Minera San Xavier
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| Company type | Subsidiary of Metallica Resources Inc. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mining |
| Founded | 1886 (Cerro de San Pedro, San Luis Potosí, Mexico) |
| Headquarters | Cerro de San Pedro, San Luis Potosí, Mexico |
| Products | Gold, silver |
| Website | msx |
Minera San Xavier was a open-pit mine in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. This mine is a subsidiary of the Canadian company New Gold Inc. that operates a gold and silver mine near Cerro de San Pedro, a municipality of San Luis Potosí just 12 kilometers away from the capital city of the state. The city of San Luis Potosí was founded after gold was discovered in the hills near Cerro de San Pedro in the 15th century. The current mine is closed, after taking several years to go through the closing process.
In this area there is a history of mining going back to the 15th century. In 1995 the Canadian Mining company went over to Cerro de San Pedro and in 1999, they were granted the ability to mine the area. These authorizations were challenged due to different environmental protection decrees.[1] However the mine was able to continue, was actively mining until 2016, and is currently in the post-closure phase as of 2024.[2]
Environmental and Social Impacts
The mining process of this mine affects the surrounding areas. There are visible environmental impacts that are showing in the form of air pollution, crop damage, loss of water, soil erosion, and waste overflow. On a social level, having the mine has led to an increase in police presence and militarization, land dispossession, and an increase in corruption.[3]
Community Reactions
This area has a long history of defiance and mobilization, this was no different with the most recent mining attempt in the area. The community opposed the mine and attempted to take legal actions to make sure that the mine didn't happen.[1] There was conflict within the community due to the economic opportunities for development, versus the impact that the mines will have on them. Within the community there was the start of a conglomerate of voices against the mine. This started a movement called the Frente Amplio Opositor. This group were the ones that started the legal actions taken against the mine.[4]
