns inside the mines m i l compressed air
fo r ventilation were witlcly introduced in the
production processes. ‘ïhc introduction o f
cyanide a s a replacement for mercury i n gold
recovery resulted in a markcd improvement
in the health of workers a n d the natural
landscape of mining regions.
The growth an d diversification of mining in
Mexico during the twentieth ccntury. in
conjunccion with changes in the extraction
and refining processes, broadened the impact
of mining-related activities on the
environment. Kegulatioii by governmental
institutions to control the effects of mining o
the environmenl was lirnitetl. Although the
industry did implement practices such as
baghouses and clectrostatic precipitators to
capture dust from smelters an d refineries in
th e 1920s. it was n o t until the late 1970s
tha t pollution from mining became a
widespread concern. and only since the
1980s that the environmental impact of
mining has k e n systemat ica lly addressed i
Mexico.
[nés Herrera CanaleEloy Gonz hl e z Marin
Mexico. March 1995
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TheÇtatuç of Weçearch on
Contemporary ining and
Environment in
Documentation of the twentieth-century
history of Mexican mining and the
environment of mining regions is scattered
and not very comprehensive. The autho rs
have uudertaken a n intensive search f or
material in government, public and
specialized libraries and information
centres. Th e available sources of
information ar e several general works on
the twentieth-century history of Mexican
mining. official statistics produced by the
Mexican government, periodicals, essay s.
conference papers. and documents from
Mexican mining firms.
This historical review draws on three gen eral
research works which cover the late
nineteenth centnry to 1988.' I t also includes
articles, essays and monographs. written
predominantly by economists, which addre ss
various periods and problems of mininghistory.' These latte r contain analyse s of
production, markets, capital and prices. Most
of the documents ar e f rom ministries of th e
Mexican government and examine th e
technical, economic, social and political
problems of mining and met als production in
Mexico and the r es t of t he world.
Information on mining and ecology in Mexico
is limited and is scattered widely in private
and official files. The basic sources are
reports produced by large mining firms,
environmental organizations and governmentinstitut ions which deai with environmental
protection. Newspapers and magazines.
conference papers and University research
also address the subject. The approach an d
themes of these works Vary widely and
depend on the objectives of the project and
the background of the aut hors . Some ar e
serious and scientifically rigorous papers;
other s a re sensationalist and iack foundation
We have limited Our research to thosesources of information produced by
responsible. private a nd officiai institutions.
and endorsed by qualified individuals.
~
' üernslein. MarVinD.. The Mexico" Mlning lndusiry, 1890-1950.A Çiudg 0J lhe llllerUclion ofPoiiiirs.Economics.and Technologg,New York. Slale University of NC W York. 1964: Hall. RobertBruceWallace. Lu
dindmica delsecior mirlero enMbuico. 1877-1870 con prnyeccionesa 1980).Mexico. Ei Coiegio de Mexico.1972. (Master in Economics lhesis): and SaricgoRodriguez. J uan Luis. Luis Reygadas. Miguel Angei GOmczandJ avierParrera. El eslado g Io mineria meXicona. Politica. lrabajo y sociedad duranieCI sklio XX . MCXiCo.Fondode Cultura Econ6mica. 1088.
2 p errera canaies. inés. etai.. Bibllogroflo minera iberoamericorio. I R ~x - IW ~.ol. IV of Scries: Minçrfaibcroamcricanri. cpertorio bibligr6ficoy biogr3fico. lnstilulo Tecnol6gico Geominerode Espalla. Madrid.Esparla. 1992.
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Mexico has been a world miriingpower forcenturies, thanks Co the gi:oli)gical features of
its tel'ritory. Mining and mctiils production have
had a sisable impact on t h c Mcxican economy.
One cannot Fully desci'ibe tlw i:conomic life of
Mexico without making rcfcreiicc to mining.
However. il h a s evolved ncilher continuously
nor a t the same pace as I l i f , KSI,f the
economy. Although mining coiilribiited a n
est imated 1 0 percent of lhc gross tlomestic
product (GDP) in 1929 , ils sliarc diminishedto 5.7 percen t in 1940 and t,o 3 pcrcent in
1950 . As th e count ry coinploi,eil th e first
s tages of ils industrializaiion process, th e
services and manufactui'ing iiidustrics
developed m u c h m o r e rapicily l,han the
extractive indu slries. Evensi),
miningcontinues 10 p l a y a significant role in the
generation o f wealth. In 1992 , i t madc up 1.5
percent of Mexico's GDP. For cornparison, oil
and natural gas extraction contributed less
than 2 percent 10 th e Mexican GDP. "
As with othcr economic activities. mining
crea tes jobs, which i n turn generate income
an d taxes. I I contributes to th e demand for
producis manufactured by otlier industries,
provides prgducts fo r the domestic economyand incre ases exports . Because it depcnds o
the geographical location of mineral
resources. il lias had a significant role in
shaping th e pat terns of population settlemen
and economic dcvc lopment oî the country.
400 L-20 l
1900 I 1'>1<, l 1920 I 1930 I 1940 I 1950
1905 191s 1925 1935 1945
Source:Eiul-~orcitedroni tlii' ind<:y<sofR. 13. Wallace - ld l , (1972j. iiurious tables.
-_'Salinas de Gortari. Carlos. S<'SI<>illonii<' l? <)ol>eriio. rlexo. 1094, MCxi î o . i>rccci6nGcncral dC
Comunicaci6riSocial. PIcSKI<'II~ii ic : 111 lteDfiblic3, IDLI4.
4
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The first dec ades of the post-revolutionary
period in Mexico, from 1920 onwards. wer e
characterized by wide fluctuations in mining
and metals production, Iow investment in
infrastructure, a lack of prospe cting and Iit Ik
new mining activity. A determining
characteristic w as meeting the foreign
demand for minerals and metals with no
attempt to integ rate with domes tic industry.
Furthermore, changing government policies
aiternateiy thwarted and promoted the
mi ni ng industry which rendered the sector
increasingly lethargic. In 1950, the sector's
production was about the same as i t was in
1910 (see Figure 1).
During this early period. the most notable
development wa s the consolidation of mining
into those are as which couid best contribute toindustrial development, e.g. non-ferrous metais,
minerals for the iron and steel industry. and
non-metallic minerais (mainly sulfur). However,
the,mining industry remained largely export
oriented.
The political and legal outlook of t he post-
revolutionary period wa s completely difîere nt
from th e pre-revolutionary one. The
Constitution of 1917 and subsequent laws
reconsidered colonial reguiations on propertyownership an d control of mining resource s.
Government policies had to be modified to
meet capital. technoiogical and currency
needs. After a spectacuiar temporary
recovery iwthe late 1920s, the growth ra te of
Mexico's min in g sector dropped to a levei
lower than tha t of inter national demand and
of th e economy as a whole. Th e single most
important factor contributing to this was the
Mexican government's nationalist policies
which se t out to integrate mining into thedomestic economy.
The growth of the Mexican mining industry
from 1922 to 1929 wa s driven by a boom in
the US economy. The introduction of modern
technology such a s sel ective flotation made it
profitable to mine ore bodies and reduce iosses
to tailings. T h i s decade of mining expansion
was followed by the world-wide Great
Depression of 1930 to 1932 with its stagnating
effects.
