Daryl Peveto

STORIES: Madre de Dios

Madre de Dios is considered Peru's final frontier. Located in the southeast corner of the country in the jungles of the Amazon, it is the poorest region in terms of economics, but perhaps the richest in natural resources. Gold has been rediscovered and with it, goldmining. Artisinal mining - single person or family base skimming has given way to larger companies, who are devestating the land and exporting both the resources and much of the profits. What is left behind is an ecological mess in terms of deforestation and mercury poisoning.

A view from a busted up taxi cab in downtown Puerto Maldonado, considered to be Peru’s last frontier town. Its economy is based almost solely on gold mining, along with some timber and oil exploration. It is a largely lawless area, where the citizens police themselves. Even so, crime is relatively non-existent and the region’s economy has seen a steady growth over the last twenty years.
  
Miners work to drive logs into a pit, using nothing more than rope and their own strength. The posts are tied together in order to hold up an ore sifter. The entire operation is very rudimentary, leaving the miners to use truck engines to pump the earth from the pit, and their own ingenuity and physical strength to make due for the rest. The miners of this crew work in 24-hour shifts, one day on and one day off, earning on average 1.5 to 2 grams of gold per day, or about $30 to 45 dollars.
  
     
  
A view of a series of gold mining pits deep within the jungle.
  
A group of miners pause for a moment having just transported a truck engine, re-tooled to use as a pump, onto a makeshift pontoon raft in one of the mining pits.
  
A trio of miners work to repair a pipe used for blasting the pits.
     
  
A miner sifts though his crew’s day’s work of gold, which is mixed here with mercury to separate it from the dirt and ore. Once it is clean, the mercury is burnt off, leaving only the gold. In an effort to save money and a feeble attempt to prevent too much mercury getting into the environment, the gas is captured in the process and most of it returned for reuse. Even so, mercury contamination is the principle environmental problem in the region. It is estimated that 70 tons a year are lost in the Madre de Dios region alone.
  
A trio of miners work wait patiently for the results of their efforts from the previous day. The gold is first separated using mercury; then it is melted, divided and weighed. These men, who work 24-hour shifts, earned the equivalent of $35 for their previous day.
  
Just coming off of their 24 hour shift, the even crew site together for a meal of rice and potatoes. The men are served three meals a day in addition to their pay. The eat vegetables during the week and are treated to chicken or jungle meat on the weekends.
     
  
Javier Aboleda is led by the hand of his daughter, Tutu, accross the camp to dinner. Most miners live here alone, their families back in town. Many work for as long as six to nine months before going home. The work schedule and the decline in profits keep the men working for longer and longer periods. Arboleda, who has been at the camp for seven months, decided to pay for his wife and daughter to visit because he says he missed them too much.