|
BOLETÍN DE LA SOCIEDAD GEOLÓGICA MEXICANA http://dx.doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2010v62n1a4 |
 |
Los minerales de colección como recurso económico en países en vías de desarrollo
Collection minerals as an economic resource for developing countries
Joan Carles Melgarejo*1, Marc Campeny1, Joaquim Sanz2, Carles Curto3 y Joan Viñals4
1 Departament de Cristallografía, Mineralogia i Dipòsits Minerals, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona c/ Martí i Franquès s/n 08028 Barcelona Catalunya, España.
2 Departament d'Enginyeria Minera i Recursos Naturals, Escola Politècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Mines de Manresa, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Avinguda Bases 61–73 08242 de Manresa Catalunya, España.
3 Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona (Geologia) Ajuntament de Barcelona/ICUB. Parc de la Ciutadella s/n 08003 Catalunya, España.
4 Departament de Ciències dels Materials i Enginyeria Metal•lúrgica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona. c/ Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona Catalunya, España.
* This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract
Mineral collecting is a growing activity. The high demand for minerals and their derivatives has resulted in the creation of micro–companies around the mineral trade in developing countries. This activity could facilitate the development of rural areas with no need of a large capital investment and with minimal environmental impact. The high quality of their products is the most important aspect for the survival of these micro–companies, but nowadays the material that comes from developing countries does not always arrive in the best condition. In this essay the basic criteria are provided for identifying the kind of minerals that are interesting enough to be commercialized, and also the procedures recommended for commercializing them from the place where they are extracted to their point of sale.
Key words: popular mineralogy, collecting, micro–companies, developing countries.
