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

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