Abstract: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a country rich in metallic and non-metallic minerals. After the strategic importance of minerals in the world to provide the fundamental raw materials required in everyday life, this paper provides a review and synthesis of the literature about the environmental implications of the establishment of The Orinoco Mining Arc (OMA) National Strategic Development Zone, or by its name in Spanish Arco Minero del Orinoco (AMO), created by decree No. 2.248 in February 24th, 2016 to take advantage of the potential of mining activity as an alternative to oil rent, to exploit minerals in a surface covering 111.843,70 square kilometers (12,2 % of national territory).