SIGMINE

Overview

SIGMINE (Sistema de Informações Geográficas da Mineração - Mining Geographic Information System) is Brazil’s official mining registry maintained by the National Mining Agency (ANM), the regulatory body that succeeded the former National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM).

This dataset provides:

  • Active mining operations: All legally authorized mining projects across Brazil
  • Mine locations: Geographic coordinates and spatial extent
  • Product information: What minerals/resources are being mined
  • Operational status: Whether mines are active, suspended, or recovering
  • Area data: Size of mining concessions and operating areas
  • Company information: Operator and ownership details
  • Environmental permits: Status of environmental authorization
  • Geographic coverage: National coverage including Legal Amazon region

SIGMINE data is critical for understanding Brazil’s mining sector impact on the environment, economy, and land use, particularly in sensitive regions like the Amazon.

Data Source and Information

SIGMINE data comes from: - Brazilian mining authorization and regulatory system - Geological Service of Brazil (SGB-CPRM) - Environmental licensing agencies - Updated continuously as mining permits are issued/revoked - Publicly accessible through government databases

For more information, visit the National Mining Agency (ANM) and mining databases.

Available Dataset

sigmine_active (Active Mining Operations)

Comprehensive registry of legally operating mining projects in Brazil.

  • Coverage: All active, legally authorized mining operations
  • Status: Currently operating, suspended, or in recovery phases
  • Geographic levels: National coverage with state and municipality identification
  • Key variables: Mine name, operator, location, mineral type, area, authorization status
  • Mineral types: Precious metals, industrial minerals, energy minerals (coal, uranium), others
  • Environmental data: Environmental license status, compliance information
  • Spatial data: Polygon boundaries of mining concessions/operations
  • Use cases:
    • Assess mining impacts in regions of interest
    • Identify mining activity in conservation areas
    • Analyze relationships between mining and deforestation
    • Economic analysis of mining sector
    • Environmental impact assessment
    • Conflict identification (mining vs. indigenous lands, protected areas)

Function Parameters

1. dataset

Only one dataset is available:

dataset = "sigmine_active"  # Active mining operations

2. raw_data

Controls whether to download original or processed data.

  • TRUE: Returns raw SIGMINE/DNPM data format with original coding
  • FALSE: Returns treated data with English variable names and standardized formatting
raw_data = FALSE  # logical

3. language

Output language for variable names and documentation.

  • "pt": Portuguese
  • "eng": English
language = "eng"  # character string

Data Structure

SIGMINE data typically includes:

  • Mine identification: Name, registration number, operator
  • Location: State, municipality, geographic coordinates
  • Resource: Mineral type being mined
  • Area: Size of mining concession (square meters)
  • Status: Active, suspended, recovery, or other operational status
  • Authorization: Mining and environmental permits
  • Geometry: Spatial polygon of mining area (when available)

Examples

Example 1: Active mining data in portuguese

# download treated active mining data in portuguese
mining_active <- load_sigmine(
  dataset = "sigmine_active",
  raw_data = FALSE,
  language = "pt"
)

Example 2: Active mining data in english

# download treated active mining data in english
mining_eng <- load_sigmine(
  dataset = "sigmine_active",
  raw_data = FALSE,
  language = "eng"
)

Data Notes

Mining Authorization Status

SIGMINE tracks mines at various stages: - Active: Currently operating, producing minerals - Suspended: Temporarily halted operations - Recovery: Reclamation and environmental restoration phase - Other: Various other regulatory statuses

Minerals Covered

SIGMINE includes: - Precious metals: Gold, silver, platinum - Industrial minerals: Iron, copper, aluminum, tin, others - Energy minerals: Coal, uranium - Gemstones: Diamonds, emeralds, others - Construction minerals: Sand, gravel, granite

Data Updates

  • SIGMINE is continuously updated as new permits are issued/revoked
  • The dataset you access reflects the most current government registry
  • Historical changes available from government archives

Geographic Information

  • Coordinates: GPS coordinates of mine locations
  • Polygons: Spatial boundaries of mining concessions (when available)
  • Accuracy: Depends on government survey quality

Important Limitations

  1. Only legal operations: Artisanal/informal mining not included
  2. Status lags: Official status may lag actual operational status
  3. Environmental permits: May not reflect real-time compliance
  4. Spatial accuracy: Boundaries may have uncertain precision
  5. Definition changes: Mining classification/categories may evolve