Posted on 03/31/2017 6:16:28 AM PDT by JimSEA
Lawmakers in El Salvador, Central Americas smallest nation, have passed a law that bans all mining for gold and other metals, making the country the worlds first to impose such a broad prohibition on the extraction of minerals, environmentalists and human rights groups said.
The ruling, aimed at protecting the nations allegedly quite fragile environment, comes after a long-dragged dispute over a proposed gold mine by Pac Rim Cayman, a unit of Canadian-Australian company OceanaGold Corp. (TSX:OGC).
The law also bans the use of cyanide and mercury for mining. Legislators across the political spectrum supported the measure, which does not apply to quarrying or the mining of coal, salt and other non-metallic resources.
Supporters said the ban was essential to protect water reservoirs and reduce social tensions.
"Mining is not an appropriate way to reduce poverty and inequality in this country," Ivan Morales, country director for the charity Oxfam in El Salvador said in a statement. "It would only exacerbate the social conflict and level of water contamination we already have."
(Excerpt) Read more at mining.com ...
They can still quarry, or mine for non-metals.
He invested in Zinc.
Would you need cyanide and mercury for either? I just know about the gold mining use.
I once heard that all original wealth has to be either mined or grown. I guess that in today’s world, making electricity from sunshine or rainfall can be added to that list.
I wouldn’t say all, just that they are both easier to track.
Penny is copper plated zinc after 1982.
A few even have steel!
1982 and earlier pennies are copper, except for some made during WWII.
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