The worid economic recovery in the late 1930s
brought with il an increased demand and
higher prices for mining products. These
influenced mining activity in Mexico from 1933
to 1938: however, profit margins wer e low and
foreign investment was restrained by
governmem policies, increased labour costs
and high taxes. It is Worth pointing out that
even if the nationalis t policies of the decade
were not in the long r u n beneficial to the
deveiopment oî the mining industry (becausethere w as iittle private investment), they
heiped îinance, by means of taxes, the building
of inirastructure for th e industriaiization o f th e
country. During the 1930s an d 1940s. taxes o n
m in in g were very important. constituting 28
perce nt of the f ederal budget between 1 9 3 5
an d 1944.
During the 1940s there was great international
demand for mining products. Production
increased during the fir st year s of the deca de,but Mexico's interna1 conditions constrained
the expansion of the industry. Domestic
policies did no t provide incentives or
guarantees to foreign capital, taxed the mining
industry heavily and kept tight controi over
certain mining are as (considered national
reserves), thus restricting their exploration
and subsequent exploitation. Th e poor state of
the railways m aae it even more difficult to
commercialize production. In summary, high
production costs outweighed the goodinternation al situation, and by the en d of the
decade mi ni ng production had been reduced to
levels lower than the average of the previous
twenty years.
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Beginning in 1950, mining cn ioyed sustained
growth, slow and uncertain al. first (1 950-60), but
firm and continuous lacer (1980.70 and 1970-80).
only to diminish again during thc 1980s as a
result of domestic and intcrnaliiinal rccessions.
(See 'ibble 1 and Figure 2).
Interestingly. d u r i n g the stagc of rapid growth
of the country's economy. the mining and
metallurgical industry lost its relative
importance. Its proportional share of
Mexico's GDP dropped from 2.33 percent in
1960 to 1.72 percent in 1970, and to 1.39
percent in 1980. When the country's
economic growth decreased i n the 1980s. the
decline in the mining industry was l e s
drarnatic. I n 1990, its proportional share in
the GDP increased to 1. 57 percent. In 1990-
92. the Mexican mining G D P grew a l an
average a n n u a l ratc o f only 0.7 percent,
resulting in rnining's share of total GDP
falling to 1.5 percent.
The performance of ih e Mexican mining
industry shows Chat its growth. during S o m e
periods, was more dynamic than that of the
rest of the economy. even though in the long
run it has deciineii i n its share of the total
GD P (Figure 3).
Sources:Banc» de M&co (1969): NEGl, S C N M . N o te : t iDP O1 i900 (1950-1960).
and 1980 I Q ~ O - I C > . C > ~ Joiistc~iii ices.
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F i g u r e 3 : Çhare of Mining GI>P in Total Gili', (%)
1950 - 19923 0
2 9
1.1
1.0:: 950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990
+ SARIEG011988) a EST~MATED~ANX~CO X INEGGI
SOurCeS: Banco de Mexico ( 1 969): NEGI, SCNM. Noie: GDP Of 1960 ( 1950-1960)
and 1980 (1960-1992) conçtanf prices.
Although during the 1950s the mining industry
continued to show slow growth of output and
iimited investments, international prices wer e
good. Prices of metallic and non-metallic
minerals increased 9 percent between 1950
and 1960. The mining industry in Mexicounderwent important structur al changes during
this decade. On the one hand. an expanding.
non-metallic mining sector emerged (sulfur.
limestone, coal. fluorite and barite). Its growing
production, together with i ncreasing
international prices, contributed t o the
increase in value of the decade's production.
On the othe r hand. mining gradually became
more integrated into the country's industry, and
an increasing part of its output was consumed
by the domestic economy instead of beingexported. This change is appar ent when the
industry's contribution to tax income in Mexico
is considered. As its contribution to GDP fell
and as the government widened its income
sources, mining's tax share fell rapidly to a
levei commensurate with its actual
participation i n the economy. in 193 9, mining
contributed 27.5 percent OC the government's
net income. This dropped to 17.4 percent in
1948, 7.6 percent in 1955 and 3.5 percent in
1960."
International dernand for mining products in
the 1960s was reinforced by an increase in
domestic demand towards the end of the
decade. This led. in turn. to a significant
recovery of the industryB production. In the
early 1960s. mining was largely
"mexicanized": that is. Mexican law
established that more than 50 percent of the
capital of every mining firm should be supplied
by Mexican citizens. By the early 1970s. theentire industry had comDlied with the
legislation.
The non-metallic rnining sector continued to
expand in the 1960s. with a positive ne t
Sariego Rodrigyuez. Juan Luis. et al.. o p . cil..p. 166.
7
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investment, although tliis wa s offset by a loss
of investment in tlle metallic sBctor. lnvestment
inmining, as a whole, dit1 noi iricrease in the
196Os:During the second hall of the 1970s.
the output of non-metaliic mining comprised 4
percent of the mining sector's s har e of GDP: it
almost equalletl the value of the metallic
minerals GüI' (Sce Table 2 and Figure 4) .
1955 19 . 3
1965 36.8
1 9 5 0 - 19911O0
1975
8
18.7
1985 42.1
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Between 1950 and 1970, the mining sector
became a very significant contributor to Mexico's
industrialization process, since it increasingly
supplied important inputs to domestic industry.
Some mineral products which were previously
exported as raw materials wer e now produced in
a refined state within the country. However, the
relative contribution of the sector M Mexico'strade balance through exports decreased. This
transformation is evident in trade figures: in
1950. 85 percent of the mining production
(except for graphite) was for export; in 1960, it
dropped to 47 percent. By 1970 it had decreased
M28 percent.
In spite of its stagnation during the 1940s.
mining had been a n important source of foreign
currency. it accounted for 42 percent of total
exports from 1939M 1950. During the 1950sthe share decreased ta 26 percent, and dropped
M 19 percent from 1961 to 1970.5
The mexicanization program and efforts to
promote small and middle-sized mining firms
during the 1970s resulted in a consolidation
of the mining industry. Remarkable industrial
development took place, thanks to significant
public and private investment s and to the
infrastructure built ta promote small and
middle-sized enterprises.
Mining enterprises specialized in exploiting
specific rneials and minerals according to their
size and capabilities. With 39 percent of mining
GDP in 1983. the state-owned sector was the
country's largest copper producer. The large
private mining companies, which collectively
contributed 49 percent of the mining GDP in
1983.dominated the field, producing lead, zinc
and silver as well as arsenic, bismuth, selenium,
graphite, gypsum and silica. However. firms of al1kinds and sizes entered into exploitation of basic
metals. Small and middle-sized enterprises, with
12 percent of the mining GDP in the same yéar,
dominated mercury, tin and tungsten exploitation.
They also participaied in the production of other
meials. such as gold. whose national production
fluctuated between 23 and 52 percent of mining
GDP during the 1980s.
The 1980s were a significant deca de for
Mexico's development,. Mexico's a ver age
growth was the lowest since the Great
Depression of the 1930s. bu t it experienced
the beginnings of liberalization an dprivatization of the economy, which peaked
between 1988 and 1994. Given th e difficult
situation of the domestic economy and the
recession in the rest of t he world, mining has
managed a favourable evolution. The average
annual growth rate of mine production was 4
percent, an d the mining sector's sh are of GDP
of 2.9 percent at constant prices grew îaster
than the 1.6 percent for the total economy
(se e Table 1 .
Prices for most non-metallic minerals rose in
the 1980s (sulfur , by 1 percent; gypsum, by 32
percent: and, barite, by 52 percentj. Although
metal prices fluctuated. the overall trend was
for prices to deciine. Gold, silver, lead an d
mercury prices dropped significantly (1980-92:
44 percent, 81 percent. 15 percent and 50
percent, respectivelyj, copper improved slightly,
and zinc increased substantially (1980-92: 5
percent and 68 percent, respectivelyj.
