In the Amazon, gold mining is a major driving force, moving people, goods, and materials. Mobility involves a spectrum of different conditions and modalities. The materiality of gold itself passages within the space of the mine, both manually and through water and mud, using different machinery, like hoses and sluice boxes. Inside the mines, enormous quantities of soil and supplies are moved and removed when extracting gold. In underground mining (garimpo de filão) the gold vein is embedded with rocks. Garimpeiros build long underground tunnels to follow the vein (filão). Through a system of pulleys, people and materials go up and down. Outside, the Amazon reveals its magnitude. Rivers represent the most important way to access this environment. However, in the 1970s, during the military dictatorship in Brazil, the plan to integrate the Amazon into national society resulted in the construction of highways, such as the BR-163. Roads became the new rivers: trucks, cars, buses, and any means of terrestrial transportation are now possible. Wherever these are insufficient, small planes cover the distance, moving matters and people to a garimpo.
1/5 Open pit garimpo
The use of big machinery allows garimpeiros to removed and wash huge amount of soil over a very extended area.
2/5 A group of five
A typical group of five garimpeiros working: one garimpeiro with the maraca (big hose for vacuuming material); two with hoses to stream of water to remove material; and two with picks to help the process.
3/5 Working the dala
While they are still preparing the underground mine, the men use the dala to find a little gold at little cost (fuel) so that they can make a living until the mine starts producing.
4/5 Working in the pit
While they are still preparing the underground mine, the men use the dala to find a little gold at little cost (fuel) so that they can make a living until the mine starts producing.
5/5 Sluicing process
The mixture of water and sand sucked up by the maraca in the pit is pumped on these sluice boxes. Here the gold is retained by the carpet at the basis of the box. Slope and length determined the speed of the water and efficiency of the extraction.
1/3 Travelling the 200-km Transgarimpeira road
This road was built at the beginning of the 1980s to connect the region of gold extraction to broader markets. It connects Morais Almeida, a little village along the BR-163 highway, to Creporizão, a village of garimpeiros on the Crepori riverbank.
2/3 BR-163
This highway was built to connect south to north of Brazil, crossing six states and thousands of kilometres. This route triggered the movement of people, supplies and products. Its central role in the region made it the axis of encounters, conflicts and transformation.
3/3 Transportation at the highway Transamazônica
Heavy machinery used in mines transported on the Transamazônica highway. This highway was built in the early 1970s, during the military dictatorship and connects the north of Brazil with the rest of the country. It is one of the most important routes used by miners to transport machinery and supplies.
Flying to the garimpo
A small plane moves garimpeiros, tools, supplies and gold from local garimpos to Creporizão. Wherever terrestrial and fluvial means of transportation are insufficient, small planes like this one cover every distance.
1/3 Crossing rivers
Ferry navigates the clear waters of the Tapajós river to enter the city of Itaituba from the BR-163 highway. The Tapajós one of the main affluents of the Amazon river and it is several kilometres wide. The ferry takes around half an hour to cross it.
2/3 Transportation
Boats transporting fuel to garimpos on Munduruku indigenous lands. Raissa Moraes visited Jacareacanga, the pole city for the Munduruku indigenous people. Nowadays, thousands of garimpeiros mine on Munduruku’s lands.
3/3 Transporting people and supplies to the garimpos
Waterway transport is essential for the transit of people and supplies in the Brazilian Amazon. Every day, in the port of Jacareacanga, boats transport workers and supplies to the garimpos located on indigenous lands of Munduruku people.
Smuggling supplies to the garimpos in French Guiana
On the border of Suriname and French Guiana, it is commerce in the service of illegal gold mining in the French national park that provides work and income for men and women of all ages and nationalities. Here, men carry food, oil and parts for mining machines in a canoe that will enter French territory some distance away. There, they will unpack everything to continue their journey on foot. If they are back in time, they will make another trip like that today. If it is later, they will not bring another load until tomorrow.
1/3 Underground garimpo
A garimpeiro descending the tunnel. In this type of mining (garimpo de filão), the gold vein is embedded with rocks. They build the underground tunnels following the vein (filão). Through a system of pulleys, people and materials go up and down.
2/3 Talking through the tube
The pulley operator uses a flexible tube to communicate with the garimpeiros underground. The tube also transports fresh air directly into the tunnel. Ensuring good communication and fresh air is fundamental for the men working underground.
3/3 Mina do Mutum
Here, the only entrance of an important small-scale underground mine containing primary gold deposits of Lourenço District. This mine has been open since the 1970s. The owner of the operation is responsible for employing more people who live in the local community.
Every trade has its risk
The Chinese shopkeeper tells Marjo and Sabine that "every trade has its risk". The French gendarme regularly intercepts some of the loads of smuggled goods that leave for the mines at the French side of the border.
