The Difficult Legacy of Mining in Past and Contemporary Potosí and Ouro Preto

Colonial mining in Potosí (Bolivia) and Ouro Preto (Brazil) left a 'difficult legacy' marked by environmental degradation, racial violence, and exploitation of indigenous and African populations. While these cities symbolize the origins of global capitalism due to their silver and gold wealth, official heritage narratives often omit the atrocities tied to mining. The study reveals that local perceptions and urban spaces still reflect these excluded histories. As Latin America grapples with reinventing national identities without repeating extractivist patterns, accounting for this complex legacy becomes crucial. The research analyzes colonial depictions in heritage policies and contrasts them with contemporary tensions between preservation and ongoing mining activities.

de Souza Santos, A. A., & Iamamoto, S. A. S. (2019). The Difficult Legacy of Mining in Past and Contemporary Potosí and Ouro Preto. Journal of Latin American Geography, 18(3), 110–131. https://doi.org/10.1353/lag.2019.0054