These changes in production and prices modifïed
the sha re of the various commodities in the total
value of mineral production. The ten rninerals
which had the highest production value in 1980
accounted for almost 84 percent of M i a l mining
production value: whereas the ten most
important products in 1992 contributed only 79
percent. This diversification of iniiiing
production broadens the foundationson which
the sector can grow and îor linking it more
effectiveiy to the domestic economy.
Another shift during the 1980s as a
consequence of the incr easing integration of
mining into the domestic indus try was a
decrease in exports. In 1990 and 1991,
exports from m i n i n g dropped to 4.2 percent
Sariego Rodrigucz. Juan Luis. el al..op. cil.. p. 166.
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LEAD 6 10 SALT 11 13
Source: Macedo Palmcici. i7r>h<:rtol 993).Note: According to ttieir production
value in each year,
l R O N ORE
an d 3.7 percent of Mexico's cxports
respectively.
The contribution of the miriing scctor to
government revenues decrcased as the industry
lost its relative importanco in thc cconomy and
a s the federal governmcnt thc rsifi ed its
sources of income. Mining licenses (tlerechos
de mineria) accounted for almost 2 percent of
non-tax federal income prior IQ 3991 when they
were drastically reduced. Govcriiment fiscal
measu res th at affect mining achvities are :
income and value-added taxes: forcign trade
duties: and. social seciirity lax which ai'eproportional to the imporuince of the sector in
the economy.
7 8 GYPSUM 20 7
Mexican mining is signiîicant no1 oriiy bec aus e
it plays an important role in thr domestic
economy of the country, but also because
Mexico is a major international source of
certain minerals. Silver. in whicli Mexico has
traditionally occupied a n important place, is th e
obvious example. Between 1980and 1992,
Mexico was among the top three producers in
the world of t,he following minerals : silver.
celestite, bismuth and antimony (tweive years )graphite (11 year s): fluorite (8years): barite
and cadmium (3ycars): and. arsenic an d sulfu
(one year).
Because the development of the mining industr
has been more dynamic than t hat of t he res t of
the domestic economy, rnining appe ar s to have
adapted well 10 Mexico's rnodel of economic
development. which was adopted in the 1980s
and is linked 10 the world economy. The
prospects of the mining industry largely dependu p o n providing a stable long-term environment
for national and international investment.
incorporating progressive technology and
adapting to the nceds of domeslic and world
markets. Several factors are a t play to cceate
favourable conditions-privatization of th e
large and important. government-owned mining
sector. the 1992 mining legislation and the
North America Free nade Agreement which
began in 1994.
1 0
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As far back as the colonial period, some mining
regions in Mexico experienced serious publicprotests against mining activity an d metal-
producing operat ions a s a result of
environmental pollution and extensive
lumbering activity. Complaints were heard by
local authorities, Who either resolved the
conflictsor referred them to higher
jurisdictions. Colonial mining legislation
regulated effluents, mineral waste. and gases
vented to the a tmos pher e by foundry chimneys
in order M limit the effects on the population. It
addressed human health aspects rather thanenvironmental ones.'
There have been only a few studies on topics
related Menvironmental pollution in colonial
Mexico. O ne of them analysed a protest
demonstration in Chihuahua in 1732. T h e
protesters opposed the building of smelting
furnaces near their City because of the effects
on ai r and water? Another described cases of
mercury and lead poisoning in mining districts
of New Spain! Town councils were responsiblefo r maintaining the purity of the air, the soi1 an d
water, but since mining provided most of the
income locally and for the vice-royalty, conflicts
over environmenial problems often led Mlong,
drawn-out legal processes.
Colonial mining ordinances continued in force
into the nineteenth century. Together with
mining deputat ions and municipalities. they
regulated conflicts between miners and
surrounding populations over environmenial
preservation. The new mining law that took
effect late in the nineteenth century took thesesituations inM account, but t he problems of
environmental pollution caused by the mining
industry have not been well researched.
Edgar Omar Gutiérrez Ldpez. in his essay on
the case of the Compaiïia Rey del Oro Mining
(The Gold King Mining Co.). provides an account
of how the mining sector and a local community
deal t with conflicting interests." In 1901, the
company advised the municipal council of the
M wn of Mulatos that the people should not usewater from the local stream because il \vas
poisoned by the company's use of cyanide. The
local population took their concerns first to the
town hall, then M the district authorities, and
finally. to the governor of the Statx of Sonora
who decided in favour of the mining enterprise.
The M u l a M s town government was ordered to
"allow the Company ... to begin again the
exploitation of meials and Muse water f rom the
stream" fo r the development of the'state's
mining industry. The mining company \vasasked M take due precautions Mprevent any
harm to the population.
The impact of mining o n the environment during
the twentieth cen tury has not been rigorously
examined. As is the case for previous centuries,
there has been little research on the subject.
However, some evidence of the relationship
between mining and environment before the
1970s can be found in the demands of Mexico's
National Mining and Metallurgical Workers
an the exican ining Induçtry
ordenonzosdel ivuet~o uodemo Expedidospor FelipeIIel22 de Agoslo de I5H4. opalia. 1629:Conscjod e
R ~ C U ~ S O Salulales no Renovables. Ordenanws d e MinerfaOlorgadas por el Rey Carios IIId e Espaiia".Ordenonzas de Mineriu, Corncnloriosg Legislaci6n ,Miner0husm 1874.Vol. 1 Mexico. Conscjode ReCUrSoSNaturaies no Renovables. 1961
7 Hausberger,Bcrnd. 'una inicialivaecol6gica contra la industriaminerae n Chihuahua (1732l"Eslsudiosde HisioriaNouohispanicu. Vol. 13. Mexico. instililtode invcstigacionesHisr6ricas. UNAM. 1993,p. t 15-134.
* LAUD. Uoris M.. heMakingoJ o Slrike WorkersÇlruggle inRe d dei iMon1e. 17661775. (Lincoln-ILondon.1988).pp.21-27.
"Gutierrez.Edgar Omar. "Ei Noroesre y la mineria de metaleç indust~iales". II Çimpoçio de HlslOriug Aillropo1o~liude son or(^ Hermosillo. Inslitulo de invesligacionesHis16ricasde laUniversidadde sonora. 1087.p. 2m216.
I I
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Union (Sindicato de Pabajadores Mineros y
Metaldrgicosde la RepUblica Mexicana).
Founded in 19 34 , the union lias increasingly
demanded hetter, safer and healthier working
conditions for the miner.
From the 197 0s onwards, thwc has heen a
greater concern for the environment on the part
of the government, as evidencrd by new laws.
regulations and decr ees. ResponsihilIty is
shar ed hy government ministrics such as th e
Ministry of Health (Seci,etarfa dc Salubridad y
Asistencla), Ministry of Lahoiir (Secretariadel
Pabajo y PrevisiOn Social). and SAHOP, the
Ministry of Human Settleincnls and Public
Works (Secretaria de Asentainlcnlos llumanos y
Obras Publicas).
During the 198Os, ther e was a radical shift in
th e environmental policies of Ihe Mexican
government and in the attiliitlcs of Mexican
Society. Environmental resporisibilities were
now centred in SEDUE. the lilinislry o f Urhan
Development and Ecology (S(:crelaria de
Desarrollo Urbanoy Ecologiai. Newinstitutions,
commissions, laws, standards and deçrees
provide a stricter approach to the conservation
of the environment and thi: crcation of specific
programs. Some mining entcrprises ha d already
begun to carr y out ecological prugrams a s early
a s the late 1960s. a trend which is generallymore evident during the 1980s.
