Friday, 13th February 2004 (3688 views)

An expert on the gold industry has today rubbished suggestions from pressure groups that the precious metal poses a significant threat to the environment.

Environmental critics at the Earthworks/Mineral Policy Centre had claimed that the production of even a single gold ring could lead to devastating consequences.

Indeed, the group went as far as to say the production of a single 18 Karat gold ring weighing less than an ounce could generate at least 20 tons of mine waste.

However, Scott Harn, of ICMJ's Prospecting and Mining Journal, says that in fact the average 18k ring produces a fraction of such excess.

“Of the 20 tons processed, less than one-half of one per cent of the processed material would be properly classified as waste, and current regulations require this waste material to be neutralized after processing to remove any potential threat to the environment,” he explained.

'If your grandmother dug several holes to plant trees in her yard, and had dirt leftover, would you classify the leftover dirt as 'waste'? It's ridiculous.”

Dismissing the claims of the “extremist groups” as exaggerated, Mr Harn argued that the industry was well versed in the necessary environmental safeguards to protect natural surroundings at minesites.

 

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