The story of a treasure that turned into an enviromental disaster, the Zacatecana, ejido of Guadalupe, Zacatecas

Abstract

The mining haciendas located in the city of Zacatecas dumped their waste into the main stream, from the colonial period until the nineteenth century. At that time the mineral beneficiation systems were different and obeyed specificity of each place. In spite of that it was using the most optimal method, usually left over waste precious metals remained in the waste land. In the case of Zacatecas the tailings wasters and were drag into the Valle de Guadalupe. In the grater proportion in the water reservoir of the Zacatecana ejido, it was where the main stream flowed.

In the first decades of the twentieth century, some companies were established on the periphery of the Zacatecana. These industries were responsible s for extracting precious metals ejido subsoil; most of the people were working in them. Therefore witnessed the large volumes of minerals accumulated on their land.

The position of the Zacatecana ejidatarios contrast with the attitude of the inhabitants of other regions with the presence of minerals. Where usually oppose the establishment of mining companies, due to pollution and produce negative effects on humans. This article explores how the Zacatecana ejidatarios concluded that the exploitation of metals deposited in their lands and the water reservoir could be beneficial and safe, and the reasons for accepting welcome the arrival of mining companies.