The Federal Law fo r the Care of the
Environment \vas decreetl in 1982."' In the
same year, the Office of the Prcsident
(Coordinacih de Proyectos de Desarrollo de la
Presidencia de la RepUbiica)organized the first
meeting on solid wastes and effluents with
presidents of municipalities.
SEDUE wa s placed in charg e of formu iating andcarrying o u t federal policics for the use an d
disposal of natural resourccs and fo r the
preservation of the environment. It was to
cooperate with state and municipal
governments. Coinciding with this important
change, the Ministry of National Patcimony and
Industrial Promobion (Secretariade Patrimonlo
y Fomento Induslrial)would hecome SEMIP, th
Ministry of Encrgy, Mines and Public lndustry
(Secretariade Energia, Minas e Industria
ParaestaCal).
'lb carry o u t its projects. S E D U E implemented
series of studies on t he environment an d minin
in Mexico. These included guidelines for
regional regulations controlling mining residue
(1983) and on mining and the environment
(1984). A hrief monograph wrilten hy engineer
lgnacio Antonio Jarquin Nieto outlines
proposals for the control of tailings." Because
of the rapid growth of the miniiig industry in
Mexico, the author emphasizes the need to
quickly establish app ropri ate tachnical and
administrative measures for controlling
pollution from mines. The study contains data
on the country's mining indust ry including
specific information on th e kinds of wa st es th e
industry generates. the performance of tailings
ponds, and diagrammatic descriptions of
activities for controlling w ast es generated by
the mining industry. Another study of th e
management, t reat ment and disposal of soiid
industrial wastes proposes the creation of a
national inventory of residues and their so urce
on which ta hase a disposal plan.'*
The first phas e of the National Environment
Plan (198 4 to 1988) was finished in 1984. It
considered environmental manageme nt as a
responsihility to be shared hy al1 of Society and
the th ree levels of government federal,state
and municipal. For the first time, mining was
included i n the national development plan. The
1984-1988 National Mining Program, created
hy th e Ministry of Energy, Mines and Public
lndustry (SEMIP), required rational exploitatio
of natural resourccs and environmentalplanning for the future.
In order Massess the impact of mining,
metallurgy and civil engineering-related
activities. S E D U E commissioned three
Io Leg'Fcdcfalde i~r«iecci<liiI d M<!dioAmhi<:nie.Mexico. 1982
"Jarqui" Nielo. ignacloAntonio. ILiricumirniosparu el conllol de residuos mineros. Mexico. SEDUE. 1983.
curso sobre rnancjo. ifaiarriiniio $1rlisrx~sicldnlnai de ~ s I d u o 5dlidos indusifiales. Mexico. SEDUE. 1984
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monographs M identify and characterize the
impact of metallic and non-metallic mining and
processing. and the smelting of non-ferrous
minerals (specificaily a copper smeiter ). The
purpose of these investigations was to identify
concrete environmental impact projects reiated
to mining activity.
Since 1986, there has been an increasing effort
at al1 ievels to collect information on the
environment and the problems caused by
pollution. SEDUE pubiished a series of surveys
of the natu ral resources of the country, and of
the management and quaiity of environmental
care. These publications include outiines of
government policies (federai and state, as well
as by economic sec tor). environmentai forecasts
and the legal and institutional framework.
In 1986, SEDUE issued a publication which
reported, for the first time. on the sta tus of the
environment in Me~ico . '~n 198 8, the National
Commission of Ecology (ComisiOnNacional de
Ecologi"), a branch of the same ministry,
pubiished a second report entitled General
Report on the Ecology (Informe general de
ecologh), and one in 1989-90 entitled Report on
the Generai Stalus of Ecoiogical Balance and
Environmental Protection (Informede la situcih
general en materia de equilihrio ecoidgio y
proteccih al amhiente), The fourth bienniaiDeport, 1991-92. was presented by the National
lnstitute of Ecology (lnstitutoNacional de
Ecologfa) which is par t of the recently created
SEDESO, Ministry of Social Development
(Secretarh de Desarmiio Social).
The legal and institutional regulations which
currently control the preservation of the
environment in Mexico are included in the
General Law fo r Ecological Balance and
Environmental Protection (LGEEPA). LGEEPAsupersedes the 1982 Federal Law for the
Protection of the Environment." In the
meantime, several more regulations have been
issued, including the Regulation of Dangerous
Waste Materials (Regamentode residuos
peligrosos)of November 25 , 1988 , which
contains rules specifically related to mining
activities. Between 19 89 and 1992 , other laws
on ecological balance and environmental
protection were enacted in each of the States of
Mexico.
Federal governrnent environmentai policies
increasingly have been made clearer and more
dynamic. The Federal Law on Metrology and
Standardization (Ley Federal sobre Metrologi'a y
Normalizacih - LFMN) of July 1992 established
a uniform procedure for the development of
Officiai Mexican Standards (NOM) (Normas
O.ficiales Mexicanas). Its objective, in addition M
its activities of standardization, certification,
verification and iaboratory testing. is to promote
the involvement of Mexican society-
government, private sector, the scientific
community and consumers-in the deveiopment
and enforcement of such iaws. With this law. the
compulsoiy NO M replaces ail previous technical
standards issued by the Ministry of Health and
SEDUE.
According M L F M N , the NOM should estabiish
the characteristics of any product, process or
service that may involve risk to health and
safety in the workpiace or in public. to animais
and plants or t o the environment, or which mayhave a negative impact on natural resources.
The law prescribes the creation of a National
Standards Commission (Comisidn Nacional de
Normalizacidn) M manage policies and to
coordinat? regulatoiy activities ofgovernment
institutions. Advisory committees (Comités
ConsultivosNacionales de Normalizacidn),
formed of representatives of the public Sector.
induslry, the academic community, take part in
setting standards and managing the National
Standards System (Sistema Nacional deNormalizaci6n).
In 1989, the privale organization of mining
companies known as CAMIMEX ( C h a r a
"Inlorme sobre el esludo del medl0 umbienre en MéXlc0. Mexico,SEDUE. 1986.
"'Ley generai dei equilibrio ecoi6gicoy proiecci6n ai ambiente".Diori0 Oflaai de la Federuci6n Mexico. Janualy28,1988.
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Minera de México -the Chaniber of Mines of
Mexico) and SEDESO established an ecological
commission linking represeniativcs of various
mining enterpri ses with the National lnstitute of
Ecology. The current C A M I M E X Ecological
Commission (ComisiOn de Ecoioga de
CAM/MEX) is made u p of representatives of the
major rnining cornpan ies of Mexico: Industrial
Minera México. Frisco, industrias Penoles,Minera Mexicana Sombreretc, Mexicana de
Cobre, Cobre de México, Minas de San Luis
(Durango). Compafiia Real del Monte y
Pachuca, Minera las Cuevas (San L u i s Potosf),
Minera Carbonifera Rio Escontlido (Piedras
Negras. Coahuila), Mate rias l’rimas Monterrey,
Minera del Norte (Nuevo Leon).Altos Hornos de
México (Monclova, Coahiiila). üivision Aceros
Planos de HYLSA (Montcrrey). Minera Cuicuilco
(Jalisco),and Exploracion y Mincria
Independencia.
