Abstract

RONCALLO, Luciana  and  ROVERE, Adriana E.. URBAN MINING IN SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE: IDENTIFICATION AND CHA-RACTERIZATION OF QUARRIES.. Ser. correl. geol. [online]. 2018, vol.34, n.1, pp.1-6. ISSN 1666-9479.

Quarries are one type of surface mining works, generally small in scale. However, in Argentina the extraction of industrial minerals, which includes marble, aggregates and other mate-rials, is more important in terms of volume than the production of metallic and non-metallic minerals. Mining of industrial rock is generally carried out close to urban centres, in order to reduce transport costs, which means that numerous quarries are situated in urban and peri-urban areas, or at roadsides. Following their exploitation, the abandoned quarries have a high social and environmental impact, since they represent considerable, permanent change to the landscape and the ecosystem, and are treated as marginal lands, used as rubbish tips. In this context it is essential to identify quarries, particularly those in disuse, as a frst step towards generating proposals as to how to mitigate the associated environmental liabilities. San Carlos de Bariloche has experienced enormous demographic growth over recent decades, accompanied by urban expansion and an increased demand for cons-truction materials, which has led to the opening of new quarries and an increase in extraction from existing ones. The objective of this work was to identify and characterise existing quarries in San Carlos de Bariloche and its surroundings. Satellite images were used, as well as information provided by members of several official institutions related to this subject, and feld observations. A total of 21 quarries were registered, which cover an area of 80 square km (0.3% of the city area). The majority are used for gravel and sand extraction (81%), are situated on fat land (62%), lie within private property (57%), and are located in periurban zones (57%). Thirteen quarries (62%) are currently being worked and eight (38%) are in disuse, only one of which has had a closure plan im-plemented. Fourteen quarries (67%) present a high level of visual impact. Finally, we would like to highlight the fact that while the existence of quarries and industrial mineral mining is irrevocably linked to social development, it is important to be apprised of the location and the state of these quarries, so that proposals can be made for mitigation of the environmental impact and the socio-environmental confict they engender.

Keywords : Arid. Cities. Patagonia. Rehabilitation. Reclamation. Restoration..

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