Continuous territorial monitoring
Introduction
The National Geology and Mining Service (also known by its acronym, Sernageomin) is a Chilean state public service created on November 26, 1980, dependent on the Ministry of Mining. It is in charge of specialized research and mapping of the various aspects of the Earth's crust, mainly related to the identification of productive resources (geothermal, hydrogeological, metallic and non-metallic minerals); geological hazards such as channel overflows, tidal wave flooding, seismic resistance, volcanic eruptions, as well as mass removals: alluvium, landslides, rock falls, lahars, among others.[2] Since May 31, 2019, the service has been directed by Patricio Aguilera Poblete.
Likewise, the organization manages the National Volcanic Surveillance Network of Chile (RNVVCh), which monitors the most dangerous active volcanoes in the country in real time. On the other hand, it is in charge of supervising the mining safety regulations of mining extractive facilities with respect to the people who work in them; the regulations for closing mining operations and facilities; and the stability of tailings deposits. Finally, it is also responsible for updating the cadastres of mining and geothermal concessions, and advising the courts of justice on these matters.[2].
Since 1974, it has published the scientific journal Andean Geology, which until 2009 was called Revista Geológica de Chile.[3].
History
On November 26, 1957, during the second government of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, and in order to support the research and publication of scientific texts related to geology, the "Institute of Geological Research" (IIG) was created,[4] as a public institution under private law, dependent on the Production Development Corporation (Corfo) and the Copper Corporation, and supported by the development program created by US President Harry S. Truman, known as the "Fourth Point".[5] The direction of the organization was left to the mining engineer Carlos Ruiz Fuller), who had been undersecretary of Mining in said administration, a position from which he promoted its creation; he held the position for twelve years, until 1970.[5] In 1960, the organization published the first "Geological Map of Chile" at a scale of 1:1,000,000, followed by a second edition eight years later. later.[4].
Subsequently, within the framework of the military dictatorship "Military Dictatorship (Chile)") of General Augusto Pinochet, on November 26, 1980, and in order to promote and sustainably direct the development of mining in Chile, [6] through Law No. 3,525, it was merged with the State Mines Service (created in 1960), creating the National Geology and Mining Service. (Sernageomin).[7].