The object of the investigation is the elaboration of an inventory of spaces affected by the activity of old extractive industries, focused on the ponds and dumps; of metallic mining, industrial minerals and energy mining in Asturias, which serves as a basis for future cataloging, taking into account the evaluation of environmental and geotechnical risks of the same, and their potential patrimonial or economic interest.

This research will focus on the collection and systematization of the existing information on the ponds and dumps located in the Principality of Asturias, related to mining, and its cataloging with scientific-technical criteria, to generate a database that facilitates access and the query of the data.

The results of this research will allow us to deepen our knowledge and improve the management of these areas, which sometimes present problematic situations with respect to environmental protection or geological risks, some of which are even located in protected areas.
On the other hand, those sites that currently retain some interest for reuse will be identified, either due to the interest of their mining heritage or the possibilities of economic use through secondary mining in line with European policies on Raw Materials and circular economy.

The cataloging and systematization of everything collected in a database, linked to a GIS, and easy to view and accessible, is a complementary objective of great value.