In 1991 SEMIPs Directoi’ale Gencral of Mines
(Direccidn Ceneral dc Minas). Sb:I>UE an d
CAMlMEX collectively devclopcd criteria for a
project entitled Technical Standards fo r
Preserving and Restoring liie I~ciilogical
Balance. A technical working toani was trained
in Denver, Colorado, for t h i s ~iiirpose.
SEDUE’s ecological responsibilitics were
transferred in May 1992 tu thc riewly crcated
Ministry of Social Developincnl (SLDESO).where al1 the activities rclated tu the
preservation of the environmmt and natural
resources were concentrat,cd. SEDESOS
National lnstitute of Ecology ( INIS - lnstituto
Nacional de Ecologh) a n d the F’cderal
Environmental Protection Office (Procuraduria
Federal de ProtecciOfl a/ Amhiente, PROFEPA)
were also created i n 199 2. The purpose of IN E
is i c pu t inic effect environmcnlal stan dards ,
while the Environmental Protection Office’s ole
is to oversee the enforcement of stand ards inaccordance with legal criteria and public
demands. There now exists tlirough these
institutions a combination of prccautionary,
enforcement an d corrective measures.
Other important structural changes were made
in 1992: offices for the management of the
environment were decentralized to th e various
States and municipalities. State delegations
(Delegaciones estatale s) of the Federal
Environmental Protection Office were ,created,
and environmental protection boards
(Regidorlas de Pro tec clh Ambientan an d
citizen ecological councils (Consejos EcolOgicosde ParticipaciUn Ciudadana) were established.
In 1994 , the first stage of the General
Environmental Priorities Program of the
Mexican Territory (Programa General de
Ordenamiento Ecoldgico de l Terriwrio Nacionai
was completed. It diagnosed Mexico‘s
environmental situation and defined régional
policies a n d standardized criteria fordevelopment in the regions of the country which
require more attention. Mining is one of twenty
four environmenial priorities.
SEM IPs Directorate General for Mining and
Metallurgical Operations (DirecciOfl Cenera l de
OperaciOnMinerornetalfirgica) has been
working sincc 199 2 with CAMIMEX on researc
carrietl ou t by thc Directorate General for
Environmenial Standardization (DirecciOn
Ceneral de NorrnatividadAmbien:ntalJof IN E to
cstablish Official Mexican Standards ( NOM) or
environmental issues in mining. A N O M project
for the design and building of tailings ponds isbeing considercd.
In addit ion, SEMII’ is collaborating with INE’s
Directorate General for Ecological Planning
(DirecciOn General de PlaneaciOn EcolOgica)
and with CAMIMEX 10 ha rm on k rnining
development with the ecological surroundings.
Several environmental studies are being carrie
out in the regions of Guadalupe, Zacatecas;
Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua; and, Nacozari,
Sonora.
Th e three institutions have also agreed ta work
together to assure success of the following
environmental goals relakd M mining:
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prevention and control of water pollution in
effluents from mineral extraction and
processing and from metal and ferroalloys
processing;
reduction oî emissions to the atmosphere of
various particles and of sul fur dioxide from
the smelting and refining of non-ferrous
metallic minerais (copp er and zinc);
design, construction and operation of tailings
ponds;
COntMl of atmospheric emissions of sulfur
dioxide from the mining and pmcessing of non-
metallic minerals;
guidelines for environmental impact
assessmenb for open pit and underground
mines: and,
development of environmentai criteria for mining
activities and the treatment of waste rock from
mining operations.
Four environmental NOMS for mining. two
guidelinebooklets and the development of criteria
forwaste materiais disposai were planned for
1993. However. to date oniy the projects on the
design, construction and operation of tailings ponds
are under way.
The 1990-1994 Mining Modernization Program
(Pmgrama de ModernlzaciOn de la Mlnerfa 1000-
1904) ncludes a specific program for the
prevention and control of pollution. It gives priority
to reducing pollution generated by the mining and
metallurgical industry to permissible levels within
technical and economic limits. This prcgram also
recommended a new mining law. which was issued
in June 1992.
The 1992 Mining Law allows for several significant
modifications to increase the sector's development.
These are: the participation of long-krm risk
capital and foreign caphi in exploitation activities;
the development of technology essential for an
efficienta n d cornpetitive industry: and. the creation
of a legal framework.
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During the past two decade s the large miniiig
companies, both government-owncd a n dprivate. have carried o u t scveral programs for
the protection of the environment and for the
recovery of already affectcd m a s . The various
associations of entrepr eneurs and mining
professionals have also assirmcd their
responsibilities with an opcri coinmitment M
establish a harmonious reiationship between
mining and the environment.
Activities to protect the environment by the
major Mexican mining enterprises lake two
directions: the installation of ncw plants and
pollution prevention equipmcnt; and. the
creation of environmental programs for the
rehabilitation and control of oldcr facilities.
Figures on the total amocint iiivested by each
firm and the total yearly cxpentiiture on .environmental protection a r e no1 available:
nevertheless. we include hcrr some of the
available data, a n d descriùc somc of the work
related to the environmenl contliicted by these
companies.
The 1991-1992 R ep o r t on llie Gencral Status of
Ecological Balance and Environmental
Preservation observes:
"...the State's sulfur mines have spent
5,635,000 new pesos'; i n simplifying
th e systems of storage . transporîation
and treatment of effluents. in
constructing dams and waterways and
inbuilding drainag e channels and
ditches M protect the environment.lG
"During the same two-year period
(1991-1992), Minera Carbonifera RioEscondido S.A. de C.V. (MICARE)
undertook a program M reforest 17.5
hectares, investing 35,00 0 new pesos.
'The program included the
reconditioning of 328 hectares used for
discarded waste material,
transportation of 545.298 in3 of soil,
and the planting of about400 hectares
with various types of fodder, shrub s and
trees for the rehabilitation of affected
areas.""
in 1992. SEMiP's Commission lor the
Promotion of Mining (Comisibn de Fomenta
Miflero)concluded the first stage of a project M
rehabilitate the tailings ponds of its Parral unit.
I t carried o u t 31 tests on wate r quality to
monitor and record the impact on the
environment of this long-term proiect.
The enterprises that stand out for their
leadership role in the areas of environment and
the community ar e Industrias Petïoles an d itssubsidiaries, Industrial Minera México a n d
Grupo Prisco.
I n 1991. lndustrias Pefioles invested 3,000,000
new pesos in equipment for energy cecovery
and dus t collection. Its refracmry division
invested 500,000 new pesos in anti-pollution
systems. That S am e year, th e tailings ponds of
Fresnillo and Guanajuatoan d th e areas
surrounding th e metallurgical plant in T o r r e h
'j n J anuary 1993. the n ïw pi:so ixrcanic ihe officiaiMcxicancurrency: ils value is equivalentto 1.m old)Pesos.The excharigc raie of iiir ri<= pcso al The end 01 each ycar was US$ 2.943 in 1990, us$ 3.066 in i99
US$ 3 . 1 1 9n 1992 and U S $ 3 20 4 a i Ille ~ n d Fcbruary 1994.
"'"..iaS azufreras del eslado crog:iirun 5.635milioncs de PCÇOS en la ampliaci6ridc ios Sistemasdealmacenamienio. conducci61iy iri~iiilniciilo e aguas residuales.AS( conio CI> la rculizaci6n de obras derehahiliiaci6n de bordos y rainirios y cri la consirucci6n de drcnajes y canaicspara proiecci6n ambicniar.SElE.SO. InJorrne de ici siiriocrjii !!<vl<'rul <)II mureriu de equilibrio ëcoI6gicI) !i i>rorc(:c:ii>nui aint>enie. W I .
