Um olhar sobre o (neo)extrativismo mineral no semiárido: circuitos espaciais produtivos e círculos de cooperação da mineração no município de Frei Martinho, Seridó Oriental, Paraíba

Abstract

Neo-extractivism is a form of economic appropriation that prioritizes the exploitation of natural resources in territories traditionally focused on primary production, subjecting them to a specific regional spatial formation by a production circuit that is not very diversified and aimed at meeting external demands. This process is historically linked to the Eastern Seridó region of Paraíba, which was connected to consumer markets through the implementation of circulation networks, both material and immaterial. However, this dynamic results in economic and territorial expropriations by mining companies and, therefore, generates a mineral economy that favors companies more than local farmers-miners, as collected in the municipality of Frei Martinho-PB, a space specialized in mineral extraction. Based on this, this work investigates the productive spatial circuits of pegmatites in the region, analyzing the territorial and economic implications in the socio-productive spaces. The methodology included bibliographic research with key authors and the analysis of secondary data on mining provided by ANM, information on resources from RAIS, and socioeconomic indicators made available by IBGE. In addition, field research was conducted using a qualitative approach, with semi-structured interviews with actors directly involved in mining. The results showed that the predominance of this mineral activities in the region contributes little to overcoming the socioeconomic inequalities of the most vulnerable populations. On the contrary, it tends to intensify and perpetuate informality in the mines, favoring the business sector that profits from the commercialization of minerals at reduced prices. In this context, understanding the role of mining, especially in the areas where it is predominant, allows us to highlight the inequalities and adverse effects that occur in the producing spaces.