ABSTRACT
The history of mining in Latin America is, to a considerable degree, the history of Latin America itself. Mining has been a central feature of Latin American societies and landscapes since well before the Conquest. When the Spanish arrived in the Andes and what is now central Mexico, they encountered cultures with highly developed mining and metallurgical skill, which fueled the conquerors’ dreams of wealth. Mining conflicts are perhaps most acute in Peru, where the National Confederation of Communities Affected by Mining is the largest, best known, and most militant anti-mining organization in the Americas. Mine-related conflicts are particularly common in areas like Cajamarca and Ancash, where mining represents a potential threat to agrarian livelihoods. Mining activity can affect rural peoples and environments in a number of other ways as well.