1992,Mexico.sccrciaria dï nc s a r do Sociai (SEUrSO). insiii~to acionaideEcoiogia. I993, p.135.136.
""Enei misrnopcriodo Mincri)carbonifera Rio Fzcondido s . A dc C.V. (MICARID llcv6 a cabo unprograrnade
reioresiaci6n de i 7.5 ha . con i i r i i i iiwersi6n de 35milionesdc pesos. que iricliiyc: el acondicionamicntode 3
hade liradero.el acarreo de 545.208 rn 3 de sudo Y la siembra de alrededorde 400 ha condiferenles ripos dzacaies. arhuslos y arbolcs. [>ara ctiabiliiar las zonas de influencia".ibidem. p.136.
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City were reforested. and dust emissions and
effluents from the mines decreased
significantly. In the municipality of Torreon,
Met-Mex Peiioles built a plant to trap sewage
water from the town system and M recycle it,
thus reducing the use of underground water.
Equipment to reduce atmospheric emiSSiOnS
was installed a t its sulfuric acid plant and the
metallurgical complex in Torre6n: and'the plant
for producing liquid sulfur dioxide in Mexico
City was closed and its production was
transferred to the modernized plant in T o r r e h
where a computerized air quality monitoring
system had been installed.'8
Industrias Pefioles has se t up a corporate
environmental committee to promote
environmental aw areness among its operations
staff and to increase the participation of
employees in environmental activities.'g The1991 annual report of the Peiioles Group
(Grupo Pefioles) also points out that the Group
introduced environmental controls in its plant
facilities ta provide a working place free of dust
and smoke. During 1992, the Peiioles Group
conducted several environmental risk studies,
made the necessary investments and adopted
the recommended precautionary masures to
guarantee the sa fety of their working
communities. In addition, three new mines
were opened following environmenral impact
asses sments. These were Tizapan (Mexico), La
Ciénaga (Durango) and Bismark (Chihuahua).
Reforestation continues in the surrounding
areas. The Pefioles mining division planted
17.640 tr ees and moved 152, 000 tons of soi1 tO
cover tailings ponds in order to reforest and
promote the regeneration of vegetation and to
prevent the dispersion of dust. Atmospheric
emissions have been reduced. Liquid. solid and
gas emissions continue to be monitored in
Torreon's plants and al1 the other enterprises ofthe Industrial Chemicals Division of the Group.
Trapping o f sulfur dioxide has increased at the
Peiioles Met-Mex Sulfuric Acid Plant by
installing double-absorption equipment. Al 1 of
the equipment for the transportation and
movement of materials was converted to use
liquefied gas instead of gasoline or diesel, thu s
reducing atmospheric emissions. In 1993.
Industrias Peiioles and PROFEPA signed a n
agreement M conduct environmental audits in
the Company's mines and plants.
The Grupo Industrial Minera México has
promoted an environmental policy for some
years now, and bas a special department in
charge of environmentai issues (t he Security
and Sanitation Office). In 198 7, it increased
activities to protect the environment and
created the Ecological and Industrial Sanitation
Department, which deals with everything
related M industriai sanitation, occupational
medicine, ecology, environmental impact and
environmental engineering. T h i s department
has established severai practices to control
pollutants. These include improved ventilation,
noise control. installation of dust collectors.
control of dangerous wastes. environmentalmonitoring systems, nurse ries and
reforestation. At its copper plant in San Luis
Potosi, more efficient furnace ventilation has
replaced the original installation at a cost of
14,000,000new pesos. Six hundred metres
away. a 33-hectare ecological park provides
trees for reforestation. Its yearly maintenance
cost is 200,0 00 new pesos.
A priority for Industrial Minera has been Minstsll sampling stations around it,splant,s t,n
monitor ai r quaiity and the efficiency of
emissions control systems, as well as to
implement the necessary measures in case the
air quaiity drops below national guidelines. In
1986. five monitoring stations and two
meteorological stations were installed a t its
copper plant, The old sulfur dioxide measuring
equipment was replaced by a centralized
computer system which also controls stack
emissions and measures ambient conditions.
T he automated system is comprised of five
fixed stations which will shortly be expanded toseven fixed statio ns, and a number of mobile
stations. The data a re reported monthly Mthe
environment and health authorities of the
federal and siate governments.
Industrial Minera has also installed
environmental monitoring equipment a t its
,- indusiriasPeiloles S A de C V I informe unuul. 1991 p 22-23
'"Ibidem 0 2 3
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Unidad Cananea a n d Unidat l La Caridad plants,
bath in Sonora State, and a t iis plant in
Chihuahua. Plants at the zinc refincry a t San
Luis Potosi an d Mexicana de Ct11)rctransform
sulfur dioxide emissions into sulîuric acid.
Grupo Frisco, another largc rriining Company i n
Mexico, carried out several envirorimenliil
initiatives in 1993. Tliree sigriificaiit projects ar eunder way at Minera San Yrancisco S.A. de C.V.,
locakd in San Francisco dcl Orii in liie northern
state of Chihuahua:
to optimize the systom fo r controiling
to maximize water rccovci'y in its
to rehabilitate a tailings Uond no
dust from its grinding cii,c.uit,
processing: and.
longer in use.
Systems to control atrnosplicric missions from
mining and Lo reforest ar cs s :idjacent to itstailings pond are being set,up in th r mi ne of
Real de Angeles S.A. de C.V. in Zacakcas. A
program is underway a t Minera Maria S.A. de
C.V., in Cananea, Sonora. tc rnïorest Lhe area
affected by the mine. Like its iargc mining
counterparts. Grupo Frisco lias an assistant
director in charge of enviroriniont. sanitalion
and security.
The positive attit ude of miiiing professionals i n
Mexico and their endeavours 10 bring harmony
between mining a n d the ecology iiced to Lieempbasiaed. The Chamber oî Mines of Mcxico,
as we have already seen. activciy wo rks with
the government in creatiny cnviioninental
preservation plans.
The 1993 mentieth National Convention of the
Mexican Association of Mining lingineers,
Metailurgists and Geologists ( A I M M G M -
Asociacidn de Ingenieros de iblinas,
Meleialuryiswsy Gedlogos de h/(!xico], hich took
place in Acapulco, !vas entitletl Miiiing an d the
Environment. The conference papers ail
reflected the mincrs' concerns t o make mining
a n d the environment compatible. Fernel Arvizu
Lara, Presidcnt of the Board of the AIMMGM,
said in his inaugural speech:
"We ... ommit ourselves not only to
carrying o u t studies of various mining
regions of thc country. but also ta do this
wit,h grc at responsibility regarding theenvironment. because we understand
that mining and the environment can
a n d rnust be ccimpatible."20
Eduardo Luna Arcllano, president O C th e
organizing commiltee of the convention poinkd
out that:
"...(the topic) was chosen in order to
emphasiae the great responsibility that
mining has for the environment. We
k n o w that we must operate o u r plants
and mines within a normative
framcwork which will finally achieve a
respectful attitude towards the
environment. wliile at the same time
reaching a high levcl of efficiency in th e
production of minerals and metals
indispensable for the welfare and
developmcnt nf society."z'
O f the ninety published papers of the ïk nt ie th
AIMMGM convention, only îive deait directly
with the issue of the reiationship between
mining and the cnvironment. and these were
from a legal a n d tcchnical point of view.22This
Tact does not devalue the important step taken
by mining specialists in speaking publicly abou
this issue. Dr. Guillernio J. Romin Moguel, of
Mexico's National Polytechnic States in his
paper: "The discussion among professionals
about the environmental impact of the mining
industry has been kept at a n almost se cret leve
because i t reccives such a n exaggerated or
biased t reatment in th e media."23
""El tema ...u(: escogido Dala suixlyar la grari rcçpOnsabiiidadquc la mincria ~i mcara ei ~ n t o r n o . abemque debemos opcrar nucçlr is piiiniiis y minas denlro de un marco normaiivo que logre el rcçpeioal mediomientras se iogra. tombieri. irl >iO<iiiCti i>rl eficienic de mlncraiçsy rnctaics indiçpcnsubies para el biencslurdcsarrollo de la çocicclud".ibi&:iii. i'.45
21 hsociaci6n de ingcnieros ci<: niirms. mçlaiurgisias ge6logos dc Mexico. A.C. . .Mcmoriu5.Vobqios iécnicoymiogio. mirimio. rneroliirgio. i<:rnos)<?icroles.XX conuenci&>AiM,MGM.ACB~UICO. 03. 90pp.
