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Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of the “El Sexmo” Tourist Gold Mine (Zaruma, Ecuador) as A Geosite and Mining Site

Author

Listed:
  • Paúl Carrión-Mero

    (Centro de Investigaciones y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863 Guayaquil, Ecuador
    Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863 Guayaquil, Ecuador)

  • Oscar Loor-Oporto

    (Bira Bienes Raíces S.A. (BIRA S.A.), Av. Alfonso de Mercadillo, P.O. Box 071350 Zaruma, Ecuador)

  • Héctor Andrade-Ríos

    (Bira Bienes Raíces S.A. (BIRA S.A.), Av. Alfonso de Mercadillo, P.O. Box 071350 Zaruma, Ecuador)

  • Gricelda Herrera-Franco

    (Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena (UPSE), Avda. principal La Libertad—Santa Elena, La Libertad 240204, Ecuador)

  • Fernando Morante-Carballo

    (Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Geo-recursos y Aplicaciones GIGA, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863 Guayaquil, Ecuador)

  • María Jaya-Montalvo

    (Bira Bienes Raíces S.A. (BIRA S.A.), Av. Alfonso de Mercadillo, P.O. Box 071350 Zaruma, Ecuador)

  • Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar

    (Bira Bienes Raíces S.A. (BIRA S.A.), Av. Alfonso de Mercadillo, P.O. Box 071350 Zaruma, Ecuador)

  • Karen Torres-Peña

    (Bira Bienes Raíces S.A. (BIRA S.A.), Av. Alfonso de Mercadillo, P.O. Box 071350 Zaruma, Ecuador)

  • Edgar Berrezueta

    (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), C/Matemático Pedrayes 25, 33005 Oviedo, Spain)

Abstract

Zaruma is host to the ‘‘El Sexmo’’ tourist mine, the galleries of which extend below the city, and its exploitation dates back to precolonial times. The mining boom created important development in the area, but informal mining also emerged causing environmental issues and safety problems. This study presents a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the “El Sexmo” Tourist Mine in the context of its potential as a tourism geosite and mining site. The methodological stages included: (i) The process and systematization of the general mine information and its surroundings; (ii) the assessment of the geological and mining interest of the mine, through GAM and Brilha method; and (iii) description and proposal of action strategies through Delphi analysis and a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) matrix. Based on the results of the quantitative evaluation, the high values in the educational, scientific, and tourist aspects of the two applied methodologies, show the mine as a potential geosite and mining site with added cultural value. In addition, the quantitative assessment in correspondence with the qualitative analysis, allowed to propose improvement strategies to take advantage of the geological resources and mining identity of the area, as an alternative that strengthens the infrastructure of the mine and consolidates the geotouristic development of the area.

Suggested Citation

  • Paúl Carrión-Mero & Oscar Loor-Oporto & Héctor Andrade-Ríos & Gricelda Herrera-Franco & Fernando Morante-Carballo & María Jaya-Montalvo & Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar & Karen Torres-Peña & Edgar Berrezueta, 2020. "Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of the “El Sexmo” Tourist Gold Mine (Zaruma, Ecuador) as A Geosite and Mining Site," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:9:y:2020:i:3:p:28-:d:330572
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mancini, Lucia & Sala, Serenella, 2018. "Social impact assessment in the mining sector: Review and comparison of indicators frameworks," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 98-111.
    2. Dyson, Robert G., 2004. "Strategic development and SWOT analysis at the University of Warwick," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(3), pages 631-640, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gricelda Herrera-Franco & F. Javier Montalván & Andrés Velastegui-Montoya & Jhon Caicedo-Potosí, 2022. "Vulnerability in a Populated Coastal Zone and Its Influence by Oil Wells in Santa Elena, Ecuador," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Federico Pasquaré Mariotto & Kyriaki Drymoni & Fabio L. Bonali & Alessandro Tibaldi & Noemi Corti & Paolo Oppizzi, 2023. "Geosite Assessment and Communication: A Review," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, February.

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