*' "L a discusi6n j>roicsioiia d r çlccios ambientalcs de ia industriasc ha mantcnidoa un nivei de cierro secrdado ei IratamienIo gcneraimciit<: :s;igciacloO parcialque se leconficrc e n ibs mcdios decomunicaci6n~~o11SidcracioiicsinbimGics de iil ndustria mincro-mctal(irhrica". l>dcm,p.498.
1s
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some ca§e Stea ies o Pollution
Cauçed by etallurgical
Among the bibliography we examined. one
resea rch study stands out. It was carried out by
chemistry and geography experts of Mexico's
National University (UNAM)Z' and examined
ca se s of probable pollution caused by mining
and metallurgical activities in thr ee regions of
Mexico. Their results, showing how these
studies were performed and how mining
enter prises have contributed ta solving these
problems, are summarized below.
In 1984, S E D U E s General Office for th e
Prevention and Control of Environmental
Pollution asked UNAM's Faculty of Chemistiy
and In sti tue of Geography to carr y out
resea rch on problems related to tailings ponds.
The aim s of the study were the following to
obtain an overview of the problem; ta describe
the features of the site; and , ta identify the
mining processes and environmental risks of
this activity by means of physical and chemical
tests on samples of residual solids and water.The piirpose was to obtain a general overview
of the potential risks of the pol lutants on the
population and the environment.
The first phase of the UNAM project centred on
the study of four large mining companies in the
northern region of Mexico that were I inked to
solid waste pollution problems. The firms were
the mining companies San Francisco del Oro,
Compania Minera Cananea. Fluorita de México
and Minera Muzquiz .
Th e students of a secondary school close to the
San Francisco del O ro mine showed poor
health, presumably caused by pollution from the
mine. A pilot notation plant to concentrate
oxides had begun operations in July 1985.
Shortly there afkr. the population began to
experience headaches. irritation of the throat,
eyes. arms and legs, and dyspnea. In
September. 56 stude nts fainted during a school
meeting. Although the health problems
eventually decrea sed, the plant was closed
down, its reopening conditional on the
introduction of certain environmental measures.
The Company did not reopen the pilot plantsince i t proved to be uneconomicai.
The studies carried out by the U N A M
researchers did not establish a cause-effect
relationship between mining activities and the
health of the s tudents . Poisoning caused by
heavy metals or toxic sub stanc es in the water
could not be proven and the students' failing
health was attributed ta sunstroke. alimentary
problems. "psychological-hormonal" disorders
and other possibilities. It was suggested that if
the re was pollution, it was îrom the active
tailings ponds, or a fluorite plant, possibly in
combination with domestic sewage in the San
Francisco Stream. Water coming from the
Stream, close ta the school, carried sewage
water with zinc and sulfur compounds which
could affect the population. i t was also
confirmed tha t, although the cyan ide
concentration in recycled water was higher
than that reported by government bodies and by
the firm, it was not in a bioavailable form. Thewind swept in the direction of the school from
the tajlings ponds, carrying fine partic les rich in
metals and cyanides. These materials. however,
could damage health only in the long term.
The research COOrdinalorS were Maria EugeniaGul ié r rez aiid José Luis Palacio-PrieIo.hclpedby Juan G6mczFerez, Raiil MarrOqUk and Callos ROmO.
1 9
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Oth e r sources of atmosph eric pollution were
no1 apparent. Experts îrom U N A M
recommended relocating tht: school. building a
sewage tre atm ent system. cessation of dumping
of domestic and induswiai waste in M the San
Francisco Stream an d covixirig the tailings
ponds with soi1 an d vegetatii~ii o prevent
fur the r pollution.
In the case of the Compafiia Minera Cananea.
increased copper production a n d the growth of
its facilities raised levels o î a i r an d solitl waste
pollution. Because it is so ciost: to lhe United
States. the first complaints came froin
American environmental grciups wlio were
worried about sulfur d iox idc emissions. 'me
expansion of Compaiïia Minrra Cananea and
the start-up of Mexicana dc C n h i t in Nacoaari
increased the pressure frimthc environmental
groups. especially on the üoiiglas smclter(American) which had to closc tlown because it
could not comply with US linviroiinicntal
Protection Agency (Ei'A) rcgiiltitioiis on
atmospheric emissions of lnxic gasases.The same
American ecological advocatm successfully put
pressure on the Mexican ininiiig Company of
Nacozari to install a plant 1,ort:covc,r sulfur
dioxide (SO2) as sulfuric acid.
The dikes o f an old conccnt,ral,ing lant
(Concentradora Vieja) were ils oidest storageponds fo r soiid waste. From 1982 on , the dikes
were used only as an emergency Caçility to
control water ievels in the coinliany's other
tailings p onds n ear the Soncira River.
Occasionally. th e old ponds pciliuted
neighbouring rivers when tori.t:ntial rains
caused the water to overfiow. 'I'he water. which
ha s a very acid pH, an d a conductivity beyond
permissible limits, ended u p iil the San Pedro
River an d ultimately, i n the N a Kivcr. indirectly
affectingUS farmers and caltle breetlcrs.
UNAM resear chers pointed o u t the possibility of
the Company polluting the phrea1,ic layer a nd
rivers of the region. Also. lhf: growth of mining
increased the water needs of Ihe Company. and
new wells had to be drilled in the basin of th
Sa n Pedro River. 'The state Ministry of
Agriculture and l~lydraulicResources had
warned th e f i rm that the overuse of the rive
could pollute the pliitatic layer with water
spilled f rom the dikes of th e old concentrati
plant.
I n addition, the act ive tailings ponds of th e
Compaiïia Minera Cananea are located clos
to the City of Cananea and take in water fro
natural rivers wliere the population's
domestic wasle water is dumped. During th
rainy season. water f r o m the tailings ponds
gets into thc ncarby Sono ra Kiver. affecting
quality. A comp arative stu dy of th e conditio
of th e water o f the Sonora River in 1984 an
1986 showed a (ledine in its quality a t
various Sites along it s course. I t exceeded t
permissible limits of copper. z i n c , lead andmangancse for any possible use of the wate
Dust frorn the tailings ponds has not been a
concern becaiise th e wind direction is away
from populatcd areas and therefore does no
bother the City of Cananea.
During the lalc 1980s. Compafifa Minera
Cananea introtliiced a plan for the improveme
of its Milings ponds and for enlarging the
retention systcm of solid and liquid discharge
in order to diminish the possibiiity ofanaccidental spill caiised by rain. Compafiia
Minera Cananea plans to handle its water in
closed circiiils and t« stop discharging it
directly into bhc rivers.
There is, however. another probiem: the illici
activity of mining workers, called chatarreros
(" junkers") or co6reros (copper dealers ), who
e,xtract residual copper from tailings by
draining watcr from the ponds ID tanks an d
then to the San Pedro River. it lias been difficfor the mining Company 10 prevent this piracy
A number of solutions to these problems have
been identified: building channels to divert ra
wateP: modifying the pH of dammed water 10
reduce acid values and copper solubility:
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preventing the work of the c hata rrero s: and.
waterproofing the soi1 of the tailings ponds to
prevent minerals from permeating the phreatic
layer.
Recently, the Company adopted m eas ures to
control the discharge of solid waste and
effluents. As a first st ep, the Company intends
to improve the conditions of ils tailings ponds
so that they will meet security standa rds, and
in the long term to solve their storage problem.
Several of these mea sures have been carried
o u t with satisfactory results,and there ar e
plans to continue them. Compafiia Minera
Cananea has made an attempt to solve its
environmental problems. However. when the
UNAM resea rch was being carried out there
wa s still pollution in the San Pedro and Sonora
Rivers near the firm's tailings ponds.
A third c ase studied by UNAM dealt with the
region of Melchor Muzquiz in the st at e of
Coahuila, nor.tliern Mexico, where two fluorite
concentrating plants are operated by Fluorita
de México and Compafiia Minera Mfizquiz. The
aim of the research was to assess the
environmental impact of the operations of these
two firms on the area.
Fluorita de México S.A. is located within the
City of Mh quiz. It has three tailings pondswhere effluents and solids ar e discharged
before being sent in open channels through
agricultural fields to a tank located seven
kilometres away. The main problem identified
by the researchers wa s leakage of waste water
from a ditch into adjoining Wells. The firm had
constructed watertight ditches and provided the
affected population with drinking water. The
resea rche rs pointed out that the open channels
which connect the tailings ponds with the tank
are damaged from time to time and affe ct he
cultivated areas. They stressed the desirability
of replacing ditches with pipes.
It is important to point out t hat the.sediments of
the tailings ponds are not harmful to al1
vegetation. Several types of shrubs and trees
grow on their surface and actually help stabilize
the solid waste.
The geoiogical and geographical featu res of the
site of one of the tailings ponds owned by
Compafiia Minera Muzquiz poses a hazard to a
nearby well called Socav6n. The researchers
recommended continuous monitoring of water
quality and moving the pond to another
location. The operation does not pose any air
pollution problems.
The UNAM researchers concluded that a clear
understanding of the dynamics of tailings ponds
should be seen only a s a long-term objective
because there is very little information about
th e solid waste dumps, and because natural
environments and chemical processes are very
diverse and heterogeneous. However. the
studies provided an overview of the problems
related to the tailings ponds and established the
basis for future resea rch on th e subject with
full consideration of the particularities of eachregion.
The U N A M study emphasizes the need for
research on the biogeochemical cycles of
metals an d polluting compounds frequenlly iised
in Mexico so that their impact on the
environment can be fully understood. This
would help to solve and prevent serious
environmental excursions.
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Mining is fundame ntal to the economic life of
Mexico. The geological charactcristics ofMexico and the mining tradii.ion of th e
country have placed it for centuries among
the mining powers of the world. i n the course
of the country’s industrialiïation proces s, the
mining industry ha s grown. tliversiîied and
becom e gradually integratetl irito thc industry
and economy of t he country.
During the twentieth ccntury. th e
development of the country’s mining
production, as well as cliangcs in processingand exploitation techniqiics. h a v c increased
the variety of effects that thr activity may
have on th e environment. Although th e
federal government has had a direct interest
in working conditions (safeel,y. ealth and
ventilation) in mines smcltcrs and refineries
Since th e 1930s. environrncnlai control had
rested largely in the hands of the mining and
metallurgical producers. In th c 1970s. the
federa l government began introducing
poiicies to better protecl thc cnvironmentand to preserve natural rcsources.
During the 1980s. th e Mexican government
paid increasing attention to thc environment:
first by issuing laws. regulations and decrees
to protect the population. the environment
and the natural resources of Ihc country, an d
then by creating new ministries. institutes
and other federal. state and municipal
institutions and bodies to standardize and
oversee environmental matters.
In the mining sector. the problems addressed
by environmcntal legislation and th e
institutions in charge of protection of th e
environment-SEüUE, INE, SEDESO- av
involved mainly solid residues. Tailings pond
connected with processing plants , residues
from hydromctallurgical plants an d slags and
f i n e dust from smelte rs, which const itute 90
percent o f totai industrial solid waste, have
received th c grea tcst legislative and researc
atte ntio n. CAMIMEX, IN E and SEMlP workedtogether to ge t th e first Official Mexican
Standard (NOM) spccific for mining
operations. which dea ls with the design and
construction of tailings ponds.
h i s s i o n s produced by the mining and
metallurgical intlustry have already been
identified. and th e mcans ta control them ar
well known, but expensive. The major mining
ente rpris es in Mexico are gradually solving
these problems hy containing pollutants.rehabilitating affected areas and minimizing
emissions. Widening the discussion of the
problems related to the environmental impa
of mining and mctallurgy froni a private
sphere ta one which i n c lu d e s people from th
academ ic world is a signiïicarit st ep toward
solving the problems. Ideally, these actions
also contribute to the productivity of the
industry and to a positive image Cor mining.
22
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A l M M G M - Mexican Association of Mining
Engineers. Metallu.rgists and Geologists
CAMIMEX - Chamber of Mines of Mexico
INE - National lnstitute of Ecology
LFMN - Pederal Law on Metrology and
Standardization
EPA - US. Environmental Protection Agency
LGEEPA - General Law fo r Ecological Balance
and Environmental Protection
MICARE - Minera Carbonifera Rio Escondido
S.A. de C.V.
NOM - Official Mexican Standards
PROFEPA - Federal Environmental Protection
Office
SAHOP - Ministry of Human Settlements and
Public Works
SEDESO - Ministry of Social Development
SEDUE - Ministry of Urban Development and
Ecology
SEMlP - Ministry of Energy. Mines and Public
lndustry
U N A M - Mexican National University
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Inés Herrera Canales is an historian and researcher at Mexico’sNational lnstitute of Anthropology and History (lnstituto Nacionai deAntropologi’a e Historia - INAH) . She obtained a teaching degree in his-
tory and geography from the University of Chile (tiniversidad de ChiIe)and a Ph.D. in history from the College of Mexico (EI Colegio deMéxico). She has researched the history of commerce and mining inMexico and other topics for more than twenty years and has writtenseveral books and articles.
Eloy Gonzilez Marin is an economist and professor a t the Azcapotzalco
campus of the Autonomous Metropolitan University in Mexico City(Universidad Authorna Metropolitana) . He completed his undergradu-ate training at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (tiniversidadAutdnoma de Nuevo Ledn) and did his master’s degree at the College ofMexico. He later studied a t Stanford University where he obtained hisdoctorate in education and economics. He has been conducting resea rchand teaching economics since 1978. He has been a consultant to sever-al government agencies.
Nair Maria Anaya Fer rei ra collaborated in the translation from the
